MP Evans backs new safeguards to thwart illegal trade in puppies
THE MP for Hinckley and Bosworth has backed new government plans to crack down on the “grim trade” of puppy smuggling.
Dr Luke Evans has expressed his support for government plans that seek to tackle an increase in the practice, building on a campaign launched earlier this year.
The plans aim to ban the import of dogs with cropped ears or docked tails; raise the minimum age for importing a puppy from 15 weeks to six months and ban the import of heavily pregnant dogs.
In the past year, more than 66,000 dogs were commercially imported into the UK, according to Animal and Plant Health Agency figures. The new plans will help to safeguard the welfare of dogs.
Dr Evans said: “Animal welfare sits close to people’s hearts. After deciding to get two whippets last year, the issue is a personal one for me.
“Setting out to find Ada and Roux demonstrated to me that there is still work to do to make the process safer for puppies and to stop irresponsible breeders from taking advantage of an increased demand.” Border authorities have seen around a 260 per cent increase in the number of puppies intercepted for not meeting the UK’s pet import rules - an increase from 324 in 2019 to 843 in 2020.
The proposals are among new measures included in an eightweek consultation that encourages people to have their say on the new plans, as well as the penalties for breaching these rules, changes to the rehoming process, and whether the proposals should extend to cats and ferrets.
Since being elected in 2019, Dr Evans has promoted animal welfare and lobbied the government to strengthen animal rights.
The Tory MP raised puppy profiteering in Parliament breeders who place potential profits ahead of welfare to sell puppies whilst demand is high.
He said: “I am pleased to see these new plans build on the Puppy Smuggling Taskforce campaign, which I was pleased to support this year.
“Our constituency of Bosworth is full of keen animal lovers, ably demonstrated with the petition sent to Parliament regarding animal welfare, where we were in the top 10 of 650 constituencies with the number of signatures.” In February, Dr Evans joined forces with Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, to support the Puppy Smuggling Taskforce, campaigning to stop the illegal importation of puppies.
The new proposals will ensure puppies and dogs imported into the UK are cared for and sold responsibly. Animal welfare minister Lord Zac Goldsmith said: “Puppy smuggling is a grim trade, and we are determined to clamp down on it. “Raising the minimum import age for puppies will help protect thousands of animals that are brought into the country every year and stop criminals looking to profit from the rise in demand for pets.
“These new measures build on our plans to raise animal welfare standards across the board as part of our Action Plan for Animal Welfare.”
Animal welfare sits close to people’s hearts. After deciding to get two whippets last year, the issue is a personal one for me Dr Luke Evans