The Scottish SPCA have announced the support of local MSP Ben Macpherson for their #SayNoToPuppyDealers campaign.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity continues to suffer first-hand the devastating effects of puppy farming and are more determined than ever to raise public awareness and tackle the issue once and for all.
Their recent research confirms findings that dogs from puppy farms exhibit significantly higher rates of undesirable behaviours relating to anxiety, aggression and fear. Puppy farmed dogs are also more likely to have genetic disorders and carry infectious diseases such as parvovirus, an often fatal condition which can cost up to £4,000 to treat.
Scottish SPCA Head of Education & Policy Gilly Mendes Ferreira said, “The barbaric and cruel trade in puppies needs to stop.
“Week after week, animal rescue organisations across the UK and Ireland, and devastated owners are picking up the pieces of a multi-million pound industry which treats these dogs as nothing more than commodities, with no concern at all for animal welfare.
“We’re thankful to have Ben’s support on our campaign and hope with his help we can end the horrific trade that puts profit before welfare.”
Ben Macpherson, MSP said, “The illegal puppy trade is a brutal and disgraceful practice that totally disregards the welfare of the animals involved – it must be tackled and I thank my SNP colleague Emma Harper MSP and the Scottish SPCA for ensuring that this issue is firmly on the political agenda.
“In order to stop illegal puppy trafficking we need to raise awareness of the issue – and that’s why many of my MSP colleagues and I, on a cross-party basis, are playing our part to make sure that the message #SayNoToPuppyDealers is spread as far and as wide as possible.”
The Scottish SPCA Special Investigations Unit spearhead a multi-agency taskforce to tackle the illegal trade in puppies by detecting offenders, disrupting illicit trade and reducing animal suffering through Operation Delphin which includes support from Dumfries and Galloway Council, ISPCA, USPCA, DSPCA, RSPCA, HMRC Trading Standards, Stenaline, Police Scotland Port unit and APHA.
Alongside this vital investigatory work, the charity is also running online campaign #SayNoToPuppyDealers to help spread awareness and educate the public about the horrific puppy trade. Anyone concerned about the welfare of an animal should contact the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
Scottish SPCA
Pic Peter Devlin
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
