Help me protect Man’s Best Friend

I want to put a stop to unlicensed dog breeders from using dogs to make a tax-free profit, whilst contributing to animal abuse, through dog bait markets and puppy farming.

Awareness and change was catapulted into the limelight, with the introduction of Lucy’s Law back in April 2020 but it is our belief that more needs to be done. Sadly Lucy’s Law only covers England, not the entirety of the UK and the harshest penalties are a fine or 6 months imprisonments. If enough were being done we would have seen a decline in theft, abuse and illegal farming and sadly that has not been the case. This petition is to ask for the following additions to governing law:

1. Stricter punishments for unlicensed dog breeders; a fine will not deter a criminal from unlawful breeding. 
2. Greater education on puppy farming and domestic animal trading to help the public make informed decision. 
3. Clearer guidance and information on licensed breeders to make choosing a breeder a far simpler process. 
4. Regulation surround the re-sale or rehoming of a dog, if an owner can no longer care of them. Too many people part with their pet to entirely unknown people - all pets should go via a rescue centre or re-homed through a lawful process, checking suitability of the new owners (criminal record etc). 
5. Stricter laws surrounding the advertisement of dog sales and monitoring of illegal sites. 

Many of these dogs go to unchecked homes, a high percentage of which end up being dying or being re- homed for various reasons, such as health issues or aggression; this is common place when purchasing dogs from unscrupulous breeders. The puppies suffer from numerous ailments, often dying young, and causing heartache for families.

No animal should be fated to a life of misery and distress, especially in the name of money making. 

Without licensing, many breeders are also able to sell dogs for illegal dog fighting and make a tidy profit from the pain and suffering that is inflicted on these animals. 

Help protect families too, whose dreams are shattered when they unknowingly pay for a puppy that is unwell. These people part with, sometimes £1,000’s, to have a dog join their family and are left with high vet’s bills and some truly traumatic memories of a dearly loved pet who, despite all their best efforts, passes away due to the maltreatment suffered at the hands of unlicensed dog breeders. 

I believe by regulating all dog breeders with the correct licence checks etc, we can dramatically reduce the frequency of dog thefts, abuse and puppy farming. It will empower people to make informed choices about where to buy their new family member from, help honest, trustworthy breeders to flourish and deter criminals from continuing to with the barbaric sport of dog fighting. 

NOBODY should be selling dogs without this license.