British MPs urge action against designer pet clinics

The UK’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee has urged the government to publish a list of licensed breeders and to address the fact that more than 50% of puppies entering the market come from unlicensed facilities.

According to the conclusions of a committee inquiry launched last year, the number of canine fertility clinics rose from 40 in 2020 to over 400 in 2023.

“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,” says Sir Robert Goodwill, the Chair of the EFRA Committee.

The British government withdrew its Kept Animals Bill last year, which targeted puppy smuggling, inhumane importation and the cosmetic alterations of pets. 

Pet welfare and abuse

The committee warns that these clinics “are facilitating and helping to normalize reproductive dysfunction in popular dog breeds.”

They also express concerns about the increased demand for ‘designer’ dogs bred with extreme characteristics, especially due to the influence of social media and celebrities. MPs recommend extending welfare and breeding policies to cats, too, as the ‘designer’ trend also extends to feline companions. 

“These ‘ethically abhorrent’ procedures cause ongoing pain and suffering to the animals for the satisfaction of the owners and are illegal in Britain, but the Committee found that a major legal loophole allows the importation of animals that have been mutilated,” the committee’s report states.

The inquiry also identifies overall threats to animal welfare and calls officials to introduce measures to curb the entry of dogs from countries that may carry endemic diseases like Brucella canis and leishmaniasis.

Recommendations

The EFRA committee has urged the government to ban the importation of puppies and kittens under 6 months old and recommends reducing the number of dogs and cats a single individual can import into the UK.

MPs have also highlighted the need to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act of 1966 to include canine fertility clinics and update the £100 ($126/€116) penalty for illegal veterinary surgery, which they say is a “derisory deterrent.”

They have also called for legislation to end the importation and the availability of DIY kits for ear-cropping “as a matter of urgency.”

The EFRA Chairman highlights the need for adequate enforcement of any future legislation by the local authorities, including increasing document checks at airports. 

Industry reactions

Pets at Home and Vets for Pets, which provided “expert evidence” to the committee, have extended support for EFRA’s recommendations to terminate unlicensed and irresponsible breeding practices. 

“We are also supportive of the recommendations to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act,” explains Dr. Samantha Butler-Davies, Head of Clinical Services at Pets at Home. She adds, “This law was passed in the 1960s and needs modernization.”