Third party sales of puppies and kittens are set to be banned in Wales, in a move backed by Ceredigion Ceredigion Council.

The move comes after a consultation showed overwhelming public support, and Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said she hopes the ban will “improve animal welfare conditions and help the public to make more informed choices when buying a pet”.

Mid and West Wales AM Eluned Morgan said she was pleased with the move, saying that there are “some terrible stories of puppy farming, with dogs being kept in poor, isolating conditions and intensive breeding leading to ill-health and the abandonment of ex-breeding dogs” in the area.

“I am so pleased the Welsh Government has taken the positive step of introducing Lucy’s Law in Wales,” she said. “Last summer, we brought the issue of puppy farming and third party puppy sales to the National Assembly.

“Bringing together campaigners and volunteers engaged in rescuing breeding dogs and their pups, it was a tremendously important event that shone a light on the issue in Wales and looked at the opportunity of improving our legislation.”

Cllr Maldwyn Lewis, whose motion last year was backed by Ceredigion council’s healthier communities overview and scrutiny committee, said the legislation would make puppy selling “more transparent and raise standards” and the “cruel act of puppy farming could be consigned to history”.

The committee were told that the number of licensed dog breeders was increasing in Ceredigion having previously fallen and officers had “worked hard to improve the situation here”.

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