Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the motion in the name of Darren Millar and it gives me great pleasure to do so, as Wales is a nation of animal lovers. 

Due to the pandemic, many of us have spent more time at home than usual. For me, I had man's best friend in my lockdown bubble—my trusted yet yappy Jack Russell Terrier, Cadi. The challenges of the last 18 months were made easier by having those walks along the coast with Cadi, and I know countless other people and families welcomed new furry additions into their homes throughout the pandemic. Just as we see every Christmas, there was a sharp surge in the number of households that purchased a lockdown puppy or quarantine cat. It is estimated by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association that a total of 3.2 million households in the UK have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic.  

However, as the novelty of owning a canine companion or feline friend wore off, a worrying number of owners realised the commitment that comes with providing a pet with their forever home. And so, it fell on Wales's animal rescue and rehoming centres to provide a haven to those pets whose owners couldn't or wouldn't look after them any longer. Whilst many owners were sensible in contacting their local rehoming centres, there were some truly horrific instances whereby owners were dumping their once-beloved pets on the sides of quiet country lanes, in the hope that their misjudged lockdown purchases could be easily forgotten and erased.

Unfortunately, this was not an uncommon occurrence. Up and down Wales, there are rescue centres and sanctuaries that have now reached a crisis point. RSPCA Cymru highlight that the 998 cases of pet abandonment that have occurred in the first 10 months of this year have already surpassed the total amount for the whole of 2020. This demonstrates the increasing pressures on centres that are struggling to meet the demand. Not only does today's motion highlight the important work of these centres, but it also calls on the Welsh Government to strengthen existing animal welfare regulations to address these situations. It also recognises the growing pressures placed on the animal sanctuaries and rehoming centres across Wales and seeks to safeguard the welfare of those animals in their care.

I would certainly like to take this opportunity to broadly welcome the Minister's latest animal welfare plan for Wales 2021-26. However, and as this motion explains, we share the sector's view that this plan does not go far enough in its attempts to safeguard the welfare of animals in Wales. In the 15 years that this place has had the relevant powers, successive Welsh Labour Governments have failed to deliver on a clear strategy that addresses the root causes of today's animal welfare problems. This motion seeks to reinforce the animal welfare sector's calls to regulate Wales's currently unknown number of animal rescue and rehoming centres and sanctuaries, but it places a specific focus on those that operate online. However, we also seek to implement a strict timeline in which this can be achieved. 

Like many in this sector, these benches were incredibly disappointed with the Welsh Government's lack of urgency on this matter. And as a result, we have fallen behind our Scottish and English counterparts. That is why our motion commits this Government to a regulatory introduction by 2023. Any delay in regulating rescue and rehoming activity risks compromising the welfare of all household pets. But not just this. Further delay risks those loopholes in current dog breeding and pet sales legislation from being further exploited by those wishing to make a quick profit from the inhumane sale of animals.  

And lastly, and arguably most importantly, this motion places a statutory duty on all rehoming centres to meet minimum training, staffing and environmental standards. We need to ensure that those who care for abandoned animals have the necessary knowledge, support and assistance to do so. But it also ensures that animals in their care are safeguarded against those who may wish, with the best intentions, to offer sanctuary, but unfortunately cannot give the standard of care and attention that these animals deserve or require. The very last thing that we wish to see here in Wales is our own Tiger King-style animal sanctuary. This motion welcomes the broad themes of the Welsh Government's five-year animal welfare plan, but it also goes beyond what is currently proposed, and, by working with the animal welfare sector, improves the standards of service that can be offered.

Dirprwy Lywydd, the very first event that I sponsored in this Senedd was for the Companion Animal Welfare Group Wales, which is being expertly chaired by former Member Bethan Sayed. I was delighted to see such a strong cross-party representation from all benches at the event, highlighting the political will to strengthen this area of Welsh law. This motion has been crafted in unison with the Companion Animal Welfare Group and a whole range of key industry stakeholders. So, let us be the voice for the voiceless and vote to improve animal welfare here in Wales. Diolch.