THE RSPCA has welcomed Government plans to crack down on dog breeders who the charity says put profits ahead of the health and welfare of the animals.

The RSPCA said 2017 was its busiest year yet tackling the illegal puppy trade, with 46 calls alerting inspectors to cases in Cornwall.

Defra has announced proposals to tighten regulations around the breeding and selling of puppies in England:

Ensuring that licensed dog breeders must show puppies alongside their mother before a sale is made;

Tightening regulations so that puppy sales are completed in the presence of the new owner – preventing online sales where prospective buyers have not seen the animal first and only allowing sales of puppies from the premises

Insisting licensed dog breeders can only sell puppies they have bred themselves;

Regulating adverts, including on the internet, by ensuring licensed sellers of all pets, including puppies, include the seller’s licence number, country of origin and country of residence of the pet in any advert for sale.

Under the new rules puppies bred by licensed breeders will have better protection under law; anyone selling a puppy, including online, will need to get a licence and display that licence number; and buyers will need to see the puppy with the mother at the place it was bred before being able to complete a purchase.

RSPCA interim chief executive Michael Ward welcomed the announcement: ‘This is good news for the hundreds of thousands of dogs bought and sold in England every year.’