Mark Evans supports our campaign, see what he and our other celebrity supporters say about puppy farming.
Please STOP buying pet shop puppies!
Some dogs are kept in solitary confinement all their breeding lives. What a miserable existence for man's best friend. These are Carmarthenshire approved breeding establishments known as a puppy farms. Each one given the blessing of Carmarthen council after inspection even though conditions are unfit and breach the Animal Welfare Act.
We had been alerted to Bentley Hall Farm a couple of years ago because sick and aggressive puppies had been sold from the establishment.We visited the breeder late August 2012.Every dog had diarrhoea and they were locked in barns with no exercise areas.There were some very aggressive dogs on site.When we contacted the local authority to make a report, we were told they didn’t want our evidence or a statement as they were not obliged to enforce the animal welfare act.Bury council had let this breeder sell pups without any kind of license for 18 months in the full knowledge of what was happening there.Two buyers had to have their pups euthanized because of serious aggression issues, many more had health problems.
Thankfully we were contacted by the Manchester Evening News who wanted to do a story on puppy farming.The journalist knew nothing about Bentley Hall so we enlightened him and put him in touch with a buyer of puppy.Bentley Hall was duly exposed and council and RSPCA took action shortly afterwards.We wait to see what action will be taken and will update you when we know.
We think Bury council were totally irresponsible letting this breeder continue his trade unhindered for so long.Sadly many councils are the same and do not carry out their duty properly.
We have been aware of this group of dealers for some time after being alerted to sick/dying puppies being sold in the area.We directed buyers to RSPCA and trading standards and tried to warn the buying public as much as we could.X
Pups were being sold with Kennel Registration and buyers were directed to private houses to view puppies.One of the men arrested was already under a ban from keeping animals, make a note of the names and face in this article .
Time moves on and sick pups are still being sold all over Manchester at different addresses including the Marple Road address, despite the publicity and arrests. These dealers really think the puppy buying public are so gullible, prove them wrong!
Then we hear Ms Cooper wants a pet shop license so that she can sell sick pups legally!See here Lily Cooper
Thankfully after many objections from locals, members of the public and buyers of sick pups, Stockport council refused permission.Well done Stockport council and Manchester Evening News!
This will not be the end of these unscrupulous dealers, they have other addresses they can use, or if needed they can sell from the backs of cars at petrol stations or motorway services.Please be aware and spread the word.Don’t give these animal abusers your hard earned cash.You could get a rescue dog, fully health checked, vaccinated and neutered for less than half the price these guys charge for pups of unknown origin, carrying all kinds of disease/infection that can be transferred to you and your family.
We have also been fighting against a new puppy farm being opened in Ceredigion which is licensed for 78 breeding dogs. Sadly, Ceredigion council planning committee saw fit to vote 16 to 1 in favour of yet another breeding premises for Wales.Once again dogs are housed in an agricultural building normally used for cattle or machinery.These buildings are made of tin so must be cold in Winter and hot in Summer.
We had hoped with new legislation expected soon, this kind of housing for dogs would be outlawed. This is not the case, and does not bode well for future dogs which will continue to be bred in unsuitable accommodation.A close neighbour objected to the puppy farm but her objections were ignored.The family now have to live with almost constant noise and smell.
We are campaigning against another Welsh puppy farm at the moment but we will tell you about it when we know the outcome.
As Crufts Dog Show gets underway at the National Exhibition Centre (8-11 March 2012), puppy farm campaigners are calling on the Kennel Club to stop registering puppies that have been produced in appalling conditions in puppy farms. “Puppy farms are breeding establishments, many of them in Wales, where dogs are kept and raised like livestock, often in inhumane and unethical conditions, “explains Veronica Lambert of Puppy Love Campaigns.
Of the 70 licensed breeders in Ceredigion, which alongside Carmarthenshire is known as the puppy-farming capital of the UK, 62 register at least some of their puppies with the Kennel Club. Some are licensed for 100 breeding bitches and more.
“Some keep dozens of breeding bitches in row upon concrete row of barely-converted pig-pens,” says Linda Goodman of C.A.R.I.A.D. “They often have no access to natural light or outside exercise areas. Some have only one or two people looking after hundreds of animals and even when the premises are licensed by the local authority, checks are often totally inadequate. The bitches are bred from until they are worn out and then killed, never having known any home life or what it is like to be loved.”
The puppies are often sold through the small ads, pet shops or internet sites to an unsuspecting public persuaded by Kennel Club papers that the animal has been produced ethically. “The Kennel Club promised to tackle this issue as long ago as 1986 but it has singularly failed to act,” says Veronica Lambert of Puppy Love Campaigns “yet here we are a quarter of a century later and the KC has done nothing to ease the situation for puppy farm dogs, but is now happy to appear to be campaigning against it.”
At the moment, anyone can register a dog with the Kennel Club as long as both its parents are themselves Kennel Club registered. Such pets are in high demand, fetching more money than non KC-registered dogs. A survey conducted by Puppy Love Campaigns and C.A.R.I.A.D. of internet site Epupz reveals that, on average, Kennel Club registered dogs cost £200 more than non-registered dogs – a good return for the £15 it costs unscrupulous breeders to register puppies with the Kennel Club.
The Kennel Club recently released a film warning of the horrors of puppy farms – a move that the puppy farm campaigners insist is “hypocrisy of the highest order”. C.A.R.I.A.D. Founder, Linda Goodman says: “Registrations are a huge revenue stream for The Kennel Club and they have continued to profit from the misery of puppy farming. The KC will claim that only 2% of the breeders that register dogs with them are what are known as “volume” breeders – those that breed five or more litters a year. But that figure is very deceiving because the dogs they produce represent much more than two per cent of the dogs the Kennel Club register. “Their own research that: "As many as one in four people could potentially be buying their puppies from puppy farms" beggars belief when they've been so instrumental in making this possible. Their campaign against puppy farming just makes them look like utter hypocrites.”
Veronica Lambert at Puppy Love Campaigns: “For years the KC have registered puppy farm stock. They are the only organisation that makes a profit from the misery of farmed dogs and campaign against it at the same time.” The Kennel Club directs the public to buy from members of its Assured Breeder Scheme (ABS). Joining the ABS is as simple as applying for pedigree registration and, currently, requires no advance inspection or checks. In fact only up to 15% of ABS members have been inspected – and even then they are given advance warning of checks, despite the Kennel Club claiming that the checks are “random”.
C.A.R.I.A.D.’s Linda Goodman: “The KC’s Assured Breeders Scheme is little more than another registry. Again the public is being duped into believing that it actually means something. The ABS scheme will only be of value if the KC invests in mandatory inspection of all breeders within the scheme. At present only a tiny proportion of ABS breeders have ever been inspected by the KC and we have evidence of some ABS breeders conducting business in ways that the KC says it does not endorse.” Puppy Love Campaigns has footage of one ABS breeder illegally selling puppies at a motorway service station. Puppy Love Campaigns and C.A.R.I.A.D. want the KC to act now to make sure that no one who engages in puppy farming can benefit from Kennel Club registration
"We call on the Kennel Club to stop registering puppy farmed dogs immediately and to put measures in place to ensure that Kennel Club registration guarantees that a puppy has been raised in good, humane and ethical conditions. Otherwise there is no point in KC registration."
Dogs4us
The 30th October saw us protesting again outside DOGS4US pet store in Bramley Leeds. If you are unaware of the backgound of this pet store go to investigation page and you will see that we, along with Channel Five and Sky exposed the puppy factories DOGS4US buy their pups from.
When we arrived at the store for peaceful protest we found a huge sign, (pictured above) calling us idiots. When the police came to see us, as they do, we complained about the sign, which we found very insulting. We are not idiots, we know the truth, that pups bought by DOGS4US come from some disgusting breeding premises in Wales.
We also know and have proof of sick pups that have been sold from DOGS4US. Some pups died, others have lifelong health problems. We are well educated about puppy farms, so much so that TV companies call us when they want to work on a programme or news item. Would that happen if we were idiots telling lies? we don't think so!
When police called to the protest they forced DOGS4US to remove the word idiots from the sign. Thank you to Bramley police.
DOGS4us brag that they only purchase pups from licensed premises. This is a photo of licensed premises! Dogs in LICENSED premises are kept penned for 24 hours a day 7 days a week. They are kept pregnant on every season, they are weak exhausted and afraid. Often times they are in darkness, no bedding to keep them comfortable and some female dogs have to give birth on dirty, bare concrete floors. We have seen it with our own eyes and the camera does not lie. Dogs spin in circles or pace back and forth like any caged animal will.
You are being mislead into thinking that LICENSED premises means dog are kept in humane conditions when nothing could be further from the truth. Councils inspect their licensed dog breeders once per year, at which point the breeders will clean up the mess and hide any sick dogs from sight. Every pet shop in the land buys its pups in from puppy farms. No decent breeder who cared for their dogs would sell a pup through a third party, they have too much care for their pups to do that. Almost every ad you see online or in newspaper will be selling farmed pups. Wake up, you are being duped! Dogs4us also say they give you a six month gauruntee as though thy are doing you a favour, wrong! you are covered by Sale of goods act which means if your pup is faulty in any way you are covered by law. Please be aware of your rights, you may need them.
June 29th 2011
It has been a while since we have updated our news because we have been so very busy, this being a sad reflection on the fact that the puppy farm trade is worse than ever. You may be aware we had problems with a breeder in Ceredigion. We found 92 dogs including nursing females and young pups on his unmanned premises living in filth, some with obvious health problems and some without food and water. We hoped the council would prosecute this breeder for cruelty and neglect but they didn’t. All the council did was order him to reduce the number of dogs he kept and clean the place up. Then they actually gave him a LICENSE to carry on!
Dehydration can cause illness and death yet it seems breeders cannot find the time to keep water dishes filled with clean fresh water. Basic license conditions in the UK call for fresh water to be available for dogs at all times, also food and clean dry bedding should be supplied.
Why then, when we report breeders who are failing in their duty, do local authorities in Wales take NO ACTION? Some tell us they do not have the resources so why do they continue to issue licenses when they know that they, as licensing council cannot fulfill their duty of care to dogs in breeding establishments in their area? Why do they let puppy farmers operate without planning permission and why do they let them increase the number of dogs without permission? We wish we could answer these questions but we can’t.
RSPCA are of no assistance whatsoever, indeed they have an agreement with local authorities in Wales that councils themselves deal with any problems that arise on commercial dog breeding premises despite the fact that they know cases are hardly ever dealt with correctly.We asked the Welsh Assembly animal welfare team why the WA don’t intervene. Their response: “You will be aware that the Welsh Government does not have an enforcement role”.
So who is responsible? Why was animal welfare ever devolved to Wales when it seems they have no wish to improve things for the thousands of breeding dogs in their country? They did make an effort to bring in new legislation in 2010 but that failed and is now seemingly to be watered down if it ever becomes law. The WA have not, as far as we are aware, thought out who would enforce these new rules and therefore any legistlation will be as useless as legislation which is in place now as Councils will carry on just ignoring it. Wales is the capitol of the puppy farming industry and as such they should be the first to get things under control then hopefully the rest of the UK will follow suit.
Now, why does our government allow puppies to be sold in pet shops? They know they originate from commercial breeding establishments. They know they are bred in disgusting conditions and they know many pups are either sick or diseased when sold to the unsuspecting public. But we suspect they do not want to change legislation simply because they earn VAT on each puppy sold through a pet shop. Councils throughout the country also issue pet shop licenses to almost anyone who applies. It’s disgusting to find pups are sold from old garden sheds under a pet shop license! Newspapers make thousands of pounds each week from taking advertisements for unscrupulous people and so it goes on. Demand, supply and kill the overflow!Thousands of dogs are destroyed every year in the UK costing us, the taxpayers, a lot of money, yet still dog breeding is allowed to continue and thrive with no restrictions.
Why is it that the Kennel Club also make money from misery by registering pups from puppy farmers?XXWhy do they not refuse to partake in this vile money making scandal that dog breeding has become? Remember they hold the secretariat for puppy farming, why then, don't they do more?
Our country is supposed to have a good reputation for animal welfare but this is not the case. The powers that be tell us the Sale of Dogs Act and the Animal Welfare Act are sufficient to stop the cruelty BUT the fact is the rules are not ENFORCED.The big dog welfare organizations in this country do very little with regards to puppy farming, they have meetings and talk about the problem over tea and cake but they have been talking about this issue for the last twenty years and nothing has changed. It’s unbelievable and shameful.
The situation is now out of hand, cannot be policed and is a disgrace to our nation. DEFRA continues to bury their heads in the sand. Lord Henley refuses to acknowledge there is a problem, just as Rooker did before him. We are dismayed and shocked to see dogs being treated worse than animals bred for the food chain, they are not livestock, they are companion animals and should be treated as such. Dogs lead the blind, aid the deaf, enable the disabled, sniff out cancers, they warn people of fits and diabetic comas and they help save lives in war.Is Britain a nation of dog lovers? We don’t think so.
Update Ceredigion. We have made a further visit to this breeder and yet again we found breaches in license conditions and the AWA. RSPCA were informed but as usual did nothing. We are waiting to hear what steps the council have taken and will let you know when they inform us. This may take some time as it can take up to two weeks to even get an acknowledgement from Ceredigion council! We hope their welfare officers act a bit quicker. 3rd June...still waiting a response from Ceredigion council, their efficiency knows no bounds!
Update 23rd March. Statement from Ceredgion Council, There was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the dogs were being treated in such a manner that their wellbeing and welfare was being unreasonably prejudiced. We don't know why they didn't see what we could see, lack of food and water, dogs with skin complaints and eye problems. Perhaps they didn't want to see as it is too much work for the council bods who have to fill in forms etc. The Welsh Assembly have no authority over councils and how they do the jobs they are paid for, that means they can do as they please with no outside interference and they need not answer to anyone. A peculiar way to run a country don't you think? . The taxpayer pay these people to be efficient and uphold the rules. If they do not have the resources to do the job we pay them for then we call for ALL puppy farms to be closed immediately.
Puppy Love would like to thank Gail Parsons and Cocker Spaniel Rescue for the information given to us to help trace this breeder.
Update Ceredigion dogs, 1st Feb 2011 We have bad news regarding this case and we are sorry to inform you that Ceredigion council have given this dog breeder a license, despite dogs in his care being neglected and living in dirty, unsuitable conditions. We are very disappointed with this outcome and we know you will feel the same. If you would like to voice your concerns to the council you may do so at this email address You might also like to ask how a premises can be licensed to breed dogs when the owner lives some miles away and no one lives on site!
Puppy Farm Dogs Failed Again
On 27th Oct 2010 during our investigations following up a complaint made to us from a member of the public, we visited an unlicensed dog breeder in Ceredigion, Mid Wales. Approximately 70 plus dogs were being kept in appalling conditions on unattended property in Llanddeiniol.
Some dogs needed veterinary treatment for conditions which were clearly visible. The dogs had no food or water, some were living on top of months of decomposing excreta and wet straw. Not one dog had a bed to lay on and the housing was two old post office vans with no doors so were open to the elements. There were also Labrador's and other dogs outside in a open run, living in their own excreta, with inadequate inside shelter.
At 3-34 pm on Wednesday 27th Oct 2010 we called the RSPCA to report the conditions the dogs were living in and made it very clear dogs needed urgent help.At 8.30am on the Friday 29th Oct 2010, having heard nothing from the RSPCA the police were called and told that we had been to what seemed to be an abandoned property with dogs in dire conditions. The police attended the scene and were dismayed at the sight of the dogs on the yard so the officer decided to inspect the rest of the premises and discovered the other dogs, he then took photographic evidence.
The police officer returned our call at 10-35 telling us what he had found, during that call he informed us that while at the premises he had called RSPCA. We then confirmed that we had also called RSPCA but they had not attended our call. At 1-16 we had a call from Ceredigion animal welfare officer, who informed us she was on her way to the premises as she had just had call from RSPCA asking her to attend.
What happened after this council official went to investigate is unclear as council were not forthcoming. We were told health and welfare of the dogs was being monitored but we also know some dogs were left on the premises. So, are council are trying to cover up the sequence of events. However one councilor did give this information "They have assured me that the dogs have been taken to a safe address and that the case is being seriously addressed". We queried that safe address with council but they would not tell us. We would expect a safe place to be a council run pound or boarding kennels but we suspect they were moved to another puppy farm, if that is the case then it is disgusting.
RSPCA did not even attend the scene until pressure was brought to bear, by the time they got there some dogs had been removed and the place had been cleaned up. RSPCA were no help at all to the dogs or us, shame on them! Dogs had also been taken to be destroyed by a local vet. Getting rid of the evidence?
So who do we turn to when we find dogs that need desperate help, we understood if the premises are licensed then its the local authority who should be informed but that if unlicensed then the RSPCA should be the first port of call. Well we tried and we and the dogs have been failed by the RSPCA and now it seems dogs may also to be failed by the council as Ceredigion does not have a good history of prosecutions against dog breeders!X
We are just a group of concerned volunteers who do our very best to raise public awareness to the plight of puppy farm dogs and to report what we find to the attention of those who are meant to help. If we cannot get support from the richest animal welfare charity in England and Wales where do we go? We run on a shoestring, they have millions of pounds at their disposal and yet for 2 full days they did nothing. When they did act they handed the case on to a local authority who very rarely remove dogs to safety or prosecute dog breeders. The end result is that some dogs have been removed to who knows where, they could be in another puppy farm and some dogs are still with their abuser . Thanks for nothing RSPCA, shame on you!! RSPCA are quite happy to let councils deal with commercial dog breeding premises as it lets them off the hook. Please remember that if you are thinking of donating hoping they will put an end to puppy farms.
RSPCA UPDATE
We have had communication from RSPCA in which they state "We have an agreement that complaints relating to animals being bred for commercial purposes are investigated by the local authority. For us to carry out a separate investigation in cases like this can damage any potential prosecution by local authorities, so we always seek to assist them with their enquiry. As soon as we received a complaint relating to an address in Ceredigion we contacted the local authority and were assured that they were aware of the situation and investigating."
Puppy Love say.....The guidelines for reporting cruelty on RSPCA website does not mention this agreement, the public are led to believe if they report urgent cruelty case it will be dealt with by RSPCA when in fact if the complaint concerns dog breeding they will pass complaint onto other agencies at a time convenient to them, could be hours could be days. At the point we reported dogs in distress we knew the individual was not licensed to breed, therefore, did RSPCA have proof he was breeding dogs for profit? The man could have been an animal hoarder or running a dog rescue.
Another very worrying scenario is what would happen if something like this was discovered on Friday evening ? LA's will not be available, would RSPCA sit on the report until Monday morning? Should they have information on their report cruelty page telling the general public what to do in a situation like this, we think so. We think its very misleading to let the general public assume a complaint such as our's would be acted on by them when in fact it won't. It will be handed to a local authority who may or may not have the best interests of the dogs at heart. RSPCA will not investigate any complaint related to dog breeding so do not waste your time contacting them. In future we will call the local authority concerned and if they are not available we will call the police. Is it time we had a reliable Animal Welfare organisation in this country? We are not the only ones let down by RSPCA... Stray Dog
Sadly there are many more stories like these, why?
The Kennel Club guardians of dogs or of dog breeders?
Update 10.1.2010.
Puppy Love would like to thank everyone who has filled in the proposals form for the WA. We would also like to say shame on the KC and some hobby breeders who would like have the process delayed for their own selfish reasons. We hope the WA stay strong and pass the new legislation as it stands.
On 22nd October 2010, the Welsh Assembly Government opened a 3 month public consultation inviting feedback from interested organisations and individuals on the draft regulations proposed for the breeding of dogs in Wales.
These would replace existing regulations with a stricter licensing regime and specify much enhanced minimum standards for accommodation and environment, diet and nutrition, exercise, supervision and socialisation, health and welfare and record keeping.
The draft regulations were prepared by a Task and Finish Group including the Kennel Club, Dogs Trust and British Veterinary Association among others, in response to long standing concerns about the extent of puppy farming in the principality.
Puppy farms are large scale establishments in which numerous dogs of many different breeds are kept in often appalling conditions with no regard for the welfare or health of the breeding stock or their offspring, which are sold for onward sale to pet shops and dealers. It has been estimated that over 50,000 puppy farmed dogs are sold in the UK every year.
A number of smaller Welsh hobby ? breeders have expressed concern that the draft regulations would impose an unfair burden of compliance and cost on them, as their activities are of a completely different nature. They claim that their views were not taken into account in the drafting of the proposed regulations and are attempting to exert pressure on the Welsh Assembly to extend the consultation period which expires on 13th January 2011.
Most people might believe that a well publicised 3 month consultation, open to all, provides ample opportunity for everyone with an interest in the subject to express their views. But apparently not Welsh dog breeders who want to delay the process to protect their personal interests. If their true aim is to improve the quality of their chosen breed, rather than monetary gain, they must surely understand that change is necessary for the greater benefit of all dogs.
More puzzling and worrying is the fact that the Kennel Club is lending its weight to actively support the demand for additional discussion with this group, even before the results of the full public consultation are known.Puzzling because the Kennel Club was part of the group producing the draft regulations and worrying because in spite of its claim to be "The UK's largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs", it appears to be putting the interests of some breeders ahead of those of countless thousands of dogs.
Puppy Love Campaigns and others opposed to puppy farming have been striving for 20 years to reach the point where legislation may finally have an impact on this cruel practice. We fully understand that enforcement will not be easy, especially in the light of public expenditure cuts.However, there's no reason why voluntary groups like ours cannot play a part in supporting the authorities once the appropriate tools are in place, if there is the will and desire to succeed from all parties. It certainly isn't cause to delay implementation as has been claimed in some quarters.
Perhaps it's time more questions were asked about the motivation of an organisation which received £8,129,000 in income from registration fees from breeders in 2009(including registrations from known puppy farmers)and adamantly denied that the health of some 15 breeds had been severely impaired as a result of it tacitly condoning poor breeding practices, until Professor Bateson's report proved otherwise.
Leeds Loves Puppies - A Charity Pot Party
On the 31st July 2010 Puppy Love were invited to attend the Lush shop in Leeds where staff held an event to raise more awareness and funds to help the sad plight of puppy farm dogs.
A great day was had by all, many leaflets and information sheets were distributed and quite a few customers who had not been aware of puppy farms or thought they were illegal, left the shop fully aware of this despicable trade.
A big thank you to Laura and staff at Lush Leeds shop for all the hard work publicizing this event and for helping us raise more awareness. Special thanks also for the wonderful Puppy Love window display.
Sincere thanks also to members of Puppy love who attended this event.
Click image to see it full size.
Puppy Love welcome the Welsh Assembly's decision to review the way dogs are bred in Wales. We hope this will become law without too much delay.
New Welfare Standards for Dog Breeding in Wales.
Wales' Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, has announced her intention to introduce new legislation which will significantly enhance animal welfare in Wales. Wednesday 07 July 2010
The new legislation, which will replace the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 with Wales-specific regulations that are fit for purpose will be based on proposals made by an expert Task and Finish group which was commissioned by the Rural Affairs Minister to review the legislation on the breeding of dogs to reflect the five welfare needs identified in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. She asked the group to report to her by the end of June 2010. The five welfare needs included in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 are that animals should:
have a suitable environment
have a suitable diet
have the ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
be housed separately or together with other animals
be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
The report, which the Minister has accepted, makes three broad recommendations. First, that there should be legislative change for dog breeding by repealing existing statutory requirements and to provide new legislation; second, that changes to the licensing provision for dog breeding establishments should be made; and Third, that statutory guidance on the new legislation should be made.
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said: "Pets are an important element of our society and ownership gives much pleasure, as well as associated responsibilities." The devolution of animal welfare powers to Welsh Ministers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 has provided opportunities for us to make a real difference. It's about improving standards and preventing suffering - prevention is better than cure, which is a principle of our overarching Animal Health and Welfare Strategy. "We have already made legislation on electronic shock collars and tail docking of dogs and Codes of Practice for dogs, cats, equine's and rabbits. The CAWES (Companion Animal Welfare Enhancement Scheme) programme has supported and is continuing to support evidence based decisions. Part of that process is to work with the third sector to raise standards." The Minister announced that licensing conditions for dog breeding establishments will be redrafted to reflect the five welfare needs. To help achieve this, the report recommended that a maximum number of dogs should be kept per full time attendant.
The Minister added: "If the breeding establishment is to meet the welfare and socialisation needs of dogs and puppies it was considered that, at the outside, a maximum ratio of one full time attendant to 20 dogs should be imposed. "I am keen to emphasise, however, that where welfare requirements are fully met, it is a legitimate business and meets the demands of those wishing to buy pets. "What is unacceptable is large scale breeding of puppies where welfare of both the parents and offspring may be compromised. Evidence submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government in research undertaken by local authorities, representations from many welfare bodies and several television programmes, all identified room for improvement for animal welfare in existing dog breeding licensing conditions.
"The group also considered the qualifying criteria for licensing. They agreed that existing criteria needed tightening particularly reducing the number of breeding bitches to trigger licensing to three from the current "five or more litters."
Other changes will include the compulsory microchipping of all breeding dogs in licensed premises as well as the microchipping of all pups from these premises prior to sale or homing. This would provide clear traceability back to the breeder in case of health or welfare concerns. It is proposed that statutory guidance will incorporate the five "needs” of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This will give a clear direction to Welsh local authorities and to dog breeders to enable compliance with the licensing requirements. Consideration will need to be given at a later stage as to whether the Code of Practice on the Welfare of Dogs will need to be expanded to include more detail on dog breeding.
The Minister concluded: "My role is to ensure that animal welfare is being promoted and animals protected without placing unnecessary burdens on the breeders or purchasers of dogs.”The new legislation will be fully consulted on during a 12 week period.
This year Puppy Love held our very first Puppy Farm Awareness Day on 19th September 2009.
Saturday 19th Sept saw us making an effort to raise awareness for puppy farm dogs throughout the UK. The day went very well and hopefully a few more people will now be aware just how these poor dogs caged in breeding establishments suffer so that the general public can buy a cute off the shelf puppy! Perhaps now they may spare a thought for the dams and sires locked in misery to supply this nation of dogs lovers? with pups.
We held a protest in Leeds outside a pet shop selling sick puppy farmed pups and also handed out leaflets and flyers in the shopping center. We were succesful in turning two potential buyers away as once we explained where pups came from they wanted no part in the cruel trade.
Two of our members also had an information board at Pets At Home in Wrexham and were able to inform local people of the situation.
In Kent meanwhile a protest and information day was taking place outside a pet shop selling pups and again potentail buyers changed their minds about buying a puppy.
Puppy Love would like to say a big THANK YOU to all who took part, you really are special people. Next year we will do it all again if there is still the need. Never give up, never give in... ONE DAY... ONE VOICE... BAN PUPPY FARMING !!
Jan made this information board for Pets At Home in Falkirk and spent hours on duty answering questions for the public.
On the 29th March we staged our third protest outside Dogs4us in Leeds.
Once again we managed to make people aware that sick pups were being sold from this store and that most pups come from Welsh puppy farms.
We are pleased to say we turned 3 potential buyers away.
A Leeds councilor came to chat to us and has promised he will look into the sorry state of affairs taking place in his constituancy.
Please join us in our next protest, details on the forum.
