Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 2:32 pm on 15 December 2021.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Samuel Kurtz Samuel Kurtz Conservative 2:32, 15 December 2021

Thank you, Minister—thank you for that clarification.

I'm sure that you were as horrified as I was, Minister, when, earlier this week, BBC Wales, in a documentary of theirs, highlighted the cropping of bulldog puppy ears to increase the dogs' value to breeders and desirability to new owners. The documentary heard how puppies with cropped ears can sell for an additional £1,500, making this cruel practice a valuable enterprise to criminals. Whilst ear cropping is illegal in the UK, there is no law surrounding the right to import these animals into the UK. But, whilst accepting that importing animals is a reserved matter, you do have enforcement powers if these puppies are sold or owned by Welsh residents. Therefore, what actions are you taking, in partnership with the UK Government, to address this distressing form of animal abuse, and will you provide greater powers to the RSPCA to deal with animal cruelty?