Andrew Griffith MP, Member of Parliament for Arundel & South Downs, has welcomed the commitment from the Minister responsible for animal welfare to improve the licensing of rescue and rehoming centres for dogs, cats and horses.
The local MP recently contacted the Minister, Lord Benyon, following a meeting he had with constituents who are calling for animal rescue centres and vets to disclose the full behavioural history of dogs who are up for adoption. This follows a rising number of dog attacks, including on the constituents that Mr Griffith met with who were attacked by their newly rehomed dog. It later emerged that their dog had attacked its previous owner.
The Government Minister confirmed that the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs is introducing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. The plan will protect the public with new licensing rules and will be implemented alongside a new Responsible Dog Ownership working group involving police, local authorities and animal welfare organisations to promote responsible dog ownership.
The Government is also continuing its national campaign, Petfished, to raise awareness of issues associated with low-welfare and illegal supply of pets. This campaign offers the public signposting on where responsible breeders and rehoming centres can be found.
Commenting, Andrew Griffith MP said:
“I am delighted that the Government has committed to making dog and cat adoption safer for those who choose to bring furry-friends into their family.
Adoption and rehoming centres already do a brilliant job in uniting us with newly loved pets, but this action will help to eliminate the small number of cases where things go wrong.”
