What Is Lucy’s Law
Lucy’s Law came into effect in April 2020, it is legislation that requires anyone wanting to get a new puppy or kitten in England must now buy direct from a breeder, or consider adopting from a rescue centre instead.
Licensed dog breeders are required to show puppies interacting with their mothers in their place of birth. A business that sells puppies or kittens without a licence, could receive an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months.
Lucy’s Law came into effect to help tackle the issues around puppy farming in the UK, where puppies are often found in poor conditions and with health issues.
These puppies were then usually distributed through pet shops or dealers and sold to unsuspecting buyers. Many of these puppies sold were often sick, traumatised, unsocialised puppies who were taken away from their mother at just a few weeks old.
This means lots of people were buying puppies and kittens suffering life-threatening medical, surgical, or behavioural problems and then had to cover the medical cost of their new family member. Lucy’s Law takes out the third-party element of this distribution network and means the breeders are held accountable for health issues in the animals they have bred.
Lucy’s law brings with it tougher sentences for animal cruelty, raising maximum prison sentences from six months to five years.
