Animal Welfare Bill

moved Amendment No. 69:"After Clause 12, insert the following new clause—" ““SALE OF DOGS (1)   A person commits an offence if he exposes, offers or displays for sale or supply or sells or supplies a dog in the course of a business at premises other than— (a)   a dwelling; (b)   a licensed breeding establishment or a licensed Scottish rearing establishment within the meaning of section 8 of the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 (c. 11) (sale of dogs). (2)   A person commits an offence if in the course of a business he sells a dog which is less than eight weeks’ old.”” The noble Duke said: The amendment addresses the problem of selling dogs in pet shops and any sale of puppies before they are fully ready to be weaned. It does not inhibit the sale of puppies of the family pet carried out at the family dwelling. The Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 creates offences by keepers of licensed breeding establishments for carrying out certain transactions relating to dogs. However, it does not cover offences by persons other than keepers of licensed breeding establishments or licensed Scottish rearing establishments. The amendment was suggested by the Kennel Club, and is one about which it is much concerned. The welfare of dogs and puppies in the process of sale through pet shops can be compromised. Puppies may be removed from their mothers before being fully developed and be transported to pet shops. As a result of an alien environment, they may develop physical and psychological problems. What is more, they may be subject to inappropriate living facilities in the early years that can adversely affect subsequent training. Although Annexe E of the regulatory impact assessment, which requires commercial vendors of pet animals to issue information leaflets, is welcome, can the Minister assure the Committee that it will be subject to a thorough consultation process with the relevant stakeholders? The amendments will ensure that the breeding and sale of dogs and puppies is built around the welfare needs of the animals, and ensure a pragmatic approach to the future training and behavioural tendencies of young dogs. I should declare my interest in the Bill, as I have before, as a farmer very concerned with animals and livestock. Living as I do in a farming community with a large trade in dogs, I know that trading occurs in other circumstances. We have already dealt with the concept of disciplining trade on the internet, but at the moment it provides a ready market for privately bred puppies. I have seen a litter of 10 pups find buyers within a week just through someone putting a notice on the internet. A rather unique event in my locality, which is a hill farming area with a great reliance on strong, well trained dogs, is that of a sheepdog-trial situation where dogs are put through their paces and immediately afterwards auctioned by one of the main Scottish auction companies. We would not want that type of thing disadvantaged, but we would like proper regulations to be brought in. In moving Amendment No. 69, I speak also to Amendment No. 170. I beg to move.