Lack of funding for local authorities to enforce regulations may ‘embolden’ unscrupulous pet breeders to flout rules, says select committee

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee has called for a list of licensed pet breeders to be made public, noting that more than half of the puppies entering the market come from unlicensed breeders.

The committee warned that local authorities, who have the statutory responsibilities for enforcement, often find themselves under resourced, resulting in an inconsistent approach nationally, which may "embolden" unscrupulous breeders to “flout the rules”.

EFRA said: “The ability of local authorities to perform regulatory activities is constrained by a lack of specialist knowledge and training, and inadequate funding and resources. […] A central unit of suitably trained inspectors should be established which can be utilised by local authorities to improve collaboration and disseminate best practice”.

Under-resourcing also means that some local authorities have insufficient kennel facilities available and may have to put animals down, said MPs.

The committee’s Pet welfare and abuse inquiry exposed a major rise in canine fertility clinics, from under 40 in 2020, to over 400 in 2023.

The committee heard that the clinics are “facilitating and helping to normalise reproductive dysfunction in popular dog breeds”. 

The report urged the Government to introduce legislation to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and to include canine fertility clinics.

MPs said that the existing £100 fine for illegal veterinary surgery, dating from the 1966 Act, “is a derisory deterrent” and must be updated.

Chair of the EFRA Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill MP, said: “As a nation of animal and pet lovers, we place a high importance on the welfare of animals. But some of the regulations that cover the breeding of pet dogs rely on legislation dating back to 1966 and the breeding of cats is almost completely unregulated. 

“We are concerned about the huge rise in the number of canine fertility clinics and the lack of regulatory oversight of these clinics, which may employ unqualified staff to perform veterinary procedures, and which may encourage the breeding of dogs with extreme features and dogs bred for aggressive traits.”

Goodwill added: “We also urge the Government to address the funding and resource needs of local authorities to enforce regulations, to ensure that unscrupulous actors do not become emboldened to think they can act with impunity. Along with this, we call for greater clarity over where the enforcement and accountability responsibilities lie and for planning for training for inspectors and greater co-ordination and co-operation amongst the statutory bodies. 

“Our inquiry found that the current trends for designer features in dogs and cats are causing lifelong suffering to these pets and we ask the Government to promote greater public awareness about this to counter the influence of social media and celebrities who encourage these trends.”

Lottie Winson