As the proud owner of dogs myself, I am pleased to be a supporter of the work done by the Dogs Trust in providing guidance and advice for looking after our four-legged friends during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
I met with the Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, earlier in the year to learn more about their mission to ensure all dogs can enjoy a happy life, and I have been in regular contact with them (and with other animal welfare charities including the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the RSPCA, the World Dog Alliance, Cats Protection, and the Finn’s Law campaign) throughout lockdown to offer my support as your local MP. Of particular concern is the worrying issue of puppy smuggling, which I raised with Ministers, and I was pleased that the Government has set out its clear view that this is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to puppies and puts the health of pets and people in the UK at risk. The Government is developing a range of options to strengthen our efforts to tackle puppy smuggling, taking into consideration the recommendations of Dogs Trust and other stakeholders.
I am also very supportive of the change in law to increase the maximum sentences for animal cruelty, which will increase sentences to a maximum of five years for animal cruelty offences (up from a current maximum of six months in prison), and am pleased that the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill will have its Second Reading next month. This is something that many animal welfare charities have been pushing for, and the Government is supporting the Bill.
The latest report by the Dogs Trust, following their survey of over 6,000 dog owners across the UK in May this year about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on their dog, has shown that over a quarter of owners (26 per cent) say their dog has developed at least one new problem behaviour during lockdown. Some further key findings include:
- 82 per cent increase in reports of dogs whining or barking when a household member was busy;
- 20 per cent increase in reports of dogs frequently seeking attention from their owner;
- 54 per cent rise in the number of people saying their dog has hidden or moved away when approached;
- 41 per cent increase in reports of dogs being clingy or following people around the house during lockdown.
You can read the full report below, and find detailed guidance and advice on the Dogs Trust website for dogs that are struggling to cope in these strange times.
As ever, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if I can offer any further support on this or any other issue.