PupAid, the anti-puppy farming campaign started by myself five years ago, is now calling on all animal lovers to urgently contact their MP to turn up and support the forthcoming debate calling for a ban of the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops.
Taking place in the Main Chamber of the House of Commons on Thursday 4 September this debate will be the first of its kind to discuss sales of puppies and kittens in pet shops, as well as cruel puppy farming, ethical and responsible breeding, and rescue pet adoption.
Campaigning group PupAid won this debate after collecting well over 100,000 signatures on a government e-petition started last year, the threshold amount required to trigger a Commons debate.
PupAid's petition calls for a ban on the sale of puppies and kittens without their mums, ie pet shops, garden centres, even 'puppy supermarkets'; designed to starve the UK's puppy farming industry of business.
Puppies produced on large scale commercial breeding establishments, known as puppy farms, and irresponsibly produced kittens are separated from their mothers too early, often transported long distances, and as a result often suffer serious life-threatening problems including impaired immune systems, poor socialisation, infectious diseases, and shorter life spans.
This forthcoming debate is an exciting step in combating the cruel practice of irresponsible, unethical breeding of puppies and kittens in the UK, as well as the perfect opportunity to raise awareness, and educate the public about choosing a dog responsibly ie from ethical breeders e.g. Kennel Club Assured Breeders, or by adoption from legitimate rescue organisations.
September's high profile debate has been quick to already gain support of over 50 MPs including Labour's Stoke representative Rob Flello, owner of rescued german shepherd dog Diesel, who will lead the debate.
Welfare organisations also supporting the ban on puppies and kittens sold for profit in pet shops include Kennel Club, Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Mayhew, Wood Green, Blue Cross, National Animal Welfare Trust, CARIAD, and RSPCA.
Celebrities supporting PupAid's campaign include Ricky Gervais, Brian May, Liam Gallagher, Sarah Harding, Elle MacPherson, Peter Egan, and Meg Mathews; with PupAid's annual fun dog show on Primrose Hill, London just two days later - all taking place within Kennel Club's Puppy Awareness Week.
Pleasecontact your MP right now asking them to attend the debate by visiting PupAid's website and following the simple instructions. Then share that link on all your social networks e.g. Twitter and Facebook too - basically the more MPs present in that Chamber on 4 September the more likely we are to achieve changes in UK's animal welfare legislation.
And if your MP says they won't be attending because our legislation is strong enough and they see no point, please remind them a) it's an election year and a large majority of constituents vote on how animals are treated by politicians, and b) that the puppy farms churning out sick puppies and dumping spent, infertile breeding bitches are often the ones licensed by local authorities.
Too many local authorities are flouting existing breeding and sale of dogs regulations, ignoring planning laws, and conveniently disregarding the 'five freedoms' of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Of the councils who are trying to make a difference, they are being hampered by existing convoluted, complex, and outdated legislation.
It only takes two minutes to email your MP but it could potentially save the lives of millions of dogs and cats both now and well into the future. Thank you.