MPs are being urged to back a bill aimed at stamping out illegal puppy farms.

The RSPCA estimates that tens of thousands of puppies are being bred in unlicensed farms, many suffering from ill health and living in poor conditions.

MPs say welfare standards need to be improved

At present, anyone with more than two bitches breeding puppies for sale is supposed to have a licence and be subject to inspections from the local authority.

But animal welfare campaigners claim loopholes in the law make it difficult to police with little chance of a successful prosecution for people accused of flouting it.

A Private Members Bill due to get its second reading in Parliament on Friday introduced by Mike Hall, Labour MP for Weaver Vale, seeks to clarify the law, improve welfare standards and introduce tougher regulations including an annual inspection of breeding premises by vets.

The RSPCA said poor breeding conditions were leading to sickness among puppies, especially among pedigree dogs where careful breeding was needed to minimise the risk of hereditary diseases.

Every year it handles cases where owners are devastated to find their puppy, which appeared to be healthy, is riddled with parasites or suffering from a serious disease which can cost hundreds of pounds in vets fees.

Alex Ross, RSPCA officer, said: "Tens of thousands of puppies are bred in cruel puppy farms by people who don't know or care whether the animals suffer.

"We are urging MPs to support Mike Hall's bill to help stop this cruel trade.

"Although a puppy might look quite healthy and even has a pedigree certificate, the only way to make sure a dog has been bred properly is to see the puppy with its mother."
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