"Wealth more important than animal welfare" - Cllr Kendall
In a recent conference held in Stormont organised by Causeway Dog Rescue, animal welfare organisations agreed that Northern Ireland has reached a perfect storm.
Speaking after the Conference, Cllr Kendall said: "Northern Ireland is a gateway for greed. When is wealth more important than animal welfare?"
"We see a continued failure to prevent puppy profiteers. Successive ministers have stood by, whilst puppies are left in squalid conditions, denied the “Five basic Freedoms” of animal welfare, before being sold to line the pockets of profiteers. Animal charities and rescue organisations are left to pick up the financial and emotional tab."
"Now, we have a new DAERA Minister, and we see only virtue signalling characterised by the introduction of the XL Bully Ban and providing payments for euthanasia, contrary to expert advice and opinion."
"Nothing short of a systemic review is required. Only 50% of dogs in Northern Ireland have a licence, there is no enforced tracking, and breeder information is hidden behind closed doors. Councils have enforcement powers but few animal welfare officers, with legislation and budgets falling far short of what is needed. Rate payers are expected to pay for the sins of puppy profiteers because our Councils are given no powers to collaborate and increase breeder fees, which could be a mechanism to ensure costs are borne by those who profit, and would fund improved enforcement and regulation."
"We need to stop animal abuse, stop profiteering from misery. We need to protect animals and protect people."
ENDS