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The Pets’n’Vets Family, the network of veterinary practices with surgeries around Glasgow and surrounding areas, has backed MSP Jeremy Balfour’s proposals to upgrade ‘outdated’ law on selling animals in pet shops.
The Conservative MSP highlighted research from animal charity Blue Cross indicating the current legislation governing pet shops dates from 1951 and is outdated, leading to a lack of consistency.
The member’s bill aims to address what are seen as weaknesses in the law, including an inability for councils to revoke a licence, no guidance on licence fees across Scottish local authorities, and inconsistency in inspections.
Blue Cross and industry body the Pet Industry Federation have backed the planned bill.
Pet Industry Federation chief executive officer Nigel Baker said: “The legislation is in urgent need of an overhaul in order to safeguard animal welfare and ensure that standards of licensing and inspection are applied and enforced consistently across Scotland.”
Ross Allan, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery at the Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital, part of The Pets’n’Vets Family, said: “Animals sold in pet shops need better protection as the current law is outdated and failing. We fully support the introduction of new legislation to better safeguard animal welfare in Scotland.”
The consultation closing date for the Proposed Pet Shop ‘Licensing (Scotland) Bill is 18 June 2018. Anyone wishing to respond to the consultation is encouraged to do so using an online survey, which can be accessed here: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/LicensingOfPetShops
