Lord de Mauley

Parliamentary under-Secretary of State (Natural environment and science)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Nobel House

17 Smith Square

London SW1P 3JR

 

Date: 3rd April 2014

 

Dear Lord de Mauley,

 

I am writing to you regarding the Ten Minute Rule Bill that had its first reading on 26th March. It concerns the issue of the illegal importation of puppies for sale in the UK.  I am sure you will share my shock at a new report by the RSPCA in which they set out why they believe the problem is widespread and in which they demonstrate the huge impact on animal welfare of puppies being brought in for sale and of people unknowingly buying sick or illegally imported puppies.  The report highlights the significant threat of rabies returning to the UK too, as lack of enforcement at borders is allowing unvaccinated and underage puppies to enter the country.

 

Puppy traders are exploiting loopholes and lack of enforcement of the PETS scheme, which is supposed to allow people to move around with their pet dogs, not to import dogs for commercial gain.  I urge you to take action on the RSPCA’s call for changes to be made to border enforcement of the PETS scheme, including for the responsibility for enforcement to be transferred from ferry companies to the statutory border control agency.  This would reduce the rabies risk and help prevent puppy traders from exploiting the system at great cost to both the puppies and the people unknowingly buying them.

 

I look forward to hearing back from you on this matter.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion

 

For the response from the Minister's please click here.