DOG BREEDING AND PUPPY FARMING

Early day motion 1017, tabled 29 January 2014 by Rob Flello (Labour). Signed by 42 members.

That this House notes the recent storyline in the television programme, EastEnders, regarding dog breeding and welcomes the publicity given to this issue of great concern to animal welfare charities and compassionate owners; further notes that irresponsible dog breeding and industrial-scale puppy farming regularly takes place often in horrendous conditions with no consideration for the welfare or happiness of the dogs involved; commends the work of organisations such as the Dog Rescue Federation, Pup Aid and CARIAD for highlighting these issues; further notes that around 127,000 stray and abandoned dogs were picked up by local authorities in 2012 alone and 11,000 were put to sleep for no other reason than that they were unwanted; further notes that often unregistered dog breeders make no effort to vaccinate the puppies from the lethal parvovirus resulting in many puppies dying within weeks of being sold; and therefore calls on the BBC to ensure that the impact of puppy farming is fully explored as this storyline unfolds in the coming weeks.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Liberal Democrat 5, Conservative 3, DUP 2, Independent 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Alliance 1.