An overhaul of the current dog breeding licensing scheme

To ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of animals are enhanced and protected

Lucy's Law was introduced in England in 2020, named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who suffered severe health conditions due to her life spent in a puppy farm. While the law aimed to tackle puppy farming and unscrupulous breeders, it has significant loopholes, with no prosecutions under its provisions.

The USPCA supports stronger legislation to protect vulnerable animals from abuse by illegal breeders and to improve the conditions for breeding dogs and cats in Northern Ireland. Existing laws have allowed industrial-scale puppy farming, raising concerns about whether dogs meet the welfare standards outlined in the Welfare of Animals Act (2011).

One key loophole allows individuals to breed multiple litters without a breeding establishment licence, circumventing regulations meant to protect animal welfare. To address this, the USPCA recommends the following actions:

  • Close Legal Loopholes: Ensure puppies and kittens are only sold from licensed premises with their mother present. Implement the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill (2023-24) in Northern Ireland to prevent the import of puppies and kittens under 6 months.
  • Implement the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill (2023-24) in Northern Ireland to prevent the import of puppies and kittens under 6 months.
  • Tighter Regulations on Pet Travel to prevent illegal breeding.
  • Improve Traceability: Require microchips to trace animals back to the breeder for greater transparency.
  • Risk and Star Ratings: Introduce ratings for breeding establishments to guide the public and reward high standards.
  • Limit Licences: Award only one breeding licence per household/business and mandate registration for those breeding multiple litters.
  • Stronger Licensing Requirements: Implement higher staff ratios, necessary qualifications, and increased inspections for breeding establishments.
  • Better Monitoring: Introduce unannounced inspections, track the number of litters bred, and ensure proper care standards are met.
  • Higher Fees for High-Volume Breeders: Review licensing fees, targeting high-volume operations.
  • Regulate Advertisements: Require licence numbers on all pet sale adverts.
  • Centralised List of Licensed Breeders: Create an accessible, public database of registered breeders and sellers to ensure accountability and help buyers verify sellers.
  • Stronger Controls on Animal Transfers: Enhance checks on animals being transferred from Ireland to Northern Ireland