Call for end of puppy farming welcomed

JULIA TURNER

A REPORT calling on the government to bring forward legislation to outlaw puppy farming and improve animal welfare has been welcomed by Oldham Liberal Democrats.

During November's council meeting, a Lib-Dem motion calling for similar action from the government and committing the council to work with animal welfare agencies and the public to look out for the well-being of puppies and dogs and to end puppy farming in the borough was passed by councillors.

The report, by Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, recommends that the government pass regulations to protect the genetic viability and welfare of offspring as well as adult dogs and update legislation governing the breeding of dogs to reflect modern welfare standards.

Proposed

Commenting on the findings of the report, Liberal Democrat councillor Julia Turner, who proposed the motion, said: "It is great to hear that the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee are echoing many of the demands of the Oldham Council Liberal Democrat Group.

"Like the committee, we want to see the government bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to outlaw puppy farming; introduce greater regulation to ensure that breeders are registered and regulated; and provide more resources for local councils to enforce the law.

"We would also welcome stronger sentences for people who engage in the abhorrent practice of raising pups that are isolated from their mothers, and then neglected or starved, before selling them for hundreds of pounds to unsuspecting buyers."

The report also highlighted that the current penalties for animal welfare cases in England are amongst the lowest in Europe and recommended that the maximum penalty be increased to five years.

Liberal Democrat group leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, who seconded the motion, added: "This is a real problem - only one in 10 puppies is bred by a licensed breeder.

"Often illegally bred animals die or become sick shortly after being purchased because they are not vaccinated.

"And a buyer left with a dead animal or a sizeable medical bill has little legal comeback ­- British customers have more rights when they purchase a refrigerator than they do a puppy.

"A recent operation in Greater Manchester by the RSPCA, Operation Pagan, found 'animal suffering on an almost industrial scale', and Oldham residents from Chadderton, Failsworth and Shaw have been convicted of related offences so in the run-up to Christmas I would ask everyone to remain vigilant to the actions of puppy farmers."