Martyn Jones

Labour Party | Clwyd South

Martyn Jones MP says "Let's protect pets"

MARTYN JONES MP today launched a campaign to push for speedy legislation to protect endangered animals in Clwyd South.

MARTYN JONES said:

"Britain was the first country in the world to legislate to protect animals and we have a deserved reputation as a nation of pet lovers.

"Yet even today the police and RSPCA don't have the powers they need to protect animals, the current fines aren't a tough enough punishment for severe cruelty and there's nothing the police and RSPCA can do  to prevent cruelty when it's about to occur - for example where a pet owner is unable to look after their animals any more."

"I want to make sure this changes now. There is already legislation to protect farm animals from neglect that is bordering on cruelty - giving the police the chance to intervene before the animals are suffering horrible. Now I want to see the same powers extended to pets and other companion animals.

"I want to see that legislation included in the new Animal Welfare Bill being put before parliament. I want to see pet welfare being put first.

"However, that not the only change in the law I want to see.  For example we urgently need a ban on the sick trade in filming and selling films of animal fights. Cock fighting and dog fighting has been illegal for years, but some people are profiting from the suffering of animals by selling videos of films made outside the UK.  That should be illegal and the punishments should be a real punishment.

"It's for causes like this that I am distributing a petition across Clwyd South calling on the government to make sure the new Animal Welfare Bill is passed into law with these provisions. I hope all pet and animal lovers in Clwyd South will join me in this campaign. If anyone would like copies of this petition to distribute in their street or in their community group, just call my office on 0207 219 3417.