This week Rebecca Harris attended an event organised by Dogs Trust at the House of Commons. MPs were invited to discuss with the charity how they can work together to end the illegal trade of puppy smuggling with their support for the Government’s Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

The Government’s Kept Animals Bill includes provisions to tackle abuse of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), which the charity has been exposing since 2014. Through five undercover investigations, Dogs Trust has revealed the falsifying of documents to import underage puppies, often unvaccinated and in poor welfare conditions, which go on to be sold to unsuspecting buyers in the UK.

Rebecca Harris MP said:

“I was proud to support the Government’s Kept Animal Welfare Bill at its last stage in May and every other stage. I am pleased that the Government has carried over the Bill from the last Parliamentary session, showing the Government’s strong commitment to ending puppy smuggling and delivering on our manifesto pledge to advance animal welfare.

“I look forward to supporting the Bill at its next stages, which will help put an end to this abhorrent practice and will build on the UK’s already world-leading animal welfare standards.”

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and cares for 14,000 dogs a year across its network of 21 rehoming centres in the UK and one in Dublin. Dogs Trust has a non-destruction policy and will never put a healthy dog to sleep. The charity also focuses its efforts on understanding dogs and sharing that knowledge with the wider public to prevent problem behaviours that can result in relinquishment or abandonment. Dogs Trust is working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.

For any more information on Dogs Trust and the work they do, please visit: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/