Dog lovers in North East Hampshire will soon be assured about the health and welfare of their puppies thanks to a proposed new law.
Plans for a new law to prevent puppy smugglers from importing poorly dogs were backed in Parliament last week. (Friday 15th March)
Under the Animal Welfare (importation of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, people selling pets would be banned from importing puppies under six months old, while heavily pregnant dogs would also not be allowed to travel. Import of ‘mutilated’ animals, like puppies with cropped ears, would be stopped also.
The plans have been brought forward in a Private Members Bill by fellow Conservative MP Selaine Saxby who says a huge surge in puppy smuggling started during the Covid pandemic as owners struggled to find the puppies they wanted.
The Bill will also cover the importation of cats and ferrets into the country.
Ranil Jayawardena, Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire, said he is backing Selaine Saxby MP’s bill as it will bring peace of mind to families looking for a new pet:“It is easy to see how many people across North East Hampshire and the country love their pets, and the special place they hold in families’ hearts,
“That’s why this Bill is so important – not just to stop criminal gangs profiting from the suffering of young animals – but to end the pain loving families feel when their beloved pet is found to be ill or in pain due to the way it was raised and brought into the country.
“By making sure pets can only be brought into this country in the proper and correct ways, this Bill will help bring puppy smuggling to an end.”
