Danny Chambers MP’s mutilated pets import ban bill set to become law

Sunny, Ray and Sky were driven to the UK from Romania when they were 13 weeks old

Dogs Trust Three Cane Corso dogs stood on astroturf looking at the camera. — Sunny, Ray and Sky were driven to the UK from Romania when they were 13 weeks old

A Hampshire MP is set to see a law he proposed to clampdown on the smuggling of dogs, cats and ferrets formally adopted.

Danny Chambers, the Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester and vet, has the government’s support and the law would crack down on the import of dogs and cats that are mutilated or heavily pregnant.

It would also give the government power to stop the import of puppies and kittens that are under six months old. Currently the minimum age is 15 weeks.

The government said in November, when it formally supported Dr Chambers’ private member’s bill, that the “non-commercial” movement of pets had soared from 100,000 in 2011 to over 320,000 in 2023.

Dr Chambers said that the mutilation of dogs, such as cropping their ears, must be stopped.

“It is not legal so it’s not being done by vets and we know people are cropping ears in the UK, probably with no anaesthetic. They often get infections as a result of that,” he said.

“It causes physical and psychological problems for the dog for the rest of its life. It’s purely aesthetic so they look tough, they look vicious, they look mean – even when they don’t.”

Danny Chambers’ (left) bill is supported by the government and animal charities

Danny Chambers, wearing a blue vet's shirt and a stethoscope around his neck, checking over a brown and white dog, which is sat on a table, with his owner, a man, and a nurse stood next to them. — Danny Chambers’ (left) bill is supported by the government and animal charities

Other mutilation of dogs could include them having their tail docked, and with cats it could involve them being declawed.

It is rare that private members’ bills, which are proposed by MPs whose names are pulled out of a random ballot, are adopted.

But the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill would also ban the import of dogs and cats beyond 42 days of pregnancy and limit the number of animals that are allowed in a vehicle.

Dr Chambers’ bill is supported by the Dogs Trust, which said it took on three Cane Corso puppies that were found to have entered the UK illegally.

Sunny, Ray and Sky were driven from Romania when they were 13 weeks old, without health certificates, and under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). They should have entered under commercial legislation.

They were underweight, anxious and had already had their ears cropped and tails docked.

The charity said the change in law would help “further dogs from suffering at the hands of illegal importers”.

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