Local Assembly Member Paul Davies has raised the issue of the online sale of pets, following concerns that the number of sales has risen significantly in recent years. Mr Davies called on the Welsh Government to prioritise the matter and address the scale of unlicensed activity taking place online.

Mr Davies said: “The online trade of pets has been a longstanding issue as the invisibility of the trading system means that sellers do not always ensure the highest possible standards. There is simply no accountability and no way of ascertaining whether these animals are healthy, have had the appropriate veterinary checks and are even old enough to be taken away from their mothers. The Welsh Government must look at this activity and develop a strategy to address online trading and selling of pets, so that all parties can be confident that the welfare of animals is protected.”

You can access Paul’s speech (from paragraph 32) here - http://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/4907