Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border and Veterinary Surgeon, secured a parliamentary visitation of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee MPs to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home as part of their Official Inquiry into Pet Welfare and Abuse.
Due to his extensive professional expertise the veterinary MP has taken instigated this important Inquiry that is exploring a host of issues from illegal animal mutilations and infectious animal diseases to puppy smuggling and cost of living pressures for pet owners. He initiated the investigation in February and MPs will publish their findings in due course: www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/efra-committee-mps-investigate-pet-welfare-and-abuse
This week’s visitation added to the Committee’s fact-finding mission with MPs hearing from Battersea experts about the puppy and dog smuggling trade that has continued to boom since the pandemic. Dr Hudson has long campaigned on the issue which sees many animals kept in awful conditions as they are transported from Central and Eastern Europe without care for their health and welfare. He was recently joined by 63 parliamentarians who signed his open letter to stamp out the cruel trade: www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/63-parliamentarians-join-dr-neil-hudsons-fight-stamp-out-puppy-smuggling
Imported animals can then pose a biosecurity risk, with some dogs carrying zoonotic diseases such as Brucella canis. Dr Hudson welcomed the Government’s Biological Security Strategy this week which will help mitigate this issue, but more must be done. Read the full announcement here: www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/veterinary-mp-dr-neil-hudson-mp-welcomes-world-class-strategy-bolster-nations-biosecurity
Battersea submitted evidence to the Inquiry that “dogs and cats are displaying more problem behaviours associated with stress and low welfare”. They pointed to two primary factors, inexperienced owners buying pets during the pandemic who cannot handle them and cost of living pressures which has seen increased levels of abandonment in pets.
Dr Neil Hudson, the only vet in the House of Commons, said:
“As a vet it really is upsetting to see pets having to be given up or tragically abandoned and mistreated, but I must commend Battersea on such a proactive and positive rehoming scheme. It was a pleasure to be back at the flagship centre to hear about all the great work being done.
“That said, the evidence they submitted to our Committee is really worrying. Animal abandonment is on the rise since the pandemic with associated health and welfare issues growing too.
“We are a nation of animal lovers and I know constituents are really pleased we are giving a voice to these voiceless pets.”
Dr Hudson has led and instigated similar EFRA visitations to the Animal and Plant Health Agency HQ in Weybridge (www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/veterinary-mp-dr-neil-hudson-leads-parliamentary-delegation-uk-biosecurity-hub) and a Dogs Trust facility (www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/veterinary-mp-dr-neil-hudson-fact-finding-mission-scourge-puppy-and-dog-smuggling).
