Selaine Saxby MP was welcomed by leading dog welfare charity Dogs Trust at their centre in Ilfracombe earlier this week where she was greeted by a wagging tail reception.
The MP for North Devon visited the rehoming centre where she helped Dogs Trust staff by walking one of the current residents Freddie, a 4-year-old terrier cross who is getting ready to move to his forever home.
During the visit, Selaine and Elise Watson, Ilfracombe Rehoming Centre Manager, discussed dog welfare issues including Selaine’s Private Member’s Bill which is aimed at tackling puppy smuggling, and Dogs Trust’s campaign to end the puppy smuggling trade for over a decade.
Speaking after her visit Selaine Saxby MP said: “It was lovely to visit the Dogs Trust’s rehoming centre in Ilfracombe and meet the dedicated team of staff who provide the necessary love and care for their four-legged residents whilst they wait to find their forever home. I had the pleasure of meeting and walking Freddie, a lovely little cross terrier who will be going to his new home this week!
“My Puppy Smuggling Bill recently passed Second Reading with Government backing and, in my speech, I mentioned the Dogs Trust’s fantastic campaigns for dog welfare. The Bill will safeguard the welfare of thousands of dogs that come in the UK from overseas each year by closing the loopholes that cruel puppy smugglers abuse. This visit was also a great opportunity to talk to the Dogs Trust about responsible dog ownership and ensuring that pet owners purchase or adopt puppies safely and responsibly with the dog’s welfare front of mind.”
Hannah Evans, Deputy Head of Public Affairs at Dogs Trust, said: “We are delighted that Selaine is taking forward a Bill to finally tackle the cruel Puppy Smuggling trade. We have been campaigning for over 10 years to end the suffering of countless numbers of dogs caught up in this abhorrent trade, and we hope this marks a real step forward for dog welfare in the UK.”
Elise Watson, Dogs Trust Ilfracombe Regional Centre Manager said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Selaine to our Rehoming Centre in Ilfracombe to help out for the day, and to have the opportunity for our staff to share their experiences and discuss current issues facing dog welfare.”
For more information about Dogs Trust Ilfracombe please visit: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/our-centres/ilfracombe
