Cats Protection Welcomes DAERA proposals to regulate sale of kittens and puppies
The UK’s leading cat welfare charity has hailed DAERA’s proposal to introduce new rules around the sale of kittens as a “huge step forward” while highlighting that there is more to be done to safeguard cats longer-term.
Cats Protection has welcomed the progression towards new rules around selling and supplying kittens and puppies in Northern Ireland as outlined by Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir yesterday (18 February).
Once the legislation is introduced, anyone wishing to sell kittens, and sell or supply puppies, will need to register with their local council and meet specified conditions of registration.
One of the conditions of registration will be abiding by a version of ‘Lucy’s Law’, which was first introduced in England in 2020 followed by Wales and Scotland in 2021.
The law bans all third-party sales of puppies and kittens under six months old, meaning anyone selling and supplying puppies or selling kittens below that age in Northern Ireland will need to have bred them themselves.
Kittens can currently be sold at any age including by third-parties who did not breed them. Removing kittens from their mother before they are eight weeks old can cause them to develop health and behaviour issues.
The existing lack of legislation means unscrupulous sellers can therefore operate without checks and put profits over cat welfare.
Alice Palombo, Cats Protection Advocacy and Government Relations Manager, says: “This legislation will be a huge step forward for cat welfare in Northern Ireland, introducing much-needed protections for kittens who are being sold too young, sick or diseased.
“We are delighted that the new rules will bring Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK and we were pleased by the overwhelming support for the Minster’s plans to bring a version of Lucy’s Law to Northern.
“And in particular we welcome 88% of the consultation respondents being in favour of any individual who wishes to transfer ownership of kittens needing to register with their local council.”
Despite celebrating the proposed introduction, Cats Protection would like more to be done to protect cats in Northern Ireland. Alice explained: “We would like to thank the Department for engaging with us and listening to our concerns about the complexities of the cat market and the unowned cat population.
“We are hopeful that we can continue to work together to strengthen legal protections for cats and to focus on the areas where these proposals fall short, especially with regard to protecting breeding cats.
“There are currently no protections to stop female cats being over-bred or male stud cats being kept in inadequate conditions.
“Cats Protection is therefore calling for complementary cat breeding regulations to be introduced in Northern Ireland to improve welfare, clamp down on breeders looking to exploit cats for money, and strengthen traceability.”
The Cat Manifesto Northern Ireland outlines the charity’s key priorities for decision makers in Northern Ireland to improve the lives of cats and the people who love them:
