Kennel Club delighted with Government decision on banning third party puppy sales

Following an announcement by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) that there will be a consultation on an outright ban on third party puppy sales (announced Wednesday 22 August 2018), the Kennel Club has issued the following statement:

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: “We are absolutely delighted that Michael Gove has announced that Defra will be issuing a consultation on an outright ban on third party sale of puppies, which is a vital step forward to tackling the cruel puppy farming industry.

“The Kennel Club has long called for an end to the sale of puppies in pet shops and by other third party retailers, as puppy farmers often use such outlets to sell their pups to unsuspecting members of the public who never see the terrible conditions that the pups were raised in.

“When this policy is implemented it will stop the suffering of many dogs and send a very strong message to puppy buyers that it is never ok to see a puppy in any environment other than the one it was born and raised in, and with its mum. Responsible breeders, such as a Kennel Club Assured Breeder, will have nothing to hide and would simply never sell their puppies to a pet dealer or pet shop, and would always speak at length with a prospective owner before selling them one of their puppies.

“This was the next logical step following on from Prime Minister Theresa May’s commitment in December to crack down on puppy farms, and we welcome this further announcement to put an end to the terrible conditions found in puppy farming and to improve animal welfare in the long run.”

Read further information on the Kennel Club’s view on puppy sales.