I am a strong supporter of tougher rules on animal welfare. Like many Scots, I was shocked by the news in November that 105 puppies were seized from a puppy farm by the Scottish SPCA, and it is clear that more action needs to be taken to stop unscrupulous breeders and sellers abusing dogs.
In Scotland, animal welfare is a devolved issue, and therefore, it is for the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood to decide what course of action to take against Scottish puppy farms.
I hope that the Scottish Government will soon follow the lead of the Conservative UK Government, which is responsible for animal welfare in England. The UK Government has committed to introducing compulsory licensing for all dog breeders and sellers, and banning the sale of puppies, kittens, and rabbits under the age of eight weeks.
The UK Government has also brought forward proposals to ensure that breeders show puppies alongside their mother before a sale is made, require that puppy sales are completed in the presence of the new owner, and require that advertisements include adequate information about both the dog and the breeder. This will make sure that people can see a puppy before buying it, and will tackle online sales, through which many unscrupulous breeders sell sick, injured, and mistreated puppies.
I also understand that the UK Government is currently taking evidence relating to the possibility of banning third party dog sales.
It is important that we tighten the rules in a way that targets unscrupulous breeders specifically, and does not allow them to get around the law or lead to the establishment of a black market. I believe the UK Government’s proposals will, in practice, ensure the highest standards of animal welfare, and I hope that the Scottish Government will follow their lead as soon as possible.