Councillors to debate puppy smuggling motion

Councillors are being urged to rebuke the Government for abandoning a pledge to end puppy smuggling, pet theft and live animal exports in the UK.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Jeremy Hilton has proposed a motion to a meeting of the city council on July 13 about the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

If the motion is passed by councillors, the council will write to Thérèse Coffey, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and local MPs Richard Graham and Laurence Robertson who represent the city of Gloucester to “express regret” over the manifesto U-turn.

Last month the Conservative Government broke their manifesto promise to crack down on pet theft, puppy smuggling and banning live animal exports by dropping the Bill.

Councillor Hilton, who represents Kingsholm, accused the Government of breaking another manifesto pledge, turning their back on puppies and allowing traffickers to exploit the pet market.

“The Conservative Party promised to deliver this Bill in their election manifesto, and the Government even drafted the wording of the new law,” said Councillor Hilton.

“It is shameful the Conservatives have broken their promise to protect animals from cruel smuggling gangs.

“They have let down pet owners, animal welfare charities and residents of Gloucester are rightfully angry.

“The Liberal Democrats want to see greater protections for puppies, with criminals who target our beloved pets handed harsher punishments.”

The Liberal Democrats have launched an online campaign and petition to end puppy smuggling and are urging pet owners and residents to sign at: www.libdems.org.uk/puppy 

– The motion reads:

“This council notes that on the 8th of June 2023 the Government withdrew its Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill from the parliamentary process.

This council notes that the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto set out a series of commitments on animal welfare policy.

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill aimed to address a number of these commitments in a single legislative step.

Amongst the pledges in the manifesto the Conservative Government stated that:

– We will crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies.

– We will end excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening.

– We will ban keeping primates as pets.

This council records its regret that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill has been withdrawn.

Council agrees to write a letter to the Secretary of State Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the two MPs representing the city of Gloucester to express regret that the Government has abandoned its manifesto pledge by withdrawing The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.”