Rebecca Harris MP pledged her support on the issue of puppy smuggling today at a parliamentary event run by the UK’s leading dog welfare charity Dogs Trust. The event took place in the House of Commons, to mark more than ten years of the charity’s efforts to end puppy smuggling.

It comes as the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill brought forward by Selaine Saxby, Conservative MP for North Devon, is due to have its 2nd reading on 15 March. The Bill aims to close some of the loopholes that allow the puppy smuggling trade to continue unabated.  

The Dogs Trust team spoke to Rebecca about their pioneering Puppy Pilot scheme, which was introduced in 2015 to aid the interception of illegally imported puppies and provide care and rehabilitation for them until they find loving new homes. Since its inception, Dogs Trust has cared for over 3,100 illegally imported puppies, which, if sold to unsuspecting members of the public, would have made over £4.5 million for their illegal importers.

Rebecca pledged her support to help end puppy smuggling.

Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point, said:

“I am delighted to support this legislation to end puppy smuggling and I hope to see this much needed change in force soon."

Claire Calder, Head of Public Affairs at Dogs Trust, said:

“We are delighted that so many MPs came down to our event to show their support for this important cause, and we hope that the loopholes that allow for this cruel trade to continue will soon be closed. We have been campaigning for over 10 years to end the suffering of countless numbers of dogs caught up in this abhorrent trade, and we hope that with the support of MPs from across Parliament, we can finally end puppy smuggling and take a real step forward for dog welfare in the UK."