SALE OF PUPPIES IN PET SHOPS

Early day motion 1424, tabled 9 February 2011 by Naomi Long (Alliance). Signed by 36 members.

That this House recognises that dogs are not a retail commodity and should be bought only from licensed breeders; notes that puppies sold in pet shops are almost exclusively bred on puppy farms; further notes that the Pet Animals Act 1951 does not reflect current best practice nor cover the retail methods used in the 21st century; and therefore calls on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to introduce secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to prohibit the sale of puppies in pet shops and by third parties.

Signatures by party: Labour 17, Liberal Democrat 8, Conservative 5, DUP 3, Alliance 1, Green 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.