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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that cats and dogs are sold legally with legitimate documentation on their health and history.

Under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, anyone who is in the business of selling animals as pets, who breeds dogs and advertises a business of selling dogs and/or who breeds three or more litters in a 12 month period needs a licence from their local authority. All licensees must adhere to strict minimum animal welfare standards. Any licensee advertising animals for sale will need to include their licence number in the advert and specify the local authority who issued the licence. Additional requirements placed on advertisements include that the age of the animal for sale must be displayed along with a recognisable photograph. Licensed dog breeders must ensure that the purchaser is informed of the age, sex and veterinary record of the dog being sold.

Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the 2018 Regulations and have powers to grant, refuse or revoke a licence. Anyone who has concerns about the welfare of a cats or dogs being sold, whether online or from a licensed establishment, should report the matter to the relevant local authority who have powers to investigate such matters.

The Government continues to raise awareness regarding the improper selling of pets by deceitful sellers through its ‘Petfished’ campaign. This seeks to educate prospective pet buyers on common tricks and tactics used by deceitful sellers which may result in the purchase of a mistreated or unwell pet. This includes providing clear signposting on where responsible breeders and rehoming centres can be found and encouraging prospective buyers to research the seller thoroughly before they visit and decide to purchase. The campaign provides a list of red flags for buyers to look out for when searching for a pet online. The step by step guide on buying a dog or cat includes a reminder to check whether your new pet will be vaccinated and socialised before you take it home. More information can be found here: https://getyourpetsafely.campaign.gov.uk/