Green light for ‘Lucy’s Law’ signals a turning point in the fight against puppy farming in Northern Ireland – Muir
Date published:
Approval for proposals to introduce Northern Ireland’s own version of Lucy’s Law marks a major step towards ending third-party commercial sales of puppies and kittens, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has said.
The proposed regulations, which deliver on a key commitment in the Minister’s Animal Welfare Pathway, will prohibit dealers and other third-party commercial sellers from selling or supplying puppies, and from selling kittens. Subject to the necessary legislative and Assembly procedures, people buying a puppy or kitten will generally have to deal directly with the breeder and see the animal with its mother at the place where it was bred.
The draft regulations are intended to disrupt dealer chains which can conceal poor breeding practices, strengthen protections for puppies and kittens and give prospective owners clearer information about where an animal has come from.
Lucy’s Law takes its name from Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescued from a breeding establishment in Wales, where she had been kept in appalling conditions and used repeatedly for breeding. The campaign in her name highlighted how third-party sellers can conceal poor breeding practices and the origins and early treatment of puppies and kittens.
Minister Muir said: “Northern Ireland’s own version of Lucy’s Law reflects my commitment to ensuring that vulnerable companion animals are treated with the care, compassion and responsibility they deserve.
“I am proud to bring these proposals forward as part of a wider programme to strengthen animal welfare standards. By restricting third-party commercial sales and requiring prospective owners generally to deal directly with the breeder, the regulations will increase transparency and make it harder for irresponsible operators to conceal poor breeding practices.
“The new requirements will support responsible breeding and selling, improve accountability and help prospective owners make informed decisions by giving them clearer, more reliable information before they take on a new pet.”
Minister Muir concluded: “Animal welfare is a cause I care deeply about, and I am determined to deliver lasting improvements for animals across Northern Ireland. Officials are continuing to progress further animal welfare measures, and the Department intends to consult on recommendations relating to dog breeding during this mandate.”
Notes to editors:
- Under the proposed regulations, prospective buyers of a puppy or kitten will generally have to see it with its mother at the place where it was bred. For puppies, the sale or handover must also take place at that location and be carried out by the breeder. New record-keeping and advertising requirements will also apply to those breeding and selling puppies and kittens.
- Advertisements will have to include specified information, including the animal’s age, where it is being kept, the relevant council area and a clear photograph of the puppy or kitten with its mother. They must also include a responsible ownership message reminding prospective owners that taking on a pet is a long-term commitment. Puppies must not be supplied before they are weaned or before they are eight weeks old. A person supplying a puppy must be at least 16 years old, provide the new owner with relevant health and care information, and keep appropriate records.
- Councils will have responsibility for enforcing the new regulations, consistent with their existing statutory role for animal welfare under the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
- The Department intends to bring the regulations forward by the end of 2026, subject to the necessary legislative and Assembly procedures. A lead-in period will be provided before the requirements come into operation, giving the public, councils and those affected time to prepare.
- During the lead-in period, the Department will undertake public awareness activity to help prospective owners understand the new requirements and to ensure that breeders, sellers and those supplying puppies are aware of their obligations before the regulations come into operation.
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