Question reference: S6W-13056
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 9 December 2022
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 December 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Gumtree, Pets4Homes, Facebook and other relevant online platforms regarding the illegal trade and sale of puppies, and when it last discussed this matter with Police Scotland.
Answer
The Puppy Trade Working Group (PTWG), of which the Scottish Government is a member, seeks to disrupt the unlicensed puppy trade, including online sales of low welfare puppies. We work closely with other members of the PTWG, which includes Gumtree and Pets4Homes, to address the advertising of illegally bred puppies on online platforms. As a consequence of this collaborative working, Gumtree and Pets4Homes continue to adapt their advertising practices in order to address online selling by unscrupulous breeders.
At this time Facebook are not members of the PTWG. The PTWG and the Scottish SPCA continue to seek to engage with Facebook on this matter.
The Scottish Government has regular discussions with Police Scotland on the threats from organised crime, including criminal activities associated with the illegal puppy trade. While it would not be appropriate to comment on the detail of those discussions, we know that Police Scotland continue to work in partnership with the Scottish SPCA to disrupt the activities of those involved in this abhorrent trade.