Patricia Gibson MP backs end to puppy smuggling
Patricia Gibson, MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, has joined forces with the UK’s largest dog welfare charity to call on the Government to stop the illegal importation of puppies into the UK.
As part of its wider campaign, urging government to introduce tougher legislation to end puppy smuggling, Dogs Trust is also calling on the government to raise the minimum age for puppies to be imported into the UK to six months to help make them less desirable and to bring in tougher penalties for smuggling puppies to deter dishonest sellers.
Dogs Trust’s Veterinary Director Paula Boyden said: ‘Sadly, we continue to see more and more heart-breaking examples of puppies being illegally imported into the country.
‘Puppy smugglers are making vast profits by exploiting innocent puppies, breeding and transporting them in appalling conditions to sell on to dog lovers here in the UK.
‘There has never been a more urgent need to end the appalling puppy smuggling trade.
‘Enough is enough. Government must take immediate action as too many puppies are suffering at the hands of cruel traders and too many dog lovers are being left to pick up the pieces.
‘We are grateful to Patricia Gibson for her support in joining the parliamentary Puppy Smuggling Taskforce to stop this cruel trade.’
Mrs Gibson said: ‘I am delighted to join the Puppy Smuggling Taskforce and support Dogs Trust in its efforts to raise awareness of and tackle the abhorrent puppy smuggling trade. At a time when demand for dogs in the UK has never been higher, I want to urge my constituents to really do their research before buying a puppy advertised for sale online as it’s all too easy to be duped into buying a dog that’s been illegally smuggled into the country.
‘Dogs Trust has been campaigning on this issue for many years now and I’m proud to to say I’m part of the Puppy Smuggling Taskforce to help put a stop to puppies needlessly suffering at the hands of criminals.’