Officials drafting new legislation to end third-party puppy and kitten sales
The Welsh government is drawing up a new law that will ban third-party puppy and kitten sales.
Rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths has confirmed that legislation is being drafted, which will be entitled the Animal Welfare (Licencing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) Regulations 2021.
The change would mean that anybody looking to buy a puppy or a kitten in Wales would need to go via the breeder directly or consider adopting from a rescue or rehoming centre. Similar legislation, named 'Lucy's Law' was introduced in England in April.
In a letter to the Welsh Parliament's Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, Ms Griffiths confirmed that she has “given permission for officials to start the process for drafting new legislation for commercial third party sales”.
Claire Lawson, RSPCA Cymru assistant director for external relations, commented: “The Welsh Government’s announcement that it is working up a law to end the third-party sales of puppies and kittens is very good news, on an issue the RSPCA has long campaigned for.
“Unfortunately, early separation from mothers, unfamiliar environments and multiple journeys are a miserable reality for too many pups and kittens. Being traded through vendors can be a hugely stressful ordeal, where profits are put before welfare.
“We now look forward to seeing these new legislative proposals and will work closely with decision-makers to ensure they best protect the welfare of young dogs and cats in Wales.”
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
