MPs To Debate Puppy Farming Petition In Parliament

Puppies for sale in UK pet shop in May 2014 Animal welfare campaign group PupAid urge all dog and cat owners to ask their MPs to attend September’s Commons debate PupAid, the anti-puppy farming campaign started by TV Vet Marc Abraham, are calling on all animal lovers to contact their MP to support the debate on the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops. Taking place in the Main Chamber of the House of Commons on Thursday September 4th this debate will be the first of its kind discussing puppy farming, responsible breeding, and rescue pet adoption. Campaigning group PupAid were awarded this debate after collecting over 100,000 signatures on their government e-petition last year, the amount needed to trigger a debate. Their petition calls for a ban on the sale of puppies and kittens without their mums, i.e. pet shops, garden centres, even ‘puppy supermarkets’ intended to starve the UK’s puppy farming industry of business. PupAid’s Marc Abraham says “Puppies produced on large scale commercial breeding establishments, known as puppy farms, and irresponsibly produced kittens are separated from their mothers too early, often transported long distances, and as a result often suffer serious life-threatening problems including impaired immune systems, poor socialisation, infectious diseases, and shorter life spans.” Marc continues “This forthcoming debate is an exciting step in combatting the cruel practice of irresponsible, unethical breeding of puppies and kittens in the UK, as well as the perfect opportunity to raise awareness, and educate the public about choosing a dog responsibly i.e. from ethical breeders e.g. Kennel Club Assured Breeders, or by adoption from legitimate rescue organisations.” September’s high profile debate has already gained the support of over 50 MPs including Labour’s Stoke representative Rob Flello, owner of rescued German Shepherd Dog ‘Diesel’, who will lead the debate. Welfare organisations also supporting the ban on puppies and kittens sold for profit in pet shops include Kennel Club, Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Mayhew, Wood Green, Blue Cross, and RSPCA. Celebrities supporting PupAid’s campaign include Ricky Gervais, Brian May, Liam Gallagher, Sarah Harding, Elle MacPherson, Peter Egan, and Meg Mathews; with PupAid’s annual fun dog show on Primrose Hill, London just two days later – all taking place within Kennel Club’s Puppy Awareness Week. Marc concludes “Please contact your MP asking them to attend the debate by visiting PupAid’s website www.pupaid.org and following simple instructions. Then share that link on social networks like Twitter and Facebook too - basically the more MPs present in that Chamber on 4th September the more likely we are to achieve changes in UK’s animal welfare legislation. It only takes 2 minutes to email or write to your MP but it could potentially save the lives of millions of dogs and cats both now and well into the future.”

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