MPs hear from RSPCA and other animal experts on pet breeding and pet abuse
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee holds an evidence session as part of its Pet welfare and abuse inquiry, hearing from specialists in the animal rescue, retail, breeding and local government sectors.
This session investigates issues around the breeding of dogs and other pets in the UK and the import of dogs for pets, to learn about the twin problems of ill-health and suffering amongst those animals and the risks to public health of rabies and other zoonotic diseases.
Meeting details
MPs pose questions on the current vogue for designer dogs, the rapidly growing sector of canine fertility clinics and the role of social media and celebrity influencers. They explore the resulting problems for animal welfare (dogs bred with health impairments) and for public safety (dogs bred for aggressive characteristics). Questions additionally cover the practice of mutilating pets in the form of ear-cropping, tail-docking, and de-clawing.
The evidence session asks about the involvement of criminals and organised crime in the pet breeding sector. MPs seek to learn about how the pandemic impacted pet ownership, pet owners and pet welfare. They ask questions about the impact of the cost of living crisis on the situation.
The Committee will ask witnesses about weaknesses in current governance and suggested means of addressing these weaknesses, such as calls for tighter regulation, stricter enforcement and engagement with social media companies.