Many of you have been in touch about puppy smuggling. As a
dog owner myself it is a matter that I care about too.
Stopping illegal movement is of course the responsibility
of the Country where puppies originate and it is critical that those Countries
fulfil their obligations accordingly. I will be sure to raise this with
Ministers when I see them. More must be done to highlight this across the EU.
The
progress previously made on this issue came in 2014 when pet travel regulation
was strengthened and enforcement streamlined. Very young animals also face
further checks. Further the UK Border Force is fully alert on these issues and
routinely carries out checks on vehicles entering the UK. It is apparent that
more must be done.
We can
all play our part by ensuring that as and when we buy a puppy we establish that
we are dealing with a bona fide source and wherever possible establish
where the puppy came from.
Once
we leave the EU in March of next year we will at long last be free to introduce
our own laws covering this and so many other issues. At the moment as with
livestock exports and all manner of other issues we are bound by collective EU
regulations.
I really cannot wait to see us free to resolve so many of these issues and it is another very good reason to welcome Brexit with open arms.
I really cannot wait to see us free to resolve so many of these issues and it is another very good reason to welcome Brexit with open arms.
