Pet Animals (Protection and Welfare) Bill - Second Reading of the entire Bill

Asked if Selaine Saxby has ever owned a ferret, but did not provide further arguments.

Emphasised that government funding is needed to enforce the Bill and prevent smuggling at ports like Dover. Worries about reduced biosecurity funding.

Asked for assurance on how quickly regulations will be put in place after Royal Assent to enforce the Bill's provisions.

Noted an exponential rise in brachycephalic dogs being dumped at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home due to pet owners' inability to afford necessary operations.

Asked for assurances about resourcing enforcement agencies such as APHA and trading standards, highlighting a 2014 investigation that found no active officers at ports over weekends.

Expressed disappointment in the Government dropping their Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill and called for more comprehensive action on animal welfare issues.

Supports the Bill, citing its importance in addressing illegal animal imports and promoting welfare. Mentions constituents' support and concern over puppy smuggling. Raises issues with non-commercial pet travel scheme abuse. Emphasises the need for enforcement of existing laws against cruel practices such as ear cropping. Discusses ferret welfare.

[INTERVENTION]: Agrees with the need for the Bill, questioning why its provisions were not implemented sooner due to government opposition against a similar bill.

[INTERVENTION]: Asks about enforcement of laws against ear cropping, highlighting the ongoing illegal practices despite existing legislation.

Suggests that criminals are abusing existing rules by smuggling dogs, cats and ferrets; notes over 500 instances of non-compliance in Dover alone in 2023. Emphasises the need to update laws due to criminal abuse of current regulations. Supports addressing mutilation concerns raised during previous debates on the Bill. Asks about proposed new paragraph 1A in clause 4(4)(a) regarding transportation limits for pets (five animals if in a car, three otherwise). Expresses concern that clauses 4, 5 and 6 will take longer to come into effect compared to others, suggesting a fixed deadline for regulations. Encourages pet owners to consider adopting from charities rather than importing animals from abroad.

Supports the Bill for better health and welfare standards in imported pets. Cites high pet ownership figures, animal welfare issues due to smuggling, and benefits from reducing illegal mutilations and premature separation of young animals from their mothers. Emphasises biosecurity risks posed by unregulated imports.

Wheeler congratulates Selaine Saxby on introducing the Bill and emphasises its importance for fulfilling Conservative manifesto commitments regarding animal welfare. She cites statistics indicating that the illegal puppy trade in the UK is valued at £3 billion with around 2 million puppies being sold annually, where up to 50% of this trade is unlicensed or illegal. Wheeler raises concerns about the welfare conditions of these animals and highlights the need for legislative action against those involved in illegal smuggling.

Lightwood expresses his support for the Bill, acknowledging its significance in tackling animal welfare issues such as puppy smuggling. He mentions past Labour achievements in banning ear cropping and promoting animal welfare legislation. Lightwood highlights concerns about the importation of animals under poor conditions and welcomes provisions to regulate commercial imports, stressing the importance of protecting the welfare of kittens and puppies.

Supports the Bill, emphasising its importance for animal welfare. Highlights concerns over unscrupulous traders exploiting heavily pregnant animals and the need to ban their importation. Advocates for stricter regulations on ear cropping and declawing practices, as well as increased biosecurity measures against diseases like brucellosis and leishmaniasis. Supports secondary legislation to reinforce the Bill's provisions.

Supports the Bill as it addresses concerns about illegal pet smuggling and animal welfare. Mentions the increase in pet ownership during the pandemic and the need for better enforcement against criminal gangs involved in pet trafficking. Cites statistics from Cats Protection showing 50,000 cats obtained illegally and highlights the lack of severe penalties for smugglers. Argues that current laws are inadequate and the Bill is a step towards better regulation. Emphasises the importance of raising awareness about responsible pet ownership.

Congratulates Selaine Saxby on introducing the Bill; supports Government reforms since 2010, including mandatory microchipping of dogs and cats and modernisation of licensing system for dog breeding and pet sales; highlights multi-million pound puppy trade as a criminal activity involving drug dealing, money laundering and people trafficking; welcomes clause 4 setting out restrictions to address commercial imports disguised as non-commercial movements.

Congratulates Selaine Saxby on introducing the Bill; highlights cross-party support for animal welfare issues; criticises Conservative Government for shelving Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill from 2019 manifesto commitment and voting against Labour's plan to allocate parliamentary time; emphasises importance of closing loopholes in pet travel rules to prevent unscrupulous traders exploiting the system; discusses the cruel conditions puppies face when smuggled into the UK, including mutilation practices like ear cropping.

Intervenes to remind Seema Malhotra of the context of the Bill and suggests she has moved away from the specific topic.

Supports the Bill, highlighting her personal experience with puppy smuggling. Emphasises the need to clamp down on such abominable trade and the importance of increasing minimum age for imported puppies and kittens to six months.

Supports the Bill, noting that it is important for his constituents. Advocates for measures such as banning importation of cats and dogs under six months old or over 42 days pregnant, and prohibiting mutilated animals from being imported.

Welcomes the Bill and supports its intentions to improve animal welfare, address illegal trade, and prevent animal abuse. Emphasises the rise in pet abandonment due to misleading information from gangs promoting fashionable breeds. Highlights the RSPCA's report on increased abandonment by nearly 50% over three years. Encourages adoption from rehoming centres like Cats Protection and Dogs Trust. Cites Four Paws, RSPCA, Cats Protection, and Dogs Trust findings showing illegal importation of pets and health risks to young animals.

Supports measures against pet smuggling and gives parity to cats with dogs. Cites Cats Protection's report on 50,000 cats imported from overseas without clear health checks. Discusses stress during long journeys leading to illnesses like cystitis. Highlights increase in pure breed demand and illegal importation due to higher prices. Mentions the omission of declawing prohibition in previous legislation but praises inclusion in current Bill.

Congratulates Selaine Saxby on her campaigning efforts. Acknowledges existing animal welfare protections but calls for stronger measures against illegal pet smuggling. Mentions Dogs Trust's work in exposing abuse of the pet travel scheme and highlighting the suffering of smuggled puppies. Supports rescues like Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and other charities in raising awareness.

The hon. Member congratulates the hon. Lady on bringing forward the Bill and acknowledges its importance in addressing animal welfare issues raised by constituents. She notes that drafting help from the Government is beneficial given the complexity of the issue, especially since previous comprehensive attempts have been withdrawn. The hon. Member supports the inclusion of specific provisions for dogs and cats but questions the necessity of including ferrets without evidence of abuse. She also calls for clear enforcement mechanisms and penalties to ensure effective implementation of the legislation.

[INTERVENTION] I thank the right hon. Lady for her kind words, but she clearly does not know me very well; I never stop pushing.

[INTERVENTION] I am interested that my right hon. Friend is keenly mentioning ferrets at every opportunity that she can in this debate, so let me just put it on record that my brother had a ferret called Oscar.

Supports the Bill due to public concern shown in a YouGov poll where 83% of people think the Government should crack down on puppy smuggling. Emphasises that pets are part of families, and smuggled animals often suffer from poor health conditions.

Highlights personal experience with rescue animals and the importance of raising animal welfare standards. Discusses the impact of pet theft during the pandemic and supports efforts to end cruel practices such as mutilation and long journeys for smuggled pets.

Supports the Bill, highlighting previous legislative measures like Lucy’s Law and Finn’s Law to protect animals. Acknowledges constituent support for animal welfare and emphasises the need to prevent illegal smuggling and punish those involved.

Mr. Reed congratulated the hon. Member for North Devon on bringing forward an important Bill to prevent puppy and kitten smuggling, highlighting its overdue nature and cross-party support. He cited personal experiences with rescue cats and mentioned concerns about illegal breeding, ear cropping, and declawing. He also raised issues regarding procedural risks associated with private Members' Bills.

Eleanor Laing maintained order during debates, ensuring that discussions remain focused on the specific provisions of the Pet Animals (Movement) Bill. She intervened to remind colleagues about the narrow scope of the bill and the need to avoid discussing unrelated topics such as dog breed bans.

Mark Spencer congratulated Selaine Saxby on bringing forward the Bill. He highlighted the importance of pet welfare and mentioned the significant rise in non-commercial pet movements into the UK since 2011. Mark also noted that the Government will support the Bill, which goes further than the previous Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill by closing loopholes and reducing fraudulent imports.

Peter Gibson interjected to add his dogs' names to the list of pets mentioned during the debate, showing support for the Bill and highlighting the personal connection many MPs have with their animals.

Maria Eagle pressed the Minister to clarify enforcement measures against illegal pet imports. She also inquired about potential abuse related to ferrets, seeking assurances from the Government regarding robust regulations.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle briefly intervened to mention his concerns about the mess made in the XL Bully dog process, although this was outside the scope of the debate.