The importance of passing the Bill was highlighted at charity’s House of Commons event.

A Dogs Trust event at the House of Commons on Tuesday, 9 May, was held to raise awareness of the importance of the Kept Animals Bill. It was attended by over 50 MPs and peers, who discussed how they can work with the charity to ensure the Bill is passed by Parliament.

The Bill has made little progress since its first reading in June 2021. It includes a wide range of commitments to improve animal welfare, including tackling the illegal trade of puppy smuggling.

Dogs Trust has been highlighting the abuse of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) since 2014. Traders have been taking advantage of loopholes in the scheme to illegally import underage puppies that are often unvaccinated and in poor welfare conditions. The puppies are then sold for a large profit to unsuspecting buyers.

The Bill would help combat this issue as well restricting the movement of pregnant dogs. 

Paula Boyden, Dogs Trust veterinary director said: “I’m pleased that there has been strong attendance at this event with some engaging conversations, however it’s equally disappointing that the Government continues to stall the Bill which would be a step in the right direction to end the puppy smuggling trade, despite the clear support of its members in welcoming the Bill back to Parliament. 

“The Government mustn’t sit on this any longer; it pledged to crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies back in 2019, and it could easily make good on this commitment by passing the Bill now.”   

To date, 40,000 members of the public have shown their support for the Bill.

Image (C) Dogs Trust