Dr Neil Hudson, Shadow DEFRA Minister, Member of Parliament for Epping Forest, and veterinary surgeon, has praised the continued progress of the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill during a recent visit to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
During his visit, Dr Hudson toured the charity’s facilities and held discussions with staff about key animal welfare concerns. The visit coincided with the progression of the Animal Welfare Bill through Committee Stage in the House of Commons. Dr Hudson, a co-sponsor of the Bill, as Shadow DEFRA Minister spoke in support of the legislation, which was introduced in the previous Parliament by former Conservative MP Selaine Saxby. The Bill aims to tackle illegal puppy smuggling, the smuggling of heavily pregnant pets, and improve the standards of imported animals entering the UK.
A significant concern raised again during the visit was the disturbing rise in animal mutilations, including the growing number of dogs with cropped ears. Battersea officials also highlighted other pressing issues, such as unscrupulous breeding practices.
As the first elected vet to the House of Commons since 1884 and Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Animal Welfare, Dr Hudson has long championed stronger protections for animals. A vocal opponent of ear cropping, he continues to campaign against the practice, which is illegal in the UK. The procedure, often carried out without anaesthesia, inflicts unnecessary pain and long-term harm on dogs with no medical justification. Its glamourisation through social media and film has further fuelled its rise.
In response, Dr Hudson and his Conservative colleagues have written to leading media outlets and film studios, urging them to avoid featuring images of dogs with cropped ears. Where such images are unavoidable, they have called for the inclusion of clear warnings to educate the public and reinforce the illegality of the practice.
Another emerging concern is the easy availability of ear cropping kits from international online retailers. To address this loophole, Dr Hudson has written to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, requesting urgent action to restrict or ban the sale of these kits in the UK.
Speaking after the visit, Dr Hudson said:
“It was a privilege to visit Battersea once again and witness firsthand their extraordinary work in caring for animals and advocating for their welfare.
“I am extremely proud to be co-sponsoring the Animal Welfare Bill, which has cross-party support, as it advances through Parliament, and I will continue to campaign for stronger measures to protect our animals, particularly in tackling practices like ear cropping that have no place in a modern, compassionate society.”
To view Dr Hudson’s letter and learn more about his work to combat this harmful procedure, please see:
https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/conservative-mps-calling-action-tackle-ear-cropping-dogs
https://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/2053614/ear-cropping-opinion-dr-neil-hudson
For more of his work on animal welfare, please see: https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/campaigns/supporting-animal-health-and-welfare
