The increasingly available evidence of cruel practices involving pets has prompted the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee to launch an inquiry into ‘pet welfare and abuse’.

Reports about activities such as back-yard ‘puppy mills’, sometimes breeding ‘designer dogs’, and the importation of heavily pregnant bitches are of great concern to the Committee. 

The evidence suggests these practices increased during the Covid-19 pandemic to meet increased demand as pet buyers had more time at home and obtained animals for company and exercise. 

But as the pandemic has receded, new worries have also grown. People who acquired pets are finding they have less time to look after them. Meanwhile, the cost of living has increased, meaning some people can no longer afford to care for their pets and are giving them away, or abandoning them, to pet sanctuaries. 

All of this has led to increased pressures on vets and pet charities. The inquiry will look what steps can be taken to support their vital work, and will ask how government can end cruel practices and improve pet welfare.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Chair, Sir Robert Goodwill MP (pictured), said: “Having previously called Defra to account on the issue of pet smuggling, we already have evidence that abuse of animals for the pet trade is taking place. 

“The Committee intends to get to the root of what is going on and hear how best to improve pet welfare and stamp out bad practice. 

“Unregulated back-yard breeding of ‘designer dogs’, not to mention cruel practices such as the declawing of cats for cosmetic purposes, should not take place anywhere - let alone in our country, which is known as a nation of animal lovers.”  

People with experience in the areas covered by the inquiry are invited to submit written evidence to the inquiry. For advice on how to submit this and how we use the information, CLICK HERE.

The deadline for written submissions is Friday 31 March 2023.