Lucy’s Law has been in the news a lot lately which seems very appropriate as this is the Chinese Year of the Dog. This is a campaign to see a ban on puppy sales by pet shops and other dealers, a trade which supports commercial dog breeding farms and may lead to a change in UK law if enacted.
The government has announced a public consultation on the issue.
Lucy’s Law, if enacted, will make it illegal to sell puppies unless the mother is present, stopping sales by third party dealers.
The campaign was founded by Brighton vet Marc Abraham and the name Lucy’s Law is from a Cavalier Spaniel called Lucy who was rescued from a Welsh puppy farm and became a celebrity in her own right on social media before her death more than a year ago. The Mirror newspaper took up the campaign and it has gained support from vets and celebrities nationwide who want to improve animal welfare standards.
Naturally, we at Dog Hair Day welcome the opportunity for us all to have a say on a law which should spell the end of businesses that treat bitches as breeding machines, supplying often sick puppies to dealers to sell on to an unwitting public. Until this law comes into being, it’s a good idea to do plenty of thinking and research before taking on a puppy. We urge everyone to do this anyway. There are lots of sources of advice on this. Here is a link to the Kennel Club’s advice on how to choose a puppy.
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/
DISCLAIMER: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained here it is for educational purposes only. The writer of this article and Dog Hair Day can’t diagnose any physical, mental or behavioural condition in animals nor prescribe treatment. We urge you to consult your vet if you have any concerns about your dog.