EFFECT OF COVID19 ON ANIMAL WELFARE

I participated in a debate on the effect of the health pandemic on animal welfare and called for the UK Government to match the Scottish Government’s penalties for animal cruelty, and to commit to upholding animal welfare standards in trade deals.

Lockdown has seen a surge in demand for pets, but as we start to return to normality, many may find they can no longer accommodate or afford the costs associated with being a pet owner. It is the animal charity sector who will step in to help if that happens as well as stepping up to help victims of domestic abuse whose pets are also at high risk of mistreatment. However, whilst these charities face unprecedented demands for support they are also facing severe restrictions on their ability to fundraise.

We all want to see more done to support animal charities to continue their vital work and keep up with an increasing demand for their services. See more detail in my speech below.