I'm sure many people are aware of the consultation on the importation of dogs into the UK. The options discussed where:

1. Banning the import of cropped/docked dogs
2. Raising the import age from 15 weeks to 6 months

So last I heard the government announced a total ban on the importation of cropped/docked dogs and raising the age to 6 months. I don't think it's law yet, but as I successfully imported my 16 week old Moscow watchdog (not cropped or docked) a week ago without problems. But I don't know when it will but it seems like a sledgehammer to crack a nut to appease the animals rights crowd than for the benefit of dogs.

1. A total ban on cropped/docked dogs will also prevent people relocating to the UK with their own cropped/docked dogs even if the owners had rehomed/rescued them and already cropped and/or docked and had nothing to do with the procedure. I feel this should have been limited to the commercial imports only as that includes the purchasing of puppies/dogs from overseas breeders. Non commercial import you have to own the dog outside of the country for so many months before import and travel within 5 days of the dog. This should achieve what the government wants without penalty for those relocating.

2. Increasing the import age to 6 months. There's so many vulnerable breeds in the UK where importation is so important to prevent becoming too inbred. It's already difficult to find reputable breeders with the lines you're looking for that are willing to hold a pup till 15 weeks. This will be even harder till 6 months. Again another knee jerk sledgehammer to crack a nut. The problem is puppy dealers importing large numbers of puppies for resale from overseas puppy Mills and not the responsible breeders importing the odd puppy to increase their blood lines. Why not just banning puppy dealers and importing for resale?

Illegal importers will still make fake papers with the incorrect age. Many ports still aren't even looking at the dogs, so the adult teeth is meaningless. Dogs trust imported a toy with fake papers and they didn't even pick up on that. Then there's the undeclared and sedated that will most likely increase.

I think the government needs a serious rethink and start start tackling import for resale and puppy dealers.

When did the government announce these changes? Public consultation only closed in October. Though I have no doubt it’ll go through, unfortunately in the case of age of imports.

My MP’s office suggested it might take a couple of years to come into effect when I first asked.

I saw it announced that they've introduced a bill to enact the changes in the press back in November and as a government response to a petition on the government website saying the same.

Given how they have a habit of bending to the wishes of the loudest rather than well thought out legislation to tackle the real problems, I've no doubt it'll go through.

As Moscow Watchdogs are rare in the UK that's my breed negatively effected. Also known a few expats with rescue dogs that are docked, so once the new rules in effect they won't be allowed to bring them if they ever wanted to move back.

But the puppy dealers won't be affected, I gaurentees that. Even if they obey the law, they'll just advertise 6 months old puppy Mill dogs as 'rescues needing homes'  just like what happens with fake rescues abroad.

They have not as yet published the results of the consultation.On the DEFRA site is where it would be published.it is not available which would indicate to me that it is still being processed.

In view of the current problems that this current government is having, it may well be a while before they make any decisions regarding a change in the law

Do you have a link please? I can’t see any official update since public consultation closed.

It’s gutting, I did fill out the public consultation form, fully expecting it to go through anyway, but I would love to see them allow single puppies to come over from FCI (or whatever) registered litters at the current age, or some kind of compromise. I have an import and I know for a fact his breeder would not have kept him until 6 months. I know there are several of us who will have outlined our concerns but I believe they are going to want to be seen to be (ineffectively) acting on the problems to Joe Public who don’t understand the issues it will cause.

Remembering the farce of the public consultation on the dangerous dogs act (if anyone remembers that) I doubt they do these consultations to actually form policy but rather a box ticking excerise with their decision already made. In the DDA consultation the public were asked their views on section 1 with keeping breeds banned, repeal or allowing owners to apply to the index for exemption rather than a court order but both the RSPCA and blue cross published that they'd been told that any change to breed specific legislation was off the table within the 1st week of it being open. Every single dog group wanted it repealed or at least owner lead exemption and 71% of the public. And after the government refused both.

Given the response I read to this petition, which made no reference to the public consultation, banning all crop/docked and increasing age is already on the bill. Though I haven't see a written bill yet. But I'd be willing to put money on it that as soon as the consultation is published that the bill will be published with the changes they mentioned in the petition response

Currently at work, so I'll try refind the links to the petition response and new article tonight

Cut and paste from defra animal welfare action plan

"We will also bring in powers which enable us to go further, to:

increase the minimum age that dogs can be non-commercially moved or commercially imported into Great Britain

restrict the ability of unscrupulous traders to move heavily pregnant dogs into Great Britain both commercially and non-commercially

prioritise the health and welfare of dogs by prohibiting the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs into Great Britain that have been subject to low welfare practices, such as ear cropping or tail docking, in line with our domestic legislation on these practices"

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/action-plan-for-animal-welfare/action-plan-for-animal-welfare#international-trade-and-advocacy

It says will and nothing about the public consultation or may or look into. Published before the public consultation was even closed. Yet another public consultation that was a complete farce.