Leading charity attacked in tabloid story

A leading dog rehoming charity has said a tabloid’s accusations it was lobbying against UK legislation banning the sale of puppies in shops is “skewed” and “extremely hurtful.”

The Dogs Trust is featured in a story in The Mirror headlined “Outrage as Dogs Trust tries to torpedo the most important dog welfare measure for years” in which it accuses the charity of lobbying against Lucy’s Law, which campaigns to end puppy farming.

The article is based on an email the Dogs Trust sent MPs ahead of a parliamentary debate next week, which said a ban alone would not be enough.

Claims by the Mirror that animal welfare campaigners “have reacted with disgust and dismay” to the charity's reported efforts to "derail the fight to end puppy farming” were a misrepresentation according to the Dogs Trust.

Bosses at the animal welfare charity, which has two rehoming centres in Glasgow and West Calder, said it was “extremely disappointed” because the journalist had asked only one question – if the charity would try to overturn the ban – and it replied “explaining how much we want a ban that it will be more effective as part of a package of measures.”

As such the charity said it was misrepresented in the article.

A spokesperson for the Dog’s Trust said: “A debate is being held in parliament next week and we want to make sure that MPs use their powers to make the ban as effective as possible. Making this sound underhand, when organisations regularly brief MPs and other supporters of Lucy’s Law are also meeting with politicians, is grossly misleading,” it said.

MPs were told that other measures were needed in addition to ban. The Dogs Trust website says “we want a ban” and outlines other measures such as regulation of rehoming centres, a licensing and system of inspection, and legislation on enforcement action.”