11
Deferred
Introduce public campaign raising awareness of designer pet welfare issues and harms.
Recommendation
The Government should work with the sector to formulate and introduce a public information campaign to raise awareness around welfare issues and harms of so- called ‘designer’ pets, particularly brachycephalic breeds, with the aim of discouraging acquisition of these breeds.
Government Response Summary
The government shares concerns about non-exempt mutilations but deflects from the recommendation for a public information campaign. Instead, it highlights that ear cropping is already an offence under existing legislation with tougher penalties, and that advertising standards prohibit such ads.
Paragraph Reference
46
Government Response
Deferred
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government shares the Committee’s concern about non-exempt mutilations. However, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is already an offence in England and Wales to carry out a non-exempted mutilation, including the cropping of a dog’s ears. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 created tougher penalties for anyone convicted of such an offence who now faces either being sent to prison for up to five years, receiving an unlimited fine, or both. Further, Defra supports the work of the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) which includes in its membership some of the country’s key animal welfare organisations. To ensure that advertisements for pets are legal and ethical, PAAG has developed a set of advertising standards which several of the UK’s largest classified websites have agreed to meet. The standards prohibit engaged websites from hosting adverts for dogs whose ears have been cropped.
Source
Inquiry
Pet welfare and abuse
Report
Second Report - Pet welfare and abuse
05 Apr 2024
HC 161
Timeline
Recommendation age
2.2 yrs
Report published
05 Apr 2024