It was a pleasure to visit Dogs Trust in Harefield once again this morning and to meet not only the lovely dogs, but also the dedicated staff who take care of them and work incredibly hard to find them new homes. It was great to hear more about how staff support dogs that have been handed over to the centre, and the work they do locally to support dog owners facing cost-of-living pressures through the foodbank that has been set up at the Harefield Centre. I would encourage any dog owners who may be struggling to visit the Dogs Trust’s website to learn more about the services they provide.

In terms of national work, it was also useful to receive an update on the Dogs Trust’s campaign to stop the Puppy Smuggling trade, including hearing more about the concerning trend of smugglers illegally importing heavily pregnant dogs in cruel conditions.

I know that Puppy Smuggling is an issue that constituents regularly contact me about, and as a member of the Dogs Trust’s Puppy Smuggling Taskforce in Parliament, I share these concerns, In December of last year, I signed an open letter to the Minister responsible for Animal Welfare, alongside 64 of my Parliamentary colleagues, calling for the Kept Animals Bill to return to Parliament as soon as time allows. I will continue this work and my support of Dogs Trust in their campaign to end this abhorrent trade.

To end my visit, it was an absolute delight to meet Atticus and Atlas, two German Shepherd puppies who have recently been handed over to the centre. It was great to hear about the care in place for them and all the dogs cared for at Harefield, and I applaud all staff and volunteers for their dedication.

I encourage anyone looking to welcome a dog into their lives to consider adoption or fostering a rescue dog.