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Legislation to crack down on puppy farms made law in Scotland
"This [legislation] couldn't be more important right now, as we continue to see the demand for puppies rise during the pandemic." - Dr Ed Hayes, The Kennel Club.

Lucy's Law will come into force in September.

New legislation which aims to bring an end to irresponsible breeding by banning the third-party sale of puppies and kittens has now been made law in Scotland.

The new legislation – known as Lucy's Law – means that anyone looking to buy a puppy or kitten under six months must purchase directly from the breeder themselves, rather than a pet shop or commercial dealer, or consider adopting from an animal rehoming centre.

Dr Ed Hayes, head of public affairs at The Kennel Club, commented: “We are delighted that these new animal breeding and sale regulations, which include Lucy’s Law, have been made into law in Scotland – it’s a long-awaited and crucial step.

“Sadly, too often irresponsible breeders in the UK and abroad have depended on commercial third party sellers, like ‘dealers’ or pet shops, to disguise the horrific conditions puppies are bred and brought up in to the public, readily making a huge profit while causing untold suffering.

“We hope Lucy’s Law will help bring an end to this and alongside improving welfare conditions for puppies, it will also encourage anyone thinking of getting a puppy to really do their research and find a responsible breeder.

“This couldn’t be more important right now, as we continue to see the demand for puppies rise during the pandemic.”

The Kennel Club has also welcomed the Scottish government's updated breeding regulations, which differ from those in place in England, as they remove the 'over-complicated' and 'confusing' business test.

According to the Kennel Club, the business test has discouraged responsible one to two litter breeders from breeding, creating an opportunity for puppy importers and puppy farmers to take advantage of the high demand for puppies.

Parliamentary liaison officer for the Scottish Kennel Club, Richard Morrison, added: "Alongside Lucy's Law, which is a huge win for dog welfare, we believe the more simple approach to licensing will be better for dogs and puppies across the nation, encouraging high welfare, responsible and caring breeding while stamping out those who carelessly churn out puppies for profit."

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.