Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 2:33 pm on 15 December 2021.
Thank you. Yes, I was absolutely appalled to see the programme that you referred to. Ear cropping of dogs is illegal, it's unnecessary and I'm sure it's incredibly painful and there are no welfare or health benefits for the dog. It's carried out only, really, for cosmetic reasons, to make the dogs look tougher, and I just think it is absolutely abhorrent.
The forthcoming Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill does seek to restrict the import of dogs. As you say, obviously, it's a UK Government Bill, but it does seek to restrict the import of dogs and puppies that have been subject to mutilations, and obviously that includes ear cropping. And I think restricting the importation of them will significantly then strengthen the ability of our enforcement officers to be able to identify such dogs more easily and prosecute those involved in illegal ear cropping in Wales and across the UK. So, we will continue to work with the UK Government, bringing forward a legislative consent motion in relation to this.