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Puppy farms must be dealt with
posted on 10/03/2009

One campaign I have been paying particular attention to recently is the standard of so-called 'puppy farms' across Wales and the plight of some dogs at the hands of irresponsible owners. Vulnerable puppies in the very early stages of their lives are being kept in atrocious conditions which lead some puppies to suffer from severe ill-health and sometimes die as a result. Puppies are being sold to people looking to pay a reduced price for a pet and therefore purchase pets from pet shops and farms which, conversely to reputable breeders, do not take sufficient care of puppies .

This situation clearly is one which cannot go on. There are several steps which both the Assembly and people who buy puppies can take in order to ensure the wellbeing of puppies across Wales. These include insisting on seeing the mother, sire and the entire litter in their true surroundings; simply showing the mother and a puppy outside of their day-to-day living conditions cannot suffice. If the customer is suspicious of a puppy's wellbeing, which is being registered with the Kennel Club’s, it is important that the Kennel Club is notified so they are able to properly investigate the case.

As chair of the all-party group on animal welfare, I have come across many cases of neglect by owners towards animals. I have attempted to lead the Assembly’s efforts towards protecting animal rights and have worked alongside many bodies outside the Assembly to achieve this. It is critical that a concerted, combined effort is made by the Assembly, third party bodies and the public to eradicate cruelty to animals in every form. In these difficult economic times, owners may spend less money on pets as a means of cutting costs in the households and we must not forget the plight of pets at a time when concerns in other areas dominate our thoughts. I will be discussing this matter with the Minister for Rural Affairs in the coming weeks as well as questioning First Minister Rhodri Morgan on the issue in the Chamber.