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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of puppy yoga on animal welfare.

Defra maintains strong working relationships with key animal welfare organisations and sector groups. These relationships ensure that the department is kept abreast of developments in the pet sector especially where there is evidence of an emerging welfare issue.

Where appropriate, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act) can be used to protect the welfare of animals in such settings as puppy yoga classes. The 2006 Act makes it an offence for anyone responsible for an animal to cause it unnecessary suffering, or to fail to provide for its welfare in line with current best practice.