Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2025
Presiding Officer, I declare an interest as convener of the cross-party group on animal welfare and thank you for allowing me this short contribution.
I speak in support of the LCM, which flows from a UK private member’s bill setting out, inter alia, to crack down on the illegal puppy trade. Serious organised crime is often at the root of that cruel trade of smuggling animals from disreputable sources, including puppy factory farms, because, as well as misery for the animal, there are big bucks to be made—thousands of pounds for a puppy. In passing, I also welcome the extension of the legislation to kittens.
The UK private member’s bill echoes my attempts, in my recent Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2025, to at least put a dent in this dreadful trafficking. The UK bill also sets out, as some have said, to end the mutilation of these companion animals by cropping ears and docking tails, which is done—and painfully at that—to fit in with fashion. I am sure that we all find those actions abhorrent.
I hope that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will now take the opportunity to accelerate the establishment of a UK-wide microchipping database of dogs—an issue that I have long pursued—which would provide traceability and be another significant component in ending this miserable trade.
I again thank the Presiding Officer and urge members to support the LCM.
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