NEIL Hamilton, AM for Mid & West Wales and Leader of UKIP Wales is calling for regulation over the growing trade of buying pets on-line.
As Party Spokesman for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, he joined fellow AM’s in Cardiff, to highlight the increasing problem.
He said: “I share the concerns about the increasing number of pets being sold online. Last year alone, almost half a million adverts were placed for dogs, cats and rabbits in three leading classified websites in the UK. In Wales this amounted to 37,179, which is an extremely worrying figure.
“In Mid & West Wales the total number of adverts for selling dogs, cats and rabbits via these websites was 7,037. The Llanelli area accounted for 1,916 and 1,258 were placed in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr.
“It seems very little is being done to regulate the selling of pets online and I strongly back moves to target this practice and encourage more to be done to make it a safe and regulated environment for both pets, buyers and sellers.”
In a recent, online Sales Welsh Pets Deserve Better report, by registered animal welfare charity, Blue Cross, it was identified that the internet marketplace for dogs, cats and rabbits was continuing to grow.
In the report there were concerns raised about the wording of adverts for selling pets online and the charity made several recommendations.
They are now calling for registration and licensing system for all sellers; regulation of animal sanctuaries and rescue centres and that no pet should be sold without correct care advice.
