Demi Mullen, Hannah Unger and Carrie McMeel 

Lead by Fieldfisher associate Hannah Unger, co-founder of Dog Law Ireland, alongside co-founders Carrie McMeel and Demi Mullen the group called for;  

• A cap on the number of breeding females,
• Stronger staffing ratios,
• Robust enforcement powers and resources and
• An independent regulator for dog breeding, welfare and control.

Proposed amendments to the Welfare of Animals (Dog Breeding Establishments and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 would bring in a stricter regime in Northern Ireland than what is being proposed in the general scheme and the Dog Law Ireland further called for a coordinated all-island approach to dog welfare. The fear being that should Northern Ireland implement the changes without Ireland following suit, there is a real risk of large scale Northern Irish breeders migrating south of the border where the regulatory framework is weaker. 

Ms Unger also drew attention to the difference in proposed regulation between commercial and ‘backyard’ breeders if the general scheme was brought into law.

Ms Unger said: ““If the general scheme was brought into law tomorrow this would mean that dogs in dog breeding establishments would benefit from the new age restrictions, the max number of litters, enhanced welfare provisions, the Lucy’s Law provision, but this wouldn’t apply to dogs born to back yard breeders”.

Lucy’s Law is an amendment to The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, named for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who was rescued from a puppy farm and requiring prospective buyers to purchase directly from a breeder and see the mothers interacting with their puppies at their place of birth. It has now become shorthand for similar regulations in other countries.

Ms Unger highlighted that under the general scheme where a person was buying a dog from a dog breeding establishment Lucy’s Law type provisions would apply, but if purchasing from a backyard breeder, captured by the Pet Sellers Regulations 2019, the sale could still take place in a car park.

Ms Unger told the committee that a rescue that Dog Law Ireland works with rescue 400 to 500 dogs each year and 90 per cent come from back yard breeders. The group feels that it would be helpful to bring more breeders within the scope of the proposed legislation.

Dog Law Ireland was founded by solicitors, Hannah Unger, Demi Mullen and Carrie McMeel and advocates for better law and greater enforcement of animal welfare.