Members of Belfast City Council have called on Stormont to ban the sale of puppies and kittens from unregistered breeders.

According to local reports, Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn forwarded a motion that the council demands Northern Ireland adopts 'Lucy's Law', which begins later this year in England, meaning that members of the public can only buy from registered breeders.

After passing, the council will now write to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to call for preparatory work to allow for Lucy's Law to be legislated for here.

Mr Flynn said: "Puppy farming is a callous, inhumane and cruel industry, which seeks to make a quick profit out of the misery of animals.

"Bred in horrendous conditions, where they lack basic needs of food and water, animals are denied adequate healthcare, and young pups are often removed from their mothers long before they are ready, according to standards set out by established practice."

Lucy's Law is named after the Cavalier King George Spaniel who suffered multiple health conditions including a curved spine, bald patches, epilepsy, and infused hips as a result of spending most of her life kept in a cage and used to breed litters of puppies at a Welsh puppy farm.

Lucy's Law is becoming law in England in April this year.  Lucy’s Law is being considered in Wales and a consultation on the issue is active in Scotland.

Source: Belfast Telegraph