Pet shops risk ban on selling puppies
PET shops face being banned from selling puppies and kittens under new proposals to improve animal welfare.
Legislation published yesterday proposes a stricter licensing regime, including increased inspections, to raise standards across the country.
The proposals are in a new private member’s Bill by Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour – and SNP ministers admit that legislation is ‘in need of review’.
The move follows an announcement by UK ministers last month that pet shops and online traders would no longer be able to sell puppies in England.
Mr Balfour, a Lothians MSP, said: ‘This consultation is aiming to find out what the views of Scots are on the issue, so we can legislate appropriately.’
Mr Balfour said the legislation would ‘enable the public to buy with confidence, safe in the knowledge that the pet shop they are buying from is a reputable, licensed establishment which has been subject to a stringent licensing process.’
The Bill aims to address weaknesses in the law, such as councils’ inability to revoke a licence, no guidance on licence fees – which range from £23 to £380 across Scottish local authorities – and inconsistency in inspections.
Mr Balfour said the proposed legislation does not intend to ‘hamper’ the pet trade but to ensure animal welfare needs are met. During the consultation process, he will invite views on whether to prohibit the sale of kittens and puppies in pet shops – although he makes no mention of other ‘third party’ sellers.
Charlotte Longster, senior public affairs officer at Dogs Trust, said: ‘We also want to see an end to the sale of puppies in pet shops as part of a package of co-ordinated measures, including ensuring that the licensing and inspection of anyone selling puppies is robust, consistent and being carried out by trained inspectors.’ But Kevin Inglis, 40, a director of Pet Supplies in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, said: ‘If the Government really want to protect pets and pet owners, it’s unregulated sellers they should target.
‘Anyone who buys a product from our shop and has a difficulty can come back and discuss it. But that’s not the case for stuff bought on Facebook or the internet where people can just disappear.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We acknowledge that the Pet Animals Act of 1951 is in need of review.’