MPs look at how to stop puppy farms and other cruel treatment of pets
Unscrupulous mass “puppy farm” breeding and the unregulated importing of puppies into the UK among the topics discussed at the first evidence session in a cross-party parliamentary inquiry into pet welfare and abuse.
Meeting details
The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee also look at the cruel and unnatural mutilation of domestic animals - including the ear-cropping of dogs and the de-clawing of cats.
Some of these phenomena increased during the lockdown periods of the Covid pandemic. The Committee consider to what extent pet ownership changed during this time and how an apparent increase in pet behavioural issues, and the current rise in the cost of living, may now be contributing to some newly acquired pets being abandoned.
The Committee also look at the social and legal context of pet welfare and abuse – and ask if the Government needs to introduce new policies or legislation to tackle some practices.
The session hears from organisations representing animal health professionals and from charities working on animal welfare.