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The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed a parliamentary inquiry from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee inquiry into puppy smuggling.
The inquiry will consult on tougher controls on pet imports, the impact of Lucy’s Law, and whether the UK’s demand for puppies can be met through domestic breeding.
The inquiry follows an EFRA Committee report in 2017, which concluded that “the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is providing a vehicle for the illegal importation of puppies”.
BVA will consult members and respond to the EFRA committee inquiry by the 23 September deadline.
In BVA’s 2018 Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, 29% of companion animal vets reported seeing puppies in the previous year that they were concerned had been brought into the country illegally.
BVA, Junior VP, Daniella Dos Santos, said: “We are very pleased to see the EFRA committee follow up on its 2017 report findings to launch an inquiry to combat the illegal trade in puppies.
“As vets, we see first-hand the tragic consequences resulting from puppies bred in deplorable conditions and taken away from their mothers at a very young age to undertake long, arduous journeys. They often suffer from disease, health problems and poor socialisation, leading to heartache and financial costs for the new owners.”
