3,500 sign west Wales puppy farm investigation petition

A petition calling for an inquiry into welfare standards in the west Wales puppy farming industry has been handed to the Welsh Assembly.
Local Assembly member Joyce Watson received the petition from dog show breeders at the Senedd on Wednesday (2 November). Petitioners oppose a proposed law they say will damage dog show breeders, while not cracking down on so-called puppy farms.
The petition, which has collected 3,743 signatures, calls on for an independent investigation into the enforcement of animal welfare standards in the puppy farming industry in South West Wales – it says dog breeding licences are issued too easily and rules are not being enforced.
Joyce Watson, who sits on the Assembly’s Petitions Committee, said: “The Committee has written to the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development seeking his views on the petition, and has issued a call for evidence on this issue.”
In a statement issued in June, the Environment Minister said new dog breeding legislation is needed to address animal welfare concerns, but assured it would not penalise responsible breeders. But some ‘hobby breeders’ are worried it will create more bureaucracy for them, while offending puppy farms will not be hit, as inspectors find themselves dealing with an increased workload.