Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce the breeding of brachycephalic animals.

Licensed dog breeders in England cannot breed a dog if it can be reasonably expected that this would lead to welfare problems for the mother or puppies.

In the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra committed to consult on reform to improve the welfare of breeding dogs and their offspring. It also committed to improve understanding of practices in cat breeding and consider any further steps which may improve welfare.

Defra supports organisations raising public awareness of health risks associated with brachycephalic animals, including Cats Protection, and the UK Brachycephalic Working Groups ‘stop and think’ campaign to prioritise health when purchasing dogs.