Cross-party MPs and welfare organisations issue plea.
One year on from when the Kept Animals Bill was last debated in Parliament, animal welfare organisations are urging the Government to deliver on animal welfare progress.
The Kept Animals Bill, which had its first reading in June 2021, includes legislation on puppy smuggling, live exports, the keeping of primates as pets, livestock worrying and zoos.
In response to the stalled legislation, Battersea MP Marsha de Cordova has sent an open letter to the Government – calling for the Bill to be pushed over the line.
Co-signed by 19 cross-party MPs, the letter aims to bring the stalling legislation back to the attention of the Prime Minister and Thérèse Coffey, the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Bob Seely, MP for the Isle of Wight, explained on Twitter why he signed the letter: “We are a nation of animal lovers. We need to crack down on animal trafficking and make sure that their rights are protected.
“That is why I have signed Battersea's letter to continue legislating the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals Bill).”
Many animal welfare organisations are supporting the letter, and are putting pressure on the Government to deliver on the promises made.
Michael Webb, head of Policy and Public Affairs at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, said: “It is deeply concerning that the Government has continued to fail to commit to a clear timetable to ensure the progress of this Bill. Time is running out, and the harm to animals that this legislation could help counter is still going on.
“Whilst we appreciate their in-tray is piled high with a number of pressing issues to address, we would urge the new Ministerial team to remember that animal welfare still needs their attention.
“The Government rightly started to drive the Bill forward last year in their Action Plan, and we are delighted so many MPs agree with us that it needs to be passed as a matter of priority.”
Other veterinary and animal organisations have publicly thrown their weight behind the demand, including the RSPCA, Cats Protection, the British Veterinary Association (BVA), PDSA and Dogs Trust.
On Twitter, Dogs Trust said: “Since 2015 more than 2,100 smuggled puppies have been admitted to Dogs Trust through the #PuppyPilot.
"The #KeptAnimalsBills must return to the House and go further, by introducing a visual check on dogs.”
The Cats Protection Twitter account shared: “It's an anniversary we never wanted to celebrate.”
Several animal welfare organisations signposted supporters to an ongoing petition, titled 'Find the time to take the Kept Animals Bill through Parliament and make it law', which currently has over 100,000 signatures.
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.
