New legislation to end puppy and kitten farming will be laid in Parliament today (May 13), the Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced.

Known as ‘Lucy’s Law’, it will mean that puppies and kittens can no longer be sold by a third-party seller – such as a pet shop or commercial dealer – unless they have bred the animal themselves. Instead, anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy or kitten under six months must either deal directly with the breeder or an animal rehoming centre.

The law is named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who died in 2016 after being subjected to terrible conditions on a Welsh puppy farm.

The ban will also deter puppy smugglers who abuse the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) by bringing underage puppies into the UK which are then sold on for financial gain.

Mr Gove said: “This is about giving our animals the best possible start in life and making sure that no other animal suffers the same fate as Lucy. It will put an end to the early separation of puppies and kittens from their mothers, as well as the terrible conditions in which some of these animals are bred.

“I would like to thank the tireless campaigners and animal lovers who have helped to bring about this positive change. This is all part of our plan to make this country the best place in the world for the protection and care of animals.”