Agenda item

            (The High Sheriff (Councillor Long) withdrew from the meeting during consideration of this motion, on the basis that a proposed amendment called upon the Council to write to his wife, the Justice Minister.)

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Newton proposed:

“This Council expresses concerns regarding the illegal and cruel practice of puppy farming, the smuggling of puppies through the Port of Belfast and calls for the introduction of legislation to tackle the third party sale of pups and to strengthen the powers of local Councils to address the issue.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Bunting.

At the request of Councillor Flynn, the proposer agreed to amend his motion to provide for the replacement of everything after the word “Belfast” with the following:

The Council reaffirms its support for and acknowledges the important work of operation Delphin, the multi-agency approach to tackling the illegal puppy smuggling industry throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Furthermore, the Council commits to write to the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Minister for Justice to:

·        reiterate our call for the introduction of legislation to tackle the third party sale of pups and kittens;

·        seek the strengthening of powers for local councils, port authorities and the Police Service to address the issues outlined including, but not limited to; powers to seize pups at the ports without proper documentation and powers to issue prohibition notices on unlicensed breeding establishments;

·        ask that more resources be put in to checks on documentation for consignments including pups travelling from Northern Ireland to Great Britain;

·        seek the creation of a central database of licenced breeders across all councils, with unique identifiers given to each breeder;

·        seek changes to microchipping, including a new unique number for pups related to their breeder, so that pups can be traced back to their point of origin, and a point of responsibility; and

·        seek support for the creation of a public information campaign, raising awareness of the impact of puppy farming and the animal welfare issues surrounding this cruel trade.”

            At the request of Councillor McKeown, the proposer agreed to amend his motion further to provide that the letters to the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Minister for Justice include a request for a register to be established of persons who had been convicted of animal cruelty.

            After discussion, the motion, as amended and set out below, was put to the Council and passed:

“This Council expresses concerns regarding the illegal and cruel practice of puppy farming, the smuggling of puppies through the Port of Belfast.

The Council reaffirms its support for and acknowledges the important work of operation Delphin, the multi-agency approach to tackling the illegal puppy smuggling industry throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Furthermore, the Council commits to write to the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Minister for Justice to:

·        reiterate our call for the introduction of legislation to tackle the third party sale of pups and kittens;

·        seek the strengthening of powers for local councils, port authorities and the Police Service to address the issues outlined including, but not limited to; powers to seize pups at the ports without proper documentation and powers to issue prohibition notices on unlicensed breeding establishments;

·        ask that more resources be put in to checks on documentation for consignments including pups travelling from Northern Ireland to Great Britain;

·        seek the creation of a central database of licenced breeders across all councils, with unique identifiers given to each breeder;

·        seek changes to microchipping, including a new unique number for pups related to their breeder, so that pups can be traced back to their point of origin, and a point of responsibility;

·        seek support for the creation of a public information campaign, raising awareness of the impact of puppy farming and the animal welfare issues surrounding this cruel trade; and

·        request that a register be established of persons who had been convicted of animal cruelty.”