The Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Mims Davies, has welcomed an announcement by the Minister for Animal Welfare, confirming a ban on third-party puppy and kitten sales.
The move will mean that anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy or kitten under six months must either deal directly with the breeder or with an animal rehoming centre and follows a public consultation which there was over 95 per cent support for a ban.
Commenting, the MP for Eastleigh Mims Davies said:
“Together with the hundreds of local people that wrote in to me over this issue, having worked on this during my time at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and as the proud owner of TJ the Cockapoo, I really welcome this important move!
“The introduction of this ban will help bring to an end the terrible welfare conditions found in puppy farming and solve a range of existing animal welfare issues that I know people across the area that I represent – and across the country – care incredibly deeply about!”
Also commenting, Fair Oak Councillor Steve Broomfield who previously managed the Blue Cross animal charity’s flagship animal hospital, added:
“Having worked for so many years to support dogs brought in to Blue Cross, seeing first-hand the issues caused by third-party puppy sales, I too really welcome this move!
“It was great to have Mims visit Blue Cross both locally and at the charities flagship animal hospital in London, and I know that further to those visits as well as meeting with people locally, Mims played a key role in progressing this important policy.”
The ban, which has received the backing of both the Dogs Trust and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, will help to crack down on puppy farms and make it much harder for high volume low welfare breeders, both licensed and unlicensed, whose trade relies on third party sellers.
It will also target early separation of puppies and kittens from their mothers and the increased likelihood of long journeys that puppies or kittens have to undertake which can contribute to an increased risk of disease and a lack of socialisation for the puppies and kittens.