Written Statement: Responsible Dog Breeding and Ownership in Wales

I am pleased to share the significant progress made in promoting responsible dog breeding and ownership in Wales this year. Following on from the success of our first summit last year, I have recently attended our second annual summit which took place on 24 October. It served as a platform to highlight achievements, share knowledge, and demonstrate the effectiveness of our collaborative approach. It was an opportunity to hear from stakeholders about their progress and the innovative solutions they are implementing.

This initiative has been a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders, including local government, the police, public health, third sector organisations and campaigners for dog welfare and public safety. The development of this multi-agency working group has been instrumental in driving forward our goals, helping to share expertise and working together to ensure a cohesive approach to responsible dog breeding and ownership. 

Key achievements include:

• The expansion of the LEAD initiative within Gwent Police force area and its application across other forces in Wales. 
• The uptake of the responsible dog ownership courses provided by Blue Cross across all four police forces. 
• The influential work conducted by Hope Rescue in the community and the key support they are giving to mental health charities and dog owners.   
• Ongoing research and development to understand successful practices and licensing models from other countries to enable high standards of health and welfare of breeding animals to be achieved. This research is crucial in ensuring that we adopt the best possible approaches to responsible dog breeding and is helping to inform our strategies here in Wales.
• The Welsh Government funded Animal Licensing Wales project has introduced a new website and portal for local authorities, breeders, and the public. This development goes hand in hand with efforts to combat illegal breeding and the raising of standards and conditions.
• The development of a Wales Dog Safety Partnership. This initiative marks an exciting new chapter in our efforts. We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our communities.

We extend our thanks to all involved for their dedication and hard work. Together, we are making significant strides in fostering responsible dog breeding and ownership across Wales.