Green light for ‘Lucy’s Law’ signals a turning point in the fight against puppy farming in Northern Ireland – Muir

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

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.”