As election day approaches we decided to take a look at all of the Dog-Related Policies in each of the main political parties' manifestos in order to see how each party plans to address canine welfare and regulations. Your vote can make a difference to both their future and ours.
Party (A-Z)
Dog Related Pledges
Alliance Party
Will continue to pursue high animal welfare standards at the UK level.
Conservatives
Pledge to tackle puppy smuggling and livestock worrying.
Democratic Unionist Party
Take forward provisions of the Kept Animals Bill to tackle puppy smuggling
and livestock worrying
Promote a new approach to tackling increases in attacks by dogs
Continue to argue that all animal welfare legislation should be decided by the elected representatives of the people of Northern Ireland.
Labour
Pledges stronger animal welfare.
Bring an end to puppy smuggling and farming.
Partner with scientists, industry, and civil society to work towards the phasing out of animal testing.
Liberal Democrats
Pass a comprehensive new Animal Welfare Bill to ensure the highest animal welfare standards possible.
Introduce new laws to crack down on puppy and kitten smuggling.
Plaid Cymru
Tackle dog attacks on livestock through the re-introduction of livestock worrying legislation.
Reform
undisclosed
SNP
undisclosed
The Green Party
Implement a new Commission on Animal Protection which would be responsible for overseeing all rules designed to protect animals from cruelty and upholding their rights as sentient beings not to be subjected to undue suffering.
Enhance regulation and controls on the breeding, sale and import of companion animals.
Take action to stop cruel practices such as ear cropping and pet smuggling.
End the exploitation of animals, including greyhounds in racing.
Introduce pet theft legislation.
Encourage the use of companion animals in therapy and other treatments, drawing on evidence showing the beneficial impact of contact with animals on human psychology.
Introduce a licensing scheme for the ownership of all kept animals as well as replace the outdated breed-specific legislation for dogs with an updated dog control law.
Work towards an outright ban on all animal testing.
