Britain announces tougher rules on puppy trade

Tough new rules to control back-street puppy breeders were announced on Sunday by Britain's animal welfare minister.

The move comes as leading dog charities prepare to receive thousands of puppy dogs bought as Christmas presents, but unwanted and abandoned within days of being "unwrapped", reported Xinhua.

The Dog's Trust said they dealt with thousands unwanted dogs in the weeks after Christmas last year.

Excuses given to the Dog's Trust for wanting to hand over unwanted pets have astonished staff.

One owner said the pup "wagged its tail too much", another that it "ate too much food".

Meanwhile a government consultation is seeking to strengthen the regulations around dog breeding and pet sales to make it easier to take action against irresponsible breeders, particularly smaller breeding establishments - known as "backstreet breeders" - which supply thousands of dogs to Britain's families each year.

"We are a nation of dog lovers but it is crucial that puppies are cared for properly. We are aiming to reform Britain's licensing regime so that smaller puppy breeding establishments must abide by the same regulations and licensing rules as bigger breeders," Animal Welfare Minister George Eustice said.

"We are also reviewing other animal related licensed activities such as pet sales to address problems associated with the growing trend for internet sales that can contribute to impulse buying," he said.

It could mean a breeding license being needed when three or more litters of puppies are produced in a year.

The plea to families aiming to buy a pet this week from animal charities is: a dog is for life, not just for Christmas!