Honiton MP leads calls for breeding crackdown

Neil Parish, who is also chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, has led numerous campaigns to tackle irresponsible dog owners and ‘status dogs’.

Honiton MP Neil Parish has backed a campaign by a London-based animal welfare charity.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has launched the initiative, urging prospective dog owners to think twice about how they buy a dog.

They are hoping it will lead to a crackdown on the practice of backstreet dog breeding.

Mr Parish, who is also chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, has led numerous campaigns to tackle irresponsible dog owners and ‘status dogs’.

He has now joined calls for a complete ban on the sale of puppies less than eight weeks old, and the introduction of a breeding licence requirement for any household producing two or more litters per year.

Mr Parish said: “With backstreet breeding happening in neighbourhoods across the UK, it’s important we increase public awareness of this issue.

“Dogs used in backstreet breeding endure a miserable life, producing countless litters before being turfed out on to the street once they have served their purpose. This needs to end.”

Claire Horton, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home chief executive, added: “Battersea is speaking out to help expose and shame the callous breeders in our communities who are creating far too many unhealthy, unwanted, and abandoned dogs all in the name of personal profit.

“At Battersea we see the consequences of this problem every day.

“These puppies and breeding bitches are tomorrow’s status dogs and we must do all we can to put a stop to such inhumane, money-making activities.”