Selaine Saxby MP came 6th in the Private Members’ Bill Ballot (PMB) and has committed to RSPCA and the Dogs Trust to deliver part of the original Animal Welfare Bill by putting forward a Bill to end puppy smuggling which also includes the end of illegal importation of cats and ferrets.
Private Members' bills are public bills introduced by MPs who are not government ministers. As with other public bills their purpose is to change the law as it applies to the general population. A minority of Private Members' bills become law but, by creating publicity around an issue, they may affect legislation indirectly. The names of Members applying for a bill are drawn in a ballot held on the second sitting Thursday of a parliamentary session. Normally, the first seven ballot bills are most likely to get a day's debate, Selaine was drawn 6th.
Selaine Saxby has attended multiple events organised by Dogs Trust at the House of Commons where the charity called on the Government to take urgent action to end the cruel practice of Puppy Smuggling and has been supporting the cause since being elected in 2019. Most recently having welcomed the Government’s ban of electric shock collars through a statutory instrument in May which Selaine has been a champion for some time.
Whilst the Kept Animals Bill has unfortunately ran out of parliamentary time to carry it through due to the large amount of pressing issues legislated for. Support for legislation to ban puppy smuggling as a single issue Bill will be likely to succeed. Selaine will first present the Bill on Wednesday 6th December with the First Reading on the 2nd February next year.
Data from a recent survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Dogs Trust earlier this year showed that 83% of voters believe that the UK Government should crack on the illegal smuggling of dogs into the UK.
The title of Selaine’s Bill will be the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Bill to make provision for and in connection with restricting the importation and non commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets. This ban will not only ban young sick puppies and kittens coming into the country but it will also ban young animals being taken away from their mothers too soon and the import of heavily pregnant dogs and cats.
Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon said:
“As a dog owner myself, it is horrific to hear stories of puppies being smuggled across the border and the poor conditions they have to endure. Pets are family, not property. Since being elected in 2019, I have continuously supported the Government’s Kept Animals Bill, however, due to the lack of parliamentary time this has been unable to become law. Many residents in North Devon have written to me about their support for the Bill and I am happy to announce that I will be bringing the Puppy Smuggling part of the Bill forward and am optimistic that we will successfully take it through to become law.
“As part of the Dogs Trust’s Puppy Smuggling Taskforce, I experienced the documentary and identity checks currently in operation at the border first hand. I saw for myself the tactic's smugglers employ to avoid detection and explain why adding a visual check to this process is crucial to tackling this abhorrent trade.
“I am excited to be putting this Bill forward to fulfil one of our manifesto commitments. The Bill will safeguard the welfare of thousands of puppies, dogs, cats and ferrets that come into Great Britain from overseas each year. It will also prevent the heartache of families who unknowingly buy young and ill pets that often come with hidden health conditions.
“We really are a nation of pet lovers, I look forward to working collaboratively with organisations such as the RSPCA and Dogs Trust to ensure that this legislation is successful and that the UK is leading the world when it comes to animal welfare.”
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust said:
“We are delighted that Selaine has committed to taking forward a Bill to finally put an end to 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.”
David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said:
“The RSPCA is delighted that Selaine Saxby MP is bringing forward a Bill that will crackdown on puppy smuggling, which is huge news for dog welfare.
“Currently, there is little protection around the import of pregnant dogs, dogs with cropped ears can still be imported even though it is illegal in the UK and the age for puppies needs to be increased to six months to improve their welfare. All these measures would help crack down on the illegal, well organised and cruel puppy trade. Mums and puppies are still forced to travel long distances and sold to unsuspecting members of the public who often have to deal with poorly puppies and dogs with behavioural issues.
“The RSPCA has campaigned for a long time to have a policy on puppy smuggling revived and this Bill gives us renewed hope that puppy smuggling can be ended once and for all.”
