‘Lucy’s Law’ means that anyone wanting to get a new
puppy or kitten in England must now buy direct from a
breeder, or consider adopting from a rescue centre
instead. Licensed dog breeders are required to show
puppies interacting with their mothers in their place
of birth. If a business sells puppies or kittens
without a licence, they could receive an unlimited fine
or be sent to prison for up to six months.
The law is named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles
Spaniel who was rescued from a puppy farm where she was
subjected to terrible conditions. Puppy farms are
located across the UK with most depending on
third-party sellers or ‘dealers’ to distribute often
sick, traumatised, unsocialised puppies which have been
taken away from their mother at just a few weeks old.
This often involves long-distance transportation, with
the puppy or kitten suffering life-threatening medical,
surgical, or behavioural problems which are passed on
to unsuspecting new owners. Lucy’s Law effectively
removes the third-party dealer chain, resulting in all
dog and cat breeders becoming accountable for the first
time.
As well as Lucy’s Law, the Government has committed to
supporting tougher sentences for animal cruelty,
raising maximum prison sentences from six months to
five years, and has pledged to bring in new laws on
animal sentience and to end excessively long journeys
for live animals.
Animal welfare minister said:
Today is a significant milestone for animal welfare,
and a major step towards ending cruel puppy farming
and smuggling. After all the hard work of Marc
Abraham and the Lucy’s Law campaign, I’m so pleased
that we finally have this crucial legislation which
will help tackle the heart-breaking third-party trade
of dogs and cats.
But we also need the public to do their bit to help
by always asking to see puppies and kittens
interacting with their mothers in their place of
birth, looking out for the warning signs, and
reporting any suspicious activity. By raising
awareness of illegal sellers to the local
authorities, we can all help to protect the nation’s
cats and dogs and give them the best start in life.
Marc Abraham, media vet, author, founder of Pup Aid and
the Lucy’s Law campaign, said:
I’m incredibly proud to have led the 10-year campaign
to ban cruel puppy and kitten dealers and to get this
essential Lucy’s Law legislation over the line. I’d
like to give a huge thanks to UK Government for
passing this law, as well as every animal-loving
parliamentarian, celebrity, welfare organisation, and
member of the public that supported us.
Lucy was an incredibly brave dog, and it’s right that
her memory is honoured with such an important piece
of legislation to help end puppy farm cruelty;
protecting breeding dogs just like her, as well as
cats, their young, and also unsuspecting
animal-lovers from the dangers of irresponsible
breeding and cruel puppy and kitten dealers.
Lucy’s Law is the result of a 10-year grassroots
campaign supported by prominent figures including Ricky
Gervais, Brian May, Rachel Riley, and Peter Egan, and
it will help disrupt the supply chain of unscrupulous
breeders and dealers who breed dogs in shocking
conditions, often kept imprisoned alone in the dark,
with very little human or canine company.
Last month, the Government launched the ‘Petfished’
campaign to highlight these conditions and the
deceitful tactics pet sellers use to trick buyers into
thinking they are responsible breeders selling healthy
animals. The campaign urges the public to look out for
warning signs which suggest the seller could be an
illegal third-party dealer such as litters without a
mum present or being rushed through a sale.
For more advice on how to buy a pet safely
visit getyourpetsafely.campaign.gov.uk.
Anyone looking to buy a puppy or kitten should look for
these warning signs
Before visiting:
- Research. Have a look at the seller’s profile and
search their name online. If they are advertising many
litters from different breeds, then this is a red flag.
- Check contact details. Copy and paste the phone
number into a search engine. If the number is being
used on lots of different adverts, sites and dates then
this is likely a deceitful seller.
- Check the animal’s age. Puppies and kittens should
never be sold under 8 weeks old – do not buy from
anyone advertising a puppy or kitten younger than 8
weeks.
- Check the animal’s health records. Make sure the
seller shares all records of vaccinations, flea and
worm treatment and microchipping with you before sale.
When visiting:
- Make sure the mum is present - if mum is not
available to meet, it’s unlikely the puppy or kitten
was bred there. Beware of the seller making excuses as
to why mum is not there e.g. she’s at the vet’s,
asleep, or out for a walk.
- Check there isn’t a ‘fake’ mum – most fake mums
don’t interact with the puppies as they fear the real
mum returning.
- Watch out for puppies or kittens labelled as
‘rescue’ but with much higher than expected price tags.
- If you feel rushed or pressurised into parting with
cash, this is a red flag.
- Health problems observed at purchase are not normal
and don’t be convinced otherwise.
- Beware of offers to meet somewhere convenient e.g.
car park or motorway services, or ‘shop front’
premises, common with rented properties just to make
sales, and ‘sales rooms’ kept separate from nearby or
onsite puppy farm.
RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said:
Over the last decade RSPCA staff have dealt with
almost 30,000 complaints relating to the illegal
puppy trade. Our rescuers have saved dogs from
unimaginable cruelty and hideous conditions; our vets
have tried desperately to save the lives of tiny
puppies riddled with worms and plagued by health and
behaviour problems; and our carers have nursed dogs
back to health, teaching them to trust people again,
and showing them love for the first time.
We’re incredibly pleased that the Government is today
introducing a ban on third-party sales of puppies and
kittens. We believe that this, along with tougher
licensing regulations that were introduced in 2018
and better education of the public on how to buy
puppies responsibly, will help to crackdown on this
cruel trade. We hope these laws will be properly
enforced so that all dogs who are used for breeding
and selling will live happy, healthy lives where
their welfare is prioritised above profits.
Holly Conway, Head of Public Affairs at the Kennel Club
said:
We are delighted that Lucy’s Law has been introduced
today. Sadly, too often irresponsible breeders in the
UK and abroad have depended on commercial third-party
sellers – like ‘dealers’ or pet shops – to disguise
the horrific conditions puppies are bred and brought
up in to the public, readily making a huge profit
while causing untold suffering.
We hope Lucy’s Law will help bring an end to this
cruel trade and that, as well as improving welfare
conditions for puppies, it will also encourage anyone
thinking of getting a puppy to really do their
research, find a responsible breeder and bring home a
happy, healthy new addition to the family.
TV personality, model and animal rights campaigner Lucy
Watson said:
Sadly, I was totally unaware of the cruelty involved
in the legal third-party puppy trade when I
unwittingly bought my first dog Digby, a German
Spitz, from a licensed pet shop. As a result of his
irresponsible breeding, I have witnessed first-hand
his life-long behavioural problems, most likely
caused by lack of adequate socialisation as a result
of early separation from his mum and littermates.
As well as Digby, I have since adopted crossbreed
Marley from an organisation dedicated to rescuing
puppies and breeding dogs from puppy farms and would
always urge others to do the same. I’ve been a proud
supporter of the Lucy’s Law campaign since the very
beginning and was even lucky enough to have met the
actual rescue cavalier Lucy too!
- Lucy’s Law is the short-hand for the amendment to
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving
Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 brought about by
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving
Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019, which
makes unlawful the sales of puppies and kittens (under
six months in both cases) by third party sellers/anyone
other than the breeder. Lucy’s Law currently comes into
force on 6 April in England only as it is devolved
legislation.
- Lucy’s Law is the result of a 10-year grassroots
and multi award-winning campaign to ban third party
puppy and kitten dealers, by a coalition of campaigning
groups including Pup Aid, C.A.R.I.A.D., Canine Action
UK, Hidden Insight, and The Karlton Index. Other animal
welfare organisations supporting Lucy’s Law include
RSPCA, The Kennel Club, Mayhew, All Dogs Matter,
Raystede, Jerry Green Rescue, Friends of Animals Wales,
All Party Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG), All
Party Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW), Canine and
Feline Sector Group, Institute of Licensing (IOL);
celebrities including Ricky Gervais, Jane Fallon,
Rachel Riley, Brian May, Peter Egan, Eamonn Holmes, Kay
Burley, , Gail Porter, Lucy Watson, Liam
Gallagher, Meg Mathews, Deborah Meaden, Sue Perkins,
Sarah Harding; cross-party parliamentarians notably
MP, , Dr
,
MP, , , , , Prime
Minister MP.
- If you’re rescuing a cat or dog, you can start
by checking if the
rescue organisation is a member of the Association of
Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH), although many reputable
rescues aren’t members of ADCH.
- If you’re buying a puppy please use The Puppy
Contract; and if you’re buying a kitten please use The
Kitten Checklist.
