Dr Neil Hudson MP met with representatives for Blue Cross, the animal welfare charity, at an event in Westminster to discuss further long-term measures to ensure responsible dog ownership and curb dog attacks.
As the only Veterinary Surgeon in the House of Commons Dr Hudson is looking at a long-term holistic approach to dangerous dogs which incorporates boosting public awareness on ownership, ensuring responsible breeding, better training and socialising of puppies.
Dr Hudson and Blue Cross both agree that a centralised database to record information on dog attacks, including their severity, breed and circumstance, would be an important step to underpin new research and legislation into dangerous dogs.
Being discussed were a range of measures that included responsible dog ownership courses, beefing up enforcement of current breeding and control regulations and ways to tackle unscrupulous breeders, dealers and traders who prioritise profit over welfare.
This will help further inform Dr Hudson's work on pet ownership. Recently the EFRA Committee Inquiry Dr Hudson triggered on Pet Welfare and Abuse published its findings in a report which exposed a major increase in unregulated canine fertility clinics which operate without veterinary involvement; made recommendations to regulate breeding; and stamp out animal mutilations like ear cropping.
A more comprehensive overview of the report can be found here.
Dr Hudson has also been at the forefront of the Puppy Smuggling Bill which is making its way through Parliament currently en route to becoming law. You can learn more about this vital move to protect animal health and welfare; biosecurity and human public health here.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
“I am working in Parliament to find long-term solutions to promote more responsible dog ownership across the nation and I thank Blue Cross for hosting an informative parliamentary meeting to bring the debate to MPs across the House.
“From unregulated canine fertility clinics and unscrupulous breeders, to animal mutilation and inhumane smuggling operations, it is clear we still face a host of challenges but I look forward to meeting these head on and finding holistic solutions to keep people and animals safe.”
With the increasing demand for Blue Cross pet welfare services, the charity needs the support of animal lovers to continue its work helping pets and their people, in any way they can. Whether that’s by donating to keep rehoming and veterinary services going through these tough times, fundraising for Blue Cross, providing foster care for pets while loving new homes are found, volunteering at pet food banks, or signing up to support Blue Cross campaigns for better pet welfare. www.bluecross.org.uk
