The new law for buying your puppy
Lucy’s Law became law on April 6th 2020. The Government now bans third party puppy sales in memory of Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescued from a Welsh puppy farm in 2013 by Lisa Garner. Needless to say Lucy had a number of serious health issues after being kept purely for profit in appalling conditions.
There are now only two legal options to choose from when buying a puppy. A prospective owner can either purchase a puppy directly from a breeder or from a reputable rescue centre.
It is the intention that Lucy’s Law will be the first major obstacle facing those involved in large scale commercial dog breeding in shocking conditions where profit always takes priority over welfare. Not only will Lucy’s Law impact on UK puppy farms but also on the illegal importation of puppies from abroad where, as in the UK, sales are reliant on being conducted by a third party.
As well as suffering from numerous health problems due to neglect, breeding bitches are imprisoned alone in the dark missing vital interaction with humans and other dogs. Their nervous puppies suffer from not only inherited conditions such as parasite overload, but also the inability to socialise, resulting in behavioural issues. These sick, traumatised puppies are taken from their mothers far too early and can be driven for hours in order to deceive unsuspecting buyers.
Despite veterinary care after purchase, many puppies struggle to survive this unsurmountable physical and mental trauma, therefore families have suffered the heartbreak of losing a puppy within weeks of arriving into their family.
The Government have strongly recommended that prospective puppy buyers are guided by the following warning signs:
- No mum present; remember if Mum’s not there, it’s likely the puppy was bred elsewhere;
- Seller making excuses why Mum’s not there e.g. she’s at the vets, asleep, or out for a walk;
- Not invited to look at surroundings, as happens with properties rented purely for sales, or a specific onsite sales annex some distance away from the actual puppy farm;
- ’Fake Mum’ not interacting with her young. Most fake mums fear the real mum returning;
- Puppies being labelled as ‘rescue’ but with much higher price tags;
- Feeling rushed into parting with cash in exchange for a puppy;
- Offer of home delivery somewhere convenient e.g. a car park or motorway service area;
- Trying to convince you that any health problems observed at purchase are normal;
- False or no official paperwork including health certificates, such as proof of vaccinations; and
- Failure to produce evidence of microchipping, a legal requirement for all dogs from 8 weeks.
At the time of writing, anyone breaking Lucy’s Law could face an unlimited fine or six months in prison. Many dog lovers are campaigning for a much longer sentence.
Ann Quinn
Published in the 2020 GOITA Summer Newsletter