Call to ban pet shops from selling puppies

SNP ministers have been urged to ban pet shops and online dealers from selling puppies after Michael Gove’s decision to crack down on cruelty south of the Border. The UK Government has pledged to limit sales to licensed breeders and charities which rehouse abandoned dogs.

The ban will only apply in England and Wales, although it will also affect Scots who cross the Border to buy puppies.

Campaigners are also calling for action in Scotland and Scottish Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has previously pledged to consider a crackdown.

Tory MP Ross Thomson is among those who are urging the Scottish Government to change the law.

In a letter to Miss Cunningham he said: ‘Puppies and kittens are being separated from their mothers and kept in awful conditions and often transported for long distances before being sold.

‘I want to do what I can to help eradicate this practice.

‘There have been calls at Westminster for a ban on third-party sales, and I think that this is something that the Scottish Government should look at.’

Mr Gove’s action will see new rules come into effect later this year. These will force anyone who breeds or sells dogs to be licensed. All sales of puppies and kittens under eight weeks old will be banned.

The move has been supported by the Lib Dems. Scottish environment spokesman Mariam Mahmood said: ‘There is more protection for buying a fridge than a puppy.’

Last night the Scottish Government confirmed the sale of puppies and kittens under eight weeks old is already banned.

A spokesman said: ‘The Scottish Government takes animal welfare extremely seriously and we are determined to crack down on all instances of animal cruelty.’