Charity urges Government to act quickly following ‘welcome’ Moving Animals Across Borders report
Cats Protection has welcomed the Moving Animals Across Borders report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee, which includes recommendations on banning importing pets under six months old or heavily pregnant pets.
Cats Protection’s director of veterinary services Maggie Roberts says:“Cats Protection welcomes this important report from the EFRA committee, which urges the Government to act quickly to protect pets, including cats and kittens, which are being moved in and out of the UK.
“We are fully supportive of the measures recommended in the report, including a ban on importing pets younger than six months old and heavily pregnant pets.We are very pleased to see a recommendation to ban the importing of pets that have been subject to poor welfare practices, such as the cruel and unnecessary de-clawing of cats.
“We also welcome the remarks made by Neil
Parish MP, chair of the EFRA select committee.We agree the Government needs to implement solutions now to protect pets, including cats and kittens. Long delays on bringing in these recommendations will only lead to more suffering for pets being transported into the UK.With demand for cats and kittens on the rise following the pandemic, it is essential the Government reacts quickly to stamp out pet smugglers intent on putting profit before welfare.
“Prior to the publishing of this report, the Government launched a consultation on amendments to pet travel, following the UK’s
departure from the EU [which closed on 16 October]. Cats Protection is very disappointed that this Government consultation does not consider extending proposals to prevent puppy smuggling to kittens, or to ensure the welfare of young or pregnant cats brought into the UK. As it stands, the proposals risk encouraging a trade in kittens under six-months-old from abroad, particularly the more sought-after pedigree cat breeds.We are now urging the Government to follow the recommendations made in this EFRA report and ensure the welfare of all pets brought into the UK, including cats, is protected.”