Dogs, cats and ferrets across the world have cause to be grateful to Lib Dem MP Danny Chambers. His Bill preventing puppy smuggling and trafficking of heavily pregnant animals received Royal Assent from the King yesterday and is now the law of the land.
“Britain will no longer be a market for animal cruelty” said Danny to Lib Dem Conference in September. Here’s his whole speech where he was completely upstaged by Vikki Slade’s gorgeous dog Todd.
Speaking as his Bill received Royal Assent, Danny said:
I am incredibly proud to see this Bill receive Royal Assent and become law. This Act marks a turning point for animal welfare in the UK, stopping pet mutilation in Britain once and for all and eradicating cruel practices that should have been wiped out years ago.
We have now successfully closed the loopholes that allowed such abuse to persist. As a vet, I saw firsthand the horrendous injuries, infections, and psychological trauma mutilated animals face every day. Furthermore, this law finally addresses the serious public health risks associated with illegal puppy smuggling and the importation of dangerous diseases.
When I became an MP, I vowed to use my veterinary expertise to fight for these changes – and used my maiden speech to do just that. I couldn’t be happier that, within the first year of this parliament, we have delivered on that promise – ending puppy smuggling and ear cropping, and safeguarding public health.
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2 Comments
There is a lady in my road who ( I assume) adopted a small dog from Albania who does not understand commands in English. She often asks me to allow my dog to talk to hers to improve mixing but is loud and appears vicious. It often amuses me that my dog , a Rottweiler runs a mile when the dog starts up. Anyway, well done Danny.
Absolutely lovely that you’ve achieved this, Danny – very well done! This news will also win us votes if we spread it among the many animal-lovers and farming communities we live among. You remind me happily of how, canvassing in Woburn Sands a long time ago with my great Liberal Democrat Jewish friends, Ilse and Frank Gregg, we always made slow progress because every passing dog or attentive cat would be talked to!