On 6 April 2020, the United Kingdom Government introduced landmark new legislation to tackle the low-welfare, high volume supply of puppies and kittens, by banning their commercial third party sale in England.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2019 (or “Lucy’s Law”) means that anode wanting a new puppy or kitten in England must now buy directly from a breeder, or consider adopting from an animal rescue centre instead. The new legislation cracks down on “puppy farms” and requires animals to be born and reared in safe environment, alongside their mother, and to be sold from their place of birth. Any licensed dog breeders are now also required to show puppies interacting with their mothers in their place of birth. If a business sells puppies or kittens without a licence, they could receive an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months.

The law is named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who was rescued from a puppy farm in Wales where she was subjected to terrible conditions. Lucy’s law is the result of a 10-year grassroots campaign supported by several prominent figures in the UK including Ricky Gervais and Sir Brian May, and will disrupt the supply chain of unscrupulous breeders and dealers who breed dogs in shocking conditions, often kept imprisonments alone in the dark, with very little human or canine company. This new legislation finally introduces accountability to all dog and cat breeders for the very first time.

Last month, the UK Government launched the ‘Petfished’ campaign to highlight these conditions and the deceitful tactics pet sellers use to trick buyers into thinking they are responsible breeders selling healthy animals. The Government has also committed to supporting tougher sentences for animal cruelty, raising maximum prison sentences from six months to five years imprisonment’, and has pledged to bring new laws on animal sentience and to end excessively long journeys for live animals.