In questioning the Welsh Government’s Minister for Rural Affairs on the issue of animal welfare following the introduction of regulations on the sale of third-party puppy and kittens, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has urged for active collaboration with the UK Government to ensure that social media networks are playing their role in enforcing lawful sales.
This concern has also been reflected in a recent report from the Blue Cross which found that there remains a high number of puppies available to buy online, with over 400 adverts placed daily.
Commenting after her question, Janet said:
“Having campaigned in unequivocal support of their introduction, I remain increasingly concerned that the virtual wild-west that is modern-day social media platforms look set to undermine our regulations on the sale of third-party puppy and kittens.
“With a BBC Wales investigation this week alarmingly finding that online platforms are helping to fuel a brutal trade in designer dog looks, and a great number of videos and photos that are being posted on platforms adorned with prose such as “one puppy left”, it comes to reason that the welfare of these pets are perhaps not the foremost priority during such transactions.
“Having previously raised this issue in the Siambr, and given the established harm to animal welfare, it is vital that the Welsh Government commits to undertaking urgent conversations with their counterparts in the UK Government to ensure that social media networks are playing their role in enforcing lawful sales.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
