TO THE WELSH GOVERNMENT

Despite the BBC Wales Online Documentary, Sept 2019  investigating Welsh  Puppy Farms and the Welsh Governments pledge to seriously improve dog breeding, - cruelty and abuse of dogs still exists.  The photo above taken in April 2022 in an establishment where the licence had been revoked over two years ago shows the conditions many dogs endure.  Dogs should be removed when  licences are revoked and this is one of our demands listed below.  We have evidence of other premises, licensed and unlicensed, with appalling conditions. These places are not hard to locate but when information regarding them has been passed to the appropriate official bodies it is repeatedly ignored.

This petition also demands that the 'Dog Breeding Establishments Guidance for Local Authorities' must amend some of the 'Guidance' to the following Conditions:-

1  A cap on number of dogs in a breeding establishment 

There are too many puppies being bred at the present time and the Government's emphasis on 'meeting the demand' is irresponsible.

2 Maximum number of litters for a bitch to be 4 not 6

She will have more chance of succeeding with rehabilitation after a life  which consists of no experiences in the real world.  She will also be in better physical and mental health. 

3 Exercise facilities must have access to large grassed area/s

If this is not provided then the dogs will not have the opportunity to follow normal behavioural patterns e.g. scents, running and playing with a person.

4 Ratio of staff to dogs must be 1 adult member of staff to 10 dogs not 20

There will be puppies to consider and if the 'Guidance' is serious about the enhancement and socialization of them then it has to be this ratio.

5 Revoking of licence conditions

Where a licence is revoked because of welfare issues all dogs should be removed to a safe place.  Rescue Centres will have more space for these dogs as well as retired breeding bitches and unwanted puppy purchases done on a whim if the cap on the number of dogs in the 'puppy farm' is limited to a sensible number.

The Welsh Government acknowledges the fact that dog breeding is an industry along with dairy, meat and eggs.  This doesn't auger well for dogs.  They are companion animals and the exploitation and abuse they have been subjected to over decades has to be drastically changed.

Please sign to make sure that if dogs are in a breeding establishment they are still very much protected to the highest welfare standards possible.