Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:46 pm on 16 December 2020.
Thank you, Minister. During this COVID-19 pandemic, of course, we've seen an increase in demand for and the selling of puppies from various sources. Now, UK-based Google searches for puppies near where I live have increased more than six times and the number of licences issued for the commercial import of dogs more than doubled to 12,733 from June to August 2019 in the same three-month period this year. So, there is a serious concern that we are sitting on an animal welfare time bomb. It just beggars belief that import licences to bring dogs and puppies in have doubled in that way, when you see how many strays there are, how many unwanted dogs are waiting for forever homes. So, there could be a significant increase in the levels of abandonment as the further economic consequences of coronavirus are realised. So, it's fair to say our rescue centres must be prepared. However, fundraising opportunities are vastly reduced, and a survey of members of the Animal Welfare Network Wales showed 71 per cent of organisations calling for grants to be made available to rescues—that's a significant amount of people needing help to look after these dogs that find themselves in dire straits. So, will you consider stepping in at some point with some funding to assist the rescue centres, should they be able to prove that, despite the grants they may have received from any other sources, you might be able to help in some way? Thank you.