lucy's law comes into force in England

This month, the ban on third party sales of puppies and kittens, otherwise known as ‘Lucy’s Law’, comes into force in England. This important change in the law will help put an end to the cruel puppy farm trade and stop the needless suffering of countless animals across the country. The implementation of Lucy’s Law is a moment for celebration and marks the culmination of a hard-fought campaign helped by the dedication of our supporters.

Third party sales of animals occur when a dog or cat is purchased from an establishment such as a pet shop or online. This often means that the buyer doesn’t see the animal's parents or know where the animal has come from. Without realising, pet owners could be buying animals that were bred in appalling conditions, such as puppy farms, and then sold on to a pet shop or another buyer. There have also been many cases of puppy-farmed animals being brought in from abroad and sold on. These animals are often sick, underage, and the welfare of their parents cannot be guaranteed.

IFAW campaigned tirelessly on this issue for many years. Our Suzy Puppy campaign raised awareness of the problems often associated with buying pets from a third party source among consumers and MPs. We also worked closely with vet Marc Abraham and the Lucy’s Law campaign team to call for an urgent change in the law to protect these at-risk animals. In August 2018, we received the news that we had been waiting for – the Government announced it would finally ban the third party sales of cats and dogs.

So what is the new legislation?

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 comes into force on April 6 and is an amendment to the regulations for the licensed sale of dogs and cats. It ensures that puppies and kittens are sold in their place of birth, in the presence of their mother, and not sold or resold by a third party. These much-needed restrictions will help end the cruel and inhumane practice of puppy farming across England, improve welfare standards among breeders and end unnecessary suffering.

A great deal of credit must go to the Lucy’s Law campaign team, set up in memory of a dog called Lucy who was used as a breeder on a puppy farm. She was kept in shocking conditions and sadly passed away three years after being rescued. But her legacy lives on. Marc Abraham and a host of dedicated supporters also championed Lucy’s cause in Parliament, and we thank them for their efforts.

As part of IFAW’s campaign, we also provided ‘buyer beware’ advice on what to look for when buying a puppy or kitten, and asked people to always remember PUPS.

PUPS stands for:

• Parent – always make sure you see mum and her pups together
• Underage – some pups are taken from their mum too young, make sure your puppy is old enough to be sold
• Papers – always check your pup has vaccination papers and has received the right treatment
• Sickness – check the puppy for signs of sickness

If you are thinking of buying a puppy or kitten, always think about adopting an animal in need of a forever home from your local rescue centre or shelter. For those with their heart set on a specific breed that can’t be found from a rescue centre, please research carefully to avoid buying from a disreputable breeder and remember, PUPS!

-- David Cowdrey