An end to puppy farming and a possible ban on the use of electric shock dog collars are promised as part of a new animal welfare strategy being launched by the government on Monday. The strategy – which packages together new laws with legislative reforms and proposals – will also progress Labour’s manifesto pledge to ban trail hunting in the countryside. The RSPCA has welcomed the plans to outlaw puppy farming but the Countryside Alliance has condemned the ban on trail hunting as “another attack on the countryside”.Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds told the BBC there would be consultation on the trail-hunting ban, which was “sometimes used as a smokescreen” for illegal fox hunting. Puppy farming is the term used when breeders prioritise profit over animal health and welfare, often keeping large numbers of dogs in small pens and using them to produce multiple litters a year.Current dog breeding practices will be reformed to tackle puppy farming as part of what the government calls “the biggest animal welfare reforms in a generation”. However, the whole strategy will not be delivered until the end of 2030.David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said the animal welfare charity was “delighted” at the strategy and added that the plans to ban puppy farming “could be a real game-changer”.”Puppy farming is one of the most insidious problems that the RSPCA faces.”The government will need to write the legislation on that in this coming year and the RSPCA will work with them to make sure that there are no loopholes,” he said.The governm …
