Marc Abraham with ex-Blue Cross dog Winnie, outside the charity's Victoria animal hospital.

Blue Cross supports the campaign of celebrity vet Marc Abraham

Animal charity the Blue Cross is supporting a campaign to ban the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops.

In a bid to tackle the puppy farming industry, TV vet and Pup Aid founder Marc Abraham last year launched an e-petition, campaigning for a ban on the sale of puppies and kittens unless their mothers are present.

As the petition received more than 100,000 signatures, the issue will now be debated in Parliament on September 4.

Blue Cross recently welcomed Marc to its Victoria animal hospital. The charity believes selling puppies and kittens in pet shops leads to impulse buying and compromises animal welfare.

Many of these pets have been bred irresponsibly and taken away from their mothers too young, leading to life-threatening health problems.

The charity, which cares for around 40,000 animals each year, says it often takes in pets that have been bought on impulse.

Rachel Cunningham, the charity's public affairs manager, said Marc's Pup Aid campaign has “captured the public imagination” and is helping to promote responsible pet ownership.

“We are also pleased that these issues are to be discussed in Parliament and we will be working closely with MPs to ensure a full and wide ranging debate,” she added.

Marc commented: “It’s fantastic to have the support of Blue Cross. Calls on the Government to review existing legislation to ensure that prospective owners should always see the puppy or kitten with its mother, and to ban the sale of puppies and kittens from retail centres or puppy supermarkets, would be a really positive step in the right direction for animal welfare in the UK."

Image courtesy of Blue Cross.