“Seven years ago, I saw the growth in the supply of puppies and dogs for purchase online on Gumtree and from puppy factory farms, and I thought about what could be done to reduce that.” – Christine Grahame MSP

Unusually in these divisive times MSPs in the Scottish Parliament came together on Thursday 25 January to pass the Welfare of Dogs Bill introduced by SNP backbencher Christine Grahame.

In a passionate debate Christine Grahame pointed out her concern that amendments produced in the last minute by the Scottish Greens about the banning of electric shock collars, had diverted the debate away from the main purpose of the legislation which focussed on the haphazard purchasing on dogs and puppies on various online sites with no thought given to how these animals were being kept.

During the Covid-19 pandemic there was a surge in people acquiring dogs and puppies, many were later abandoned when lockdown as lifted and people returned to their workplaces. The SSPCA issued a statement in 2022 that the year was ‘one of the most challenging’ in its 183-year history. The cost-of-living crisis, ability to pay vet bills and the low-welfare pet trade are key drivers of animal welfare issues in Scotland.

 The SSPCA works with local foodbanks and community projects across Scotland. It provides vital pet supplies to people when they need them most. The charity’s inspectors worked directly with pet owners too, providing support to hundreds of people in their own home. In addition to this in Orkney we have the ODD Animals Rescue Shop in Victoria Street, Kirkwall with its pet foodbank.

Orkney’s Pet Foodbank

Speaking in the debate Christine Grahame said:

It is her hope that if people have a simple code/ check list to look through before acquiring a dog or puppy that it would make them stop and think about whether or not the supplier of the animal was one of those unscrupulous dealers only in it for a quick buck with no thought to the health and welfare of the dog.

A multi-agency, Scottish SPCA-led taskforce against the illegal and illicit puppy trade has been set up with partners across the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland to combat this activity and they are calling on the public to help.

In one incident last year  24 puppies were rescued, with the help of Police Scotland and the USPCA, from under a lorry after being confined in cardboard boxes, without water or suitable bedding at a ferry port coming from Northern Ireland.

As a result of the investigation into this incident, a female lorry driver from County Monaghan in Ireland received a two-year disqualification order from transporting or dealing with animals.

She was also fined £400 after pleading guilty at Stranraer Sheriff Court to a breach of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, Section 24.

Scottish SPCA Head of Rescue and Prevention Laura McIntyre, said:

“Smuggled pups often look fine when they are purchased, but problems will begin to show at a later stage.

“Our message to the general public is do not buy online or from someone where it is impossible to verify where the dog is actually coming from. The only way this will disappear, and people stop profiteering at the expense of these dogs, is if the public demand it stops.

“Anyone considering buying a puppy should research the potential breeder carefully, as unauthorised breeding can have a significant impact on the welfare of all dogs involved.

“If you have purchased a puppy who shows any signs of illness or distress please take them to a vet immediately.”

Christine Grahame said:

“The animal welfare issues, emotional distress, massive vet fees and high mortality rates that come about as a result of illegal puppy farming and the buying of dogs that people cannot care for have been well established. The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has estimated that the illegal puppy trade is worth £13 million a year in Scotland. The Dogs Trust has highlighted the huge rise in problems that have arisen from people buying dogs that they cannot properly look after. Abandonment rates are rising.

“The SSPCA highlighted that 65% of owners found their pets online, and there is £2.5 million of associated fraud. That is serious crime and big business in the criminal fraternity. According to Government-commissioned research, 20 per cent of puppies bought online fall ill or die within a year.”

Highlands and Islands MSP, Labour’s Rhoda Grant raised the issue of microchipping and that the Scottish and UK Governments should work together to produce a UK wide “register that would allow people to check the previous ownership of their pet. A single register would also make it easier to find puppy farmers and put them out of business. ” Scottish Government Minister Jim Fairlie committed to pressing the UK Government on the urgency of that being established.

Christine Grahame, in her summing up, stressed her opposition to electric shock collars and said:

“I unequivocally support a ban on the use of shock collars in line with the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s recommendation of April 2023. I heard what the minister had to say, but the Scottish Government has dodged the issue for far too long. Once those reports are in, I look forward to draft regulations being produced for scrutiny by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, and ultimately by the Parliament. Ross Greer’s amendments have pushed that argument forward. The bill was not the place for them, but he brought the issues forward, and I hope that we will now make progress.

” I hope that the bill is a small step in reducing the impulse buying of puppies or dogs, which so often lines the pockets of the criminal fraternity. In so doing, I hope that, when the time is right, for the right reasons and in the right place, with the right dog and the right person, a relationship will develop between dog and person that will only enhance that person’s life.”

If you suspect a seller of puppies or dogs is acting suspiciously, contact SSPCA (Scotland) or RSPCA (England and Wales)

You can watch the some of the debate here:

If you witness suspicious activity at Belfast or Larne ports, please contact a member of staff immediately so that Department of Agriculture, Rural Affairs and the Environment (DAERA) staff can investigate. If you have information regarding either potential offences, regarding the illegal breeding or transportation of dogs in Northern Ireland, please contact the relevant organisation, details of which can be found here. You can also report any suspicious activity anonymously to pawsforthought@daera-ni.gov.uk and any information will be passed to the relevant enforcement agency. Please note, this mailbox is operational during normal office hours only.

Further advice on what to look for when buying a puppy here

Fiona Grahame