Is there a better future ahead for puppies?
A decade of campaigning has brought us to this point
Exploited, smuggled and left to suffer. This isn’t how the life of a puppy, or any animal, should start.
Every puppy deserves to be raised safely beside their mum and siblings, able to grow and explore within a safe, warm and caring environment with proper food and veterinary care. What they should never endure is being torn from their mother, bundled into the back of a van, driven hundreds of miles across Europe and smuggled into the UK, often underage, unvaccinated, and fighting for their lives.
But soon, this cruel trade could finally be history
Today, the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill passed its Second Reading in the House of Lords.
This is a milestone moment for all of us here at FOUR PAWS UK – and a moment of real hope. We're on the verge of stopping cruelty which has affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of dogs and puppies, caused by their illegal importation into the UK.
A decade of persistence
This Bill has been years in the making. The journey began with the Kept Animals Bill in 2021. This ambitious Bill, set to cover multiple aspects of animal welfare, ramped up the pressure to clamp down on the illegal cross-border puppy trade, but in 2023, the Government dropped it.
Momentum returned when Selaine Saxby MP introduced her own Bill, which went so far as to secure government backing, but that fell once again when a General Election was called in 2024.
Still, we did not give up. With a new Labour Government in place, MP and vet Danny Chambers picked up the gauntlet and reintroduced the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill. This time, it had Government support and we knew this was our moment.
In the past year, we’ve seen this Bill fly through the House of Commons with unanimous support, and our message has continued to ring out: we must crackdown on puppy smuggling. And at every stage, you’ve been with us: from emailing MPs to amplifying our message online. From lobbying MPs to taking over Westminster Underground Station, we've not left a stone unturned in securing support for this Bill.
Change is in the air
Now, the Bill now enters its final stages in Parliament, having made faster and further progress than any of its predecessors.
If successful, this legislation will: (click to reveal)
- Prohibit the import of puppies and kittens under six months old.
- Prohibit the import of mutilated dogs and cats. For example, those that have been declawed, had their tails docked or ears cropped.
- Limit the number of dogs, cats and ferrets imported per vehicle (five) and per person (three).
- Improve accountability by ensuring that dogs, cats and ferrets must be brought in by the owner or an authorised person.
Together, we’re making history. For over a decade, together we’ve campaigned to stop this cruel trade. And we will not give up hope until we see this Bill across the finish line and signed into law. Change is coming – and it’s thanks to you.
