The MP for Penrith and the Border and the Dogs Trust recently welcomed more than 100 MPs to an event they co-hosted at the House of Commons, where the charity called on the Government to take urgent action to end Puppy Smuggling.

Dr Neil Hudson MP has been a supporter of the charity’s mission to end Puppy Smuggling since he was elected in 2019.

At the House of Commons event, MPs were invited to discuss with the charity how they can work together to end the illegal trade by ensuring the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill is passed by Parliament.

The charity is also calling for the Government to include visual checks at the borders in its plan to put a stop to the cruel trade once and for all.

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The Kept Animals Bill includes provisions to tackle abuse of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), which the charity has been exposing since 2014.

Through five undercover investigations, Dogs Trust has revealed the falsifying of documents to import underage puppies, often unvaccinated and in poor welfare conditions, which go on to be sold to unsuspecting buyers in the UK.

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said:

"It was a pleasure to work with the Dogs Trust and host this important event to raise awareness about the vital work being done by the charity on puppy smuggling and to hopefully boost parliamentary support for the Kept Animals Bill to return to the Commons.

"Ultimately the puppy smuggling trade, that tragically continues to take place on an industrial scale, must be stamped out urgently.

“Being freely imported are unvaccinated and underage puppies, animals with cropped ears or docked tails, and heavily pregnant dogs which often endure horrific journeys and pose a significant health risk to both animals and humans.

“As the only veterinary surgeon in the Commons, this is just not acceptable to me.”

 

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