At the next Council meeting (Wednesday 9 November), the Oldham Liberal Democrat Council Group is proposing a motion to help end puppy farming in the Borough.

Proposer Liberal Democrat Crompton Councillor Julia Turner said: “November 9 is a significant date; it is one year to the day when the Liberal Democrat party’s spokesperson in the Lords, Baroness Kate Parminter, called on the Government to outlaw puppy farming.”

“Only one in ten puppies is bred by licensed breeders.  The remainder are bred illegally or imported from abroad by criminals who often do not care about the condition and care of these animals.  These puppies are often separated from their mothers before the puppy is even four weeks old.  Many are woefully neglected with minimal access to exercise, food and medical treatment.”

“Often animals die or become sick shortly after being purchased because they are not vaccinated.  And a buyer left with a dead animal or a sizable medical bill has little legal come back – British customers have more rights when they purchase a refrigerator than they do a puppy.”

“Oldham Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to introduce more effective legislation and to give local Councils more power to tackle this abhorrent practice.  We are also calling on Council officers to adopt model guidelines for animals bred by licensed breeders or operators of boarding kennels to improve animal welfare, and in the run up to Christmas we want to raise public awareness that a puppy purchased as a family pet should be bought from a reputable breeder where you can also see the mother.”

Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, is backing the motion. He added: “Puppy farming is unfortunately a real issue in our Borough; in recent years there have been successful criminal prosecutions of puppy farmers living in Shaw, Chadderton, and Failsworth.  We need to tackle this despicable crime on our doorstep.”

Offering her support to the Liberal Democrat motion, Baroness Kate Parminter said:

“I wholeheartedly support this important initiative and would hope other councils will follow this important step that you are taking.  Liberal Democrats will keep up the pressure nationally in Parliament for Government to act but we need that pressure too in local communities, where local councils can make a real difference.”

“If we are to help end the suffering that too many dogs are facing & the duping of unsuspecting dog lovers who fall prey to heartless breeders we need that action now.”

Council 9 November 2016 – Notice of Opposition Business – Motion 2 – End Puppy Farming

This Council notes with dismay that:

• Puppy farming (unlicensed dog breeding) is rife in the UK with only 1 in 10 puppies bred by licensed breeders.

• The Government has yet to act upon the challenge issued one year ago today by Liberal Democrat Defra Spokesperson, Baroness Kate Parminter, to outlaw puppy farming.

• The Government has yet to bring forward the necessary legislation to prohibit the sale of puppies and kittens from pet shops where the mother is not present.

Council therefore resolves to:

• Work in partnership with the RSPCA and other animal welfare agencies to:

• Investigate any reports, adverts in local papers or websites that offer puppies for sale in the area, alerting other local authorities and agencies, as appropriate.

• Find and prosecute puppy farmers and other unlicensed breeders.

• Support and promote on the Council’s website and in its publications:

The Pup Aid campaign “Where’s Mum?”

The Dogs Trust campaign against “battery farmed dogs”

The Kennel Club Assured Breeder scheme.

• Advise residents at public events, especially in the run up to Christmas, on best practice for buying puppies or dogs, encouraging them not to buy puppies or dogs from anyone selling in suspicious circumstances; to report such incidents immediately to the Council’s Animal Health and Welfare Service; and to consider purchasing puppies and dogs from rescue organisations or to support the work of the Cinnamon Trust and other re-homing services.

• Look as a local authority to adopt the model license conditions for dog breeding and boarding kennels published by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in January 2014.

• Look as a local authority to maintain our ban on the sale of puppies and kittens by pet shops in this Borough.

• Work with other social landlords in the Borough to include a ban on puppy farming in tenancy agreements.

• Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Government Minister responsible outlining the view of this Council that the Government should introduce the necessary legislation to:

• Make licensing for dog breeding more effective, to make the funds from licences available to local authorities to monitor the activities of dog breeders, and to impose stiffer financial and custodial penalties on dog breeders found to be operating illegally and without regard for animal welfare.

• Introduce greater consumer protection when a member of the public purchases a puppy or dog from a breeder or dealer

• Prohibit the licensing of pet shops or retail outlets to sell puppies or kittens where the mother is not present.

• Ask the Chief Executive to copy in the three Members of Parliament for this Borough with a request that they make similar representations to the Minister.