Animal Welfare: Puppy Farms

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Tuesday 7th June 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, 86% of dogs are now microchipped and we believe that that is the way forward, not the dog licence system. Certainly, that is making a considerable difference in terms of rehoming pets to their owners and reducing the cost to local authorities and stray homes. Local authorities, of course, have the powers to retrieve the costs of licences.

[Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)]

Will my noble friend give the figures for those dogs that are currently being microchipped? Will the Government send out the message that no puppy should be sold when the mother of the dog—the bitch—is not present?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

As I say, my Lords, our advice to prospective owners is to see the puppy with its mother and never to buy a puppy younger than eight weeks. That is really important and I would encourage responsible pet owners to reflect on that advice.