The House of Commons has debated and agreed on proposed legislation that seeks to curb puppy smuggling in the United Kingdom. If enacted, this proposed bill will make it illegal for anyone to import dogs, cats, and ferrets under the age of six months into the U.K. Moreover, this bill will ban the importation of dogs who are heavily pregnant as well as those with bodily mutilations such as cropped ears.
UK government making delayed attempt to crack down on puppy smuggling
Under current law, as per BBC News reporting, individuals can import puppies from 15 weeks of age into the U.K. Moreover, current pet travel scheme regulations allow people to enter the U.K. with an unrestricted number of dogs and cats.
Unfortunately, these loose regulations have created loopholes for scrupulous breeders to smuggle in puppies that suffer from various behavioral and health problems. In most cases, these problems arise when a breeder separates the puppies from their mother dogs too soon simply for monetary gain.
Additionally, the lenient pet travel rules have, over the years, led to an increase in the number of dogs and cats smuggled into the U.K. by illegitimate breeders who prioritize profits over the animal’s welfare.
Raising the minimum age of imported puppies from 15 weeks to six months will help ensure young puppies, as vulnerable as they are, don’t become victims of long, stressful, journeys that can have a lifelong impact on them.
While presenting the proposed bill, North Devon MP Selaine Saxby said in a statement: “As a dog owner myself, it is horrific to hear stories of puppies and kittens being smuggled across the border, and the poor conditions they have to endure.” Saxby further stated, “Pets are more than just property, they are family.”
However, reports say there’s no guarantee that the U.K. government will have signed the proposed legislation into law before the coming election, which will likely happen later this year.
