A North East MP has urged the SNP government to enact ‘Lucy’s Law’ on third party puppy sales – more than a year after writing to ministers on the issue.

MPs at Westminster backed a change in the law to crack down on puppy farms in England and Wales, which will come into force in April next year. The new legislation means that anyone buying or adopting a dog or cat must deal directly with the breeder or an animal rehoming centre. It was named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who died in 2016 after being poorly treated on a puppy farm.

Ross Thomson, MP for Aberdeen South, has urged the SNP government in Scotland to follow suit. The Scottish Conservative MP wrote to Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform more than a year ago. In response, Ms Cunningham said the government “intends to revise” legislation around breeding and licensing, but had not yet launched a public consultation.

Last month, two people in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, were found guilty of animal welfare offences after a raid at what is believed to have been Scotland’s largest puppy farm. 

Mr Thomson said the rest of the UK was still waiting for Scotland to pass ‘Lucy’s Law’. He said: “I was delighted to see the UK Government enact Lucy’s Law to ban third party puppy sales. I said last year that I am concerned that Scotland risked being left behind on this issue.

“A year on, it seems we are still waiting. Scotland runs the risk of being targeted by puppy farm criminals trying to get around the law. I am now writing again to the Cabinet Secretary to ask what is being done and when Scotland will catch up to the rest of the UK. I hope that we will soon hear that Holyrood will make changes to legislation around breeding and licensing in Scotland that have been suggested.

“I want to do all I can to help eradicate this practice, and I think most people expect the government to act.”