 The final item of business is members' business debate on motion 9167 in the name of Emma Harper on adopt don't shop. This debate will be concluded without any questions being put, and I would ask those members who wish to contribute to please press the request-to-speak buttons. I call on Emma Harper to open the debate for around seven minutes, please. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am pleased to lead this debate, and I would like to thank my colleagues for supporting the motion and staying in the chamber to contribute this evening. Last year, I led a debate about the cruel trade in puppy trafficking, and in my own region, many hundreds, even thousands of puppies are trafficked illegally every year through the Port of Cairnryan. The dogs come from puppy farms in Ireland, Northern Ireland and some from Europe. Both the bitches and the pups are kept in appalling conditions on these farms. As I described in my speech last year, some intensive breeding sites have up to 500 breeding bitches and thousands of pups at any one time. Since I raised this issue in chamber last year, progress has been made. Just last month, I attended the first ever canine conference on puppy trafficking, organised by the Scottish SPCA and hosted by the University of Edinburgh. The cabinet secretary also attended to launch the Scottish Government's commission research, unfortunately confirming that there has been a significant increase in the number of puppies entered in the UK in recent years due to consumer demand and changes in legislation that make it easier to transport pets. There is a debate over what is the best approach to tackling the puppy trade, and there is some great work being done in Scotland and across the UK by organisations such as the Scottish SPCA, RSPCA, the Kennel Club Dogs Trust One Kind, the Blue Cross and Dr Mark Abraham. Instrunrar, Eileen Bryant and Raymond Carvel and councillors Willie Scobie and Ross Surties are also focused on tackling puppy smuggling at Cairnryan and are also doing very worthwhile and commendable work locally. Many see the banning of third-party sales as an important step in the right direction. Dr Mark Abraham is campaigning for the introduction of Lucy's law at Westminster, which will ban third-party sales outright. The proposed legislation is named after Spaniel Lucy, who was rescued from a puppy farm where she was abused as a breeding bitch for years. Although I am aware that some questions have been raised about the potential effectiveness of the proposed legislation, it is certainly a worthwhile debate to have, perhaps a debate for the future. Today, I will take the opportunity to speak about the importance of choosing to adopt a dog from a reputable rescue centre as a way to combat irresponsible breeders and illegal puppy traffickers. While it can be tempting to buy a puppy from a breeder, I would urge everyone to first think about giving a rescued dog a chance. Right now, we have far too many delightful dogs and cuddly cats living in shelters who need homes and not enough people willing to adopt them. I have three wonderful rescue colleagues myself and can thoroughly recommend adoption as an alternative to buying. According to the Dogs Trust, those who have re-homed a rescued dog will often wish to adopt again after finding the process incredibly worthwhile. There are many advantages to choosing a rescued dog. When visiting a rescue centre, as I did at Canine Rescue Centre at Glencaple near Dumfries, you will be introduced to a wide variety of dogs of all shapes and sizes, and staff will make every effort to match the right dog to your needs. Canine carers, who have spent time with and carefully assessed the dogs, will be able to give you a full character profile and help you to make the right decision. The dog you take home will be happy and healthy. Dogs from reputable shelters are neutered, microchipped and given a complete health check, including vaccinations and treatment for worms and fleas. Adopting a dog from a recognised dog charity also means that you will have access to expert advice and support throughout the adoption process, even after you have taken your dog home. Of course, there is very legitimate public concern regarding incidents of poor animal welfare in some so-called rescue centres. Many of you will be aware of the appalling case of Ayrshire arc shelter, where several dogs and cats were found dead from neglect earlier this year. I am pleased to welcome the Scottish Government's plans that were launched earlier this month to introduce a modern system of registration and licensing for animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities. The proposals will introduce a straightforward licensing system. Ministers are currently consulting on the programme for government commitment, and I would urge anyone with an interest in animal welfare to respond to the consultation by March 4 and help to shape those plans. Indeed, Dumfries and Galloway Council trading standards have introduced a trusted breeder scheme to help monitor and promote good licence breeding premises. It is important to stress the gravity of deciding to bring a dog into your family. Dogs are intelligent, social animals with a wide variety of needs that you should be sure you can meet before making that commitment. Christmas is a time of year for synonymous with the impulse buying of cute fluffy puppies as presents. We have all heard the saying, a dog is for life, not just for Christmas, but not everyone fully understands the meaning behind it. Getting a dog means daily walks, feeding, grooming, training, the inability to go out for long periods of time, monthly payments for pet insurance and at times hefty vets bills. If, after careful consideration, you decide to purchase a dog, it is vital to take the time to investigate whether you are getting it from a reputable breeder. According to the Kennel Club, one in five people who buy a pup admit that they spend no time researching where to buy it at all, compared to less than one in ten, eight per cent who are prepared to spontaneously decide what shoes to buy. People are more likely to fall victim to scams and puppy farmers if they do not do their research, with almost a quarter of the people surveyed. Twenty-two per cent saying that they think that they went to a puppy farm if they had chosen their pup in 20 minutes or less. The optimal way to avoid contributing to the illegal and cruel trading dogs is to adopt from a registered shelter or contact the Kennel Club or your local authority for a list of assured breeders. I thank everybody again for staying in the chamber tonight, and I welcome the debate as follows. We are quite heavily subscribed for this debate, so if people could keep to no more than four minutes please. Finlay Carson, followed by Rona Mackay. I congratulate Emma Harper for bringing this important debate to the chamber tonight. As the Scottish Conservatives and Unionists spokesman for animal welfare, I have met many stakeholders throughout the year to discuss concerns and how to develop ways to promote not only stronger animal welfare regulation but a heightened awareness of the options that people have to reduce if not eliminate animal suffering. The laws and sentencing surrounding animal cruelty in Scotland are different to those of other jurisdictions in the United Kingdom. The Animal Health and Welfare Scotland Act 2006 gives the court the power to disqualify a person convicted of cruelty from holding animals for a period as it thinks fit, including life. The maximum penalty under the act for causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal is 12 months imprisonment or a fine up of up to £20,000. The maximum penalty for other animal welfare offences is six months imprisonment or a fine up to £5,000. In the programme for government 2017-18, the Scottish Government has outlined plans to introduce a bill to increase the maximum prison sentence for serious abuse cases to five years. The Scottish Conservatives welcomed those plans but believed that the Scottish Government could and should go further. We need to see more preventative measures introduced such as educating children on animal cruelty. Furthermore, we want the Scottish Government to tackle illegal puppy trafficking to stop online traders and unlicensed pet shops. There needs to be a robust guideline to accompany the new legislation in order to make people aware of how to spot signs of abuse in the best way to report it. Progress on this has been slow to date, but we will continue to push for more action. The Scottish Conservatives will monitor the progress of the new sentencing plans very closely and continue to hold the Scottish Government to account over animal welfare. However, it is clear that it is not just Government alone to which it needs to tackle the evils of puppy smuggling and animal cruelty. The work of the Scottish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals, the Dogs Trust and Rescue Dogs Scotland to name just a few of the charities can be partners in the fight against animal cruelty. In my constituency of Galloway and Western Fries, the Cairnryan Port provides an access point for criminals to illegally trafficked dogs into Scotland in the rest of Great Britain. It is vital that we educate the public on illegal puppy trade through awareness of the tactics used by those criminals selling farmed and abused puppies. This educational campaign must breach the geographical hotspots of the puppy trade, such as Cairnryan in the south-west of Scotland. The Government should ensure that any attempt to tackle illegal puppy trafficking draws in the knowledge from those stakeholders that are mentioned and RSPCA, whose scheme Don't Adopt campaign has brought us together in the Parliament today to discuss this important issue. With many families seeking an additional four-legged pal to join them this Christmas, I would urge any potential puppy buyers to consider the following. Does the puppy demonstrate behavioural issues such as fear of aggression? Have you been able to properly visit the puppy's home or meet the mum and dad? Is there evidence that the puppy received vaccinations or warming? Is the seller urging for a fast transaction with no follow-up support? Those are the warning signs that you should look out for when purchasing a puppy, because those are the sort of things that can be missed through the illegal trade. It wasn't the fines or threat of fines that have made drink driving or smoking in public places unacceptable. It's the peer pressure. It's the peer pressure from your neighbour telling you that you're doing the wrong thing, and we need to make sure that the public become the guardians for these dogs and puppies by making puppy farms unacceptable in modern life. Finally, Presiding Officer, if you're concerned about potential puppy smuggling, please report it immediately to the Scottish SPCA on 03999999. The key factors to the issue are the vile, illicit puppy trade and thousands of unwanted dogs looking for a loving home. I don't think that you even need to be a dog lover, as I am, to be horrified by puppy farms. It is cruelty on an industrial scale. As Emma said, puppies have been smuggled into ports after enduring journeys in horrific conditions. Apart from the psychological trauma, many suffer from severe health issues. On one occasion, the Dogs Trust, which I will mention later, took in seven pups covered with infected wounds. Their ears and tails had been docked, apparently using scissors and vodka. It's just one example of what is a sickening industry. Presiding Officer, another problem is the demand for trendy puppies, which has created a massive black market. For example, certain breeds such as the French Bulldog sell for nearly £400 in the Czech Republic, but can be sold for more than £1,500 in the UK. Obscene sums of money for what too many owners is a designer accessory. Of course, the breeders are laughing all the way to the bank—that's if they can find one open. Criminal gangs running these operations are understood to be taken in more than £100 million a year. Incredibly, at this time of year, there's a surge in demand for Christmas, which makes this debate very timely. I'm not going to trot out the cliché, but I think that we all know what it is. Presiding Officer, I've had the privilege of being a dog owner for most of my life. As we all know, with their unconditional love and individual personalities, they simply become members of the family. Adopt Don't Shop is something that I wholeheartedly support, although I must confess to being something of a hypocrite here, as my Labrador and Retriever were bought from reputable breeders, of which there are many. Next time around, I will adopt, not shop. The Kennel Club fully supports the message that those who are looking to buy a dog should consider a rescue, and indeed the Kennel Club breed rescue organisations re-home approximately 24,000 dogs every year. They also share the concerns around puffy trafficking and irresponsible breeding. By adopting a dog, I know that it will be healthy, both physically and mentally, with full veterinary assessments having been carried out. The Dogs Trust, Battersea Dog and Cat Home, who care for 4,000 unwanted dogs every year, the Scottish SPCA Blue Cross and many other rescue organisations do fantastic work and should be congratulated for treating animals with the respect that they deserve. The link here to puppy abuse is clear. The more people who use rescue centres, the more illegal puppy farms are stripped of demand. The Adopt Don't Shop slogan is about promoting animal rights, and before I finish, I want to highlight the things that I believe should be stopped immediately if and when we have the power to do so. The appalling widespread abuse of greyhounds in the racing industry, puppy farms, the online sale of animals and short sentences for those committing vilex of cruelty. Finally, politicians who refuse to recognise animals as sentient beings. Our animals are with us for a very short time, and they enrich our lives immeasurably. Let's treat them with respect and fight for their right to live a healthy life and be in a loving home. I call David Stewart to be followed by Willie Coffey. Thank you, Presiding Officer, and could I congratulate Emma Harper for securing today's debate. I also thank her for all the work that she does on animal welfare. The Dogs Trust was founded in Christmas 1891, so it's very apt that we're having the debate the day before Parliament breaks for the Christmas recess. I thought Rona Mackay made a very good point at the end of her speech when she talked about it. The crucial aspect about today's debate is that animals are sentient beings, so we need to be very careful about their welfare. At the time of year when many families will be thinking about getting a puppy as a present for someone else, it is vital that not only have they considered the responsibilities that they are taking on for life, and Emma Harper made that point in her speech. As the Dogs motto suggests, it also looks at the ethics and standards of the person that they are purchasing the dog from. Of course, with puppy smuggling on the rise, as well as non-licensed shelters or private traders not helped by internet sales, the welfare and legality of dog sales are a huge issue. There are approximately 8.5 million dogs in the UK, and, based on the average lifespan of 12 years, it is requiring around 700,000, 800,000 puppies are required each year to maintain that figure. The Kennel Club tells us that they register around 220,000 puppies each year and rescue organisations re-home approximately 65,000 dogs each year, but very few of those are puppies. Therefore, there is a shortfall of around 485,000 dogs each year. The Dogs Trust has carried out several investigations into puppy smuggling, and, despite the introduction of the pet travel scheme, which allows pet dogs to enter the UK without the need for a co-orateam, they have complied with the rules of travel and have a valid pet passport, and they have found that puppies continue to be important illegally into the UK. On top of that, unlicensed beaders in the UK are better able to furlish than in the past, thanks to the internet, where they can readily access a vast customer base. Online sellers are harder to track and trace, but they exist in such high numbers that animal welfare organisations cannot keep on top of them all. That is a problem across all former pet sales, not only dogs. In partnership with Blue Cross, OneKind and Born Free, I previously raised in Parliament the issue surrounding the sale of exotic animals online. With higher maintenance and welfare needs, as well as many species, not suitable as pets, online sales of exotic animals from unregulated traders put many animals at risk of injury at death. I must finish on some very good bits of advice from Dogs Trust. It is particularly useful to anyone who is asked for a dog in their Christmas list for next week. A number of do's always see the puppy interacting with its mother and siblings. Visit more than once—this is your chance to ask everything about life with the new puppy. Before the puppy comes home, know what paper they should have and insist that it is available when you collect. Never agree to be posted later. Walk away if you are suspicious of the seller or breeder and report them immediately to trading standards. Once you have taken the puppy, it is too late. If the pup was advertised online and you have concerns, report a seller directly to the website where you viewed the advert and take the puppy to your own vet for a health check as soon as possible. Do not meet anywhere that is not the puppy's home, do not buy from anyone who can supply various breeds on demand, do not buy puppies that you suspect look too small or underweight for the state of age, do not feel pressurised to buy the puppy immediately, walk away if you have concerns, and do not buy puppies that you suspect have been imported from the country illegally. Thanks again to Emma Harper. It is an excellent initiative to take this forward and I strongly support the work that she is carrying out. Willie Coffey, followed by Alison Johnstone. Congratulations to my colleague Emma Harper for bringing this issue to the attention of the Parliament once again. Emma's motion neatly captures the key issues that we are facing and correctly draws our attention and hopefully the public's attention too to the many rescue centres and shelters in Scotland where there are thousands of dogs and pups all needing loving families in the homes today. Those centres assess and support the rehoming of all types of breeds and ages of dogs and people can be assured that adopting a dog or a pup from a rescue centre will mean that their dog is healthy and could look forward to a fantastic new life with their new family. From the very helpful background that is provided to us by Spice, it is clear that we should distinguish between the legitimate and responsible dog breeders who do a great job in producing healthy dogs for loving dog owners and the irresponsible approach taken by some whose only motive is to make a profit at the expense of the welfare of the animals and the exploitation of the public who come into contact with them. There is no established definition of puppy farming and although they are not illegal either, some of the practices employed have been described as barbaric using beautiful wee animals as a production line commodity in battery farmed settings to be sold on at high prices for a quick buck. Some estimates put the value of the puppy trade itself at around £13 million a year. In the Scottish Government's snapshot survey of online puppy sales taken, over only a 12-week period showed a variety of individuals selling online. Some of it is perfectly legitimate, of course, but that gives an indication of the value of the trade. It is probably significantly underestimated, too, since the more unscrupulous operators do not exactly wish to appear on the radar too often. I do know of some examples of that happening in East Ayrshire, where, mainly by word of mouth, it is made known that special breeds of pup are available for sale. A location is notified, usually a car park somewhere, and lo and behold, the boot of the dealer's car opens up and there is a beautiful wee pup waiting for a new owner and a new home. Cash is handed over, often significant sums, and the deal is done. What the new owner does not know, of course, is anything about the health and welfare of the pup, its family history and pedigree, and even if it has ever spent any time with its mother after it was born. No papers are handed over to verify anything, and often these wee dogs develop serious health problems and, in some cases, do not even survive their first six months, a scandalous situation. The local authorities, Presiding Officer, are becoming more vigilant about that, but enforcement tends to come about as a result of a response to a situation rather than from a more proactive process or from any kind of spot-checking system for monitoring compliance, perhaps something to think about in there. How can we improve things overall? We have licensing schemes in place and reputable breeders respect the system in which they operate, but how do we tackle the rest? A number of suggestions, including limiting the numbers and ages of puppies that can be brought in by any one person to the UK under the pet travel scheme, and requiring the handover of a puppy to take place at the licensed premises and not from the boot of a car. Those are both helpful suggestions. The Scottish Government's scoping paper talks about mandatory microchipping, both for identification and for traceability, as well as more reliable online sources to provide advice to the public. Probably the most important of all is to continue to alert and educate the public about the risks of buying puppies without any knowledge of their history. As we all know, it is usually too late to change your mind when faced with a wee pup staring up at you from the boot of a car. The public, please think carefully about before doing anything like this, and please consider adoption from our many rescue centres. The dogs and pups there are just as lovely. Congratulations once again to Emma for allowing us to highlight this really important issue tonight. I thank Emma Harper for bringing this debate, and I thank everyone who has been in touch to share their views on the adopt don't-shop message and their experiences of life with a rescue dog. It is vital to reinforce the message of ethical treatment of animals during December's frenzied shopping period. However, given the lengths that scammers and puppy farmers go to to present a caring image, it is also important not to focus blame on individual choices or to imply the motives of anyone who ever browsed online for their ideal pet are necessarily any different than those who already adopt. The underlying message of adopt don't-shop is, of course, that we shouldn't overlook those in need or drive unsustainable demand for something new, not least at this time of year. However, the debate on this occasion comes while a focus is on the wider industry supplying that demand. The last meeting of the cross-party group on animal welfare heard from the Dogs Trust about the scale of criminality and abuse within the puppy smuggling trade. On any given day, around 500 dogs are for sale in Scotland on online classified websites. Demand for designer puppies has led to breeders and dealers illegally importing puppies with no regard for welfare and many examples of truly horrendous neglect. Buyers often have no idea that their puppy has been illegally imported until it is too late. One kind launched a report last week on Scotland's puppy profiteers, showing that while trafficking and criminality is a hugely important subject, serious problems exist within legal breeding establishments here in Scotland, and the legislation currently in place doesn't offer adequate protection. The briefings sent to MSPs by the Kennel Club details a range of problems that people have faced when, looking for a dog but unsure how to go about it, they have been susceptible to scams on puppy farmers. Among the statistics are the experiences of people, as we have heard, who have purchased a dog having researched in any great detail, sometimes for less than 20 minutes. We heard at the cross-party group about people taking more time to choose a handbag. The poorly informed purchase results in almost 15 per cent of puppies bought in this manner experiencing illness, on-going veterinary treatment or even death in the first six months, three times higher than those chosen in an hour or more. I respectfully suggest that that, too, is inadequate. With people's intention to share their life with an animal so open to exploitation by disreputable salespeople keen to luring customers with a tug at their heart strings, well-publicised guidance on how to find and care for a pet is key to avoiding bad decisions made in haste. I, too, thank the Dogs Trust, the Kennel Club, One Kind, the SSPCA and others for the work that they are doing to make a difference in this area. We have to be clear that this is a multimillion-pound industry frequently operating below the radar avoiding taxation and regulation. Many people know that they are dealing with less than a regulated trade, but once they have seen that puppy, I think that sometimes they feel that they are rescuing it from a bad situation. I think that we need to stop the demand by going directly to rescue centres. I am really pleased that the representatives of each party in Holyrood support the message that those looking to buy a dog should consider a rescue first. As the irony that we constantly hear from rescue shelters is that they struggle to meet the needs of yesterday's sold puppies and kittens once abandoned, especially after Christmas and often including designer breeds. I believe that all parties in this chamber share common concerns about large-scale puppy breeders operating in Scotland, the trafficking of dogs, the largely uncontrolled third-party online traders and that we share a willingness to work together to address those concerns. However, we all want this debate to be much more than a public service announcement, so we need to see the Scottish Government introduce clear guidance for people searching for a dog as to where they can look and who to consult with before making that informed choice, and we urgently need to bring legislation up to date to stop the scams and the puppy farmers. Presiding Officer, if we adopt and don't shop, we won't go wrong. That's the right thing to do. Christine Grahame, followed by Maurice Corry. I congratulate Emma Harper on securing this debate and declare an interest as a member of the SSPCA and a patron of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, which in 2017 rescued 600 dogs and cats. The scandal of puppy farming, although I call it puppy factories, has been an issue for a long time indeed. I tried to do something about this myself in session. One of this Parliament has limited success, so I applaud Emma Harper for pressing on with the campaign to prevent it and catch unscrupulous dealers. As others have said nowadays, there is also the growing problem of internet sales of pets, including puppies, and the so-called designer dogs, coming from sometimes as far as Eastern Europe. All of this flies in the face of animal welfare. We have tried to educate the public on advertising campaigns, and it has not been as successful as we would like. That led me to consider whether there is another way of approaching this issue, rather than just looking at the dealers and those who run these factories, to look at placing a statutory duty on people buying or acquiring a puppy before they can even make the deal. That is why I am working on and have almost completed the draft consultation on a member's bill working title. It probably will not be the title, and it is a puppy contract. Two parts to that bill. One part will be the dealers and the breeders, and some of those dealers will not be amateurs and third parties. However, the other side of the bill will be the person purchasing or acquiring. I use the term acquiring so that we can get round the mistakes if money does not change hands. Part of what I am trying to do in that bill has already been mentioned by members is to make a potential acquirer go through a checklist of whether or not they are the right person at the right time or the right kind of situation to take on any puppy, let alone a specific breed. Things have already been mentioned, such as the suitability of your work and the free time that you have. Your family composition, your age and the accommodation that you have will also require them to make inquiry of the person who is selling or transferring the puppy to them, and so far is practicable to see the puppy with its mother and siblings, all mentioned by other people, but not in law, not a statutory requirement. I do not know if it will be successful, but I thought that it is worth a try rather than just constantly trying to educate the public with the various advertising campaigns and debates. The duties and breeders would also be extended to really check out the person trying to acquire a puppy from them. It is trying to cut off the demand. If we can cut off the demand, which is in Scotland, in Scots law, we then reduce the supply from one source to another. It is early days, but, like Emma, I am determined to do as much as possible to reduce animal suffering and to identify the criminals who make big bucks and hear that there is a role for HMRC from that ruthless trade. We should also give a thought to Brexit and the impact of EU withdrawal on animal welfare rules and regulations. I will conclude by saying that I do not have a lifestyle for a dog, much though I would love to have a dandy. I did not look it up if you do not know what it is. However, I have a rescue animal. It is a rescue cat. We get on fine. His name is Mr Smokey. One day, I may be in a position to have a rescue dog. Maurice Corry, to be followed by Colin Smyth. I first begin by congratulating Emma Harper on securing today's debate and well done to her to do so. It was good to see that the two puppies, which visited us last year in the Parliament, are now doing so well and are happily in their forever homes. That sort of good story is a credit to the Scottish SPCA and is only one example of the great work that they do. I am glad to see Emma Harper's motion to highlight them as an example of the type of organisation that people should be using to get a dog. Dogs are a man's best friend. I know Bobby. My family's West Highland Territ is certainly to me. It's a corny, overused phrase, but it's still very true. They fulfill a number of vital functions in our society, and they can be a child's loyal first best friend, companions to the elderly, carers for those who are blind or deaf, and sometimes even our work colleagues, whether in the police or the armed forces. Also, especially recently, I've been reading that train dogs are now being used by the armed forces veterans in America who are suffering from PTSD, and it's something that I think we should look at in this country as we speak. The American author and anal activist Roger A. Carr has summed up our relationships with dogs when he wrote, dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the centre of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. So it is only right that we look after our best friends properly. As the motion notes, there are currently thousands of dogs situated in rescue centres across Scotland, and these should be the priority for those looking to give a dog a home. I also welcome the inclusion of online trade in the motion, and I had a quick search online myself and was able to find numerous websites to buy dogs where, through official looking websites or websites like Gumtree, most sites didn't even have the information on the dog's past care and status, which you would hope you would be able to find out. In conclusion, I dodge anyone looking to get a dog not to use those sites but to use one of the proper rescue centres, and one of those nine SPCA rescue centres in Scotland is based in my west Scotland region in Dumbarton. I know of several examples over the recent years of successful homings for dogs, which has brought a lot of joy and love to families. I forgot that my microphone is Colin Smith, followed by Gillian Martin. Thank you to Emma Harper for her motion, which has allowed the debate to take place. With thousands of dogs across Scotland needing a home, today's debate is a great chance to talk about the benefits of adopting dogs and the importance of putting a stop to unethical dog breeding. The recent Dogs Trust report into puppy smuggling revealed the sheer scale of illegal puppy trading, particularly from central and eastern Europe. An investigation found that puppies were being bred in poor conditions and imported into the UK in, I quote, long journeys and cramp, filthy conditions with little or no food or water. The found evidence that those involved in the business are finding new ways to avoid detection, including falsifying data on pet passports, importing puppies at an older age and transporting them in smaller numbers. An investigation even found one vet willing to sell them sedatives for the puppies as sedated dogs are considered to be easier to smuggle into the country. As a motion notes, some of the trafficking is taking place at Cain Ryan port and my home region of Dumfries and Galloway. Following the deeply disturbing findings of the BBC Scotland documentary The Dog Factory, which revealed that animals were being illegally transported through the port, a pilot was set up to help tackle the problem. As a councillor, I had the privilege of chairing the council's environment committee when this multi-agency operation was established involving the council, Police Scotland, HMRC, Stena line and the Scottish Royal Ulster, Irish and Dublin SPCA. It was a clear example of the benefits of a collaborative approach to this issue. Since the scheme began, it has successfully recovered and re-homed more than 170 puppies. I am delighted that, in September, it was extended for another year. The most valuable and innovative work such as this is taking place at a local level. There remains a clear need to address the more fundamental inadequacies of the existing legislation. As well as the need to introduce a fit person check, there is a more general call for the development of new up-to-date offences that take into account large-scale puppy farming, online trading and designer breeding. The operations at Cain Ryan have highlighted the benefits of intelligence sharing and we should be looking at how to expand this practice. Trading Standards Scotland is currently running an operation to gather intelligence on puppy sellers. That raises the possibility of using consumer protection legislation to take action against puppy sellers in cases where they can be identified. Additionally, we must do more to put a stop to backstreet breeding here in the UK. Research by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home found that only 12 per cent of the puppies born in Great Britain are born to licensed breeders. The report on licensing dog breeders in Great Britain highlights the need for regulation that encourages breeders into the licensed market and provides sufficient safeguards for dogs and consumers. The Welsh Government has brought forward stricter welfare criteria for dog breeding and I hope that the Scottish Government will follow soon. Beyond tackling the specific issues of puppy smuggling and backstreet breeding, we must also do more to protect dogs against cruelty and mistreatment. The recent decision to lift the ban on tail docking was, in my view, a deeply regrettable move, and I hope that, in future, we will see the reverse. I was pleased to see the Scottish Government committing the programme for government to raising the maximum sentence for animal cruelty to five years, which is very welcome. Now that the UK Government has published draft legislation to take this matter forward and other parts of the UK, I hope that, when summoning up the cabinet secretary, we will be able to share when the Scottish Government will bring forward legislation to bring about this change in Scotland, in line with the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home campaign for tougher sentences. Our current maximum sentence of 12 months is one of the most lenient in Europe and completely fails to reflect the seriousness of those crimes. It also urged the Scottish Government to take bolder action on electric shock collars. Shock collars are fundamentally cruel and unnecessary. Regulating their use will not put a stop to this mistreatment of dogs and the creation of a qualification for using them risks making their use aspirational. The case for a full ban is clear and has the support of a wide range of animal welfare organisations and dog training and behavioural experts. We must also do more to ensure that dogs are bred, sold and looked after in a more ethical way. However, shelters and rescue centres across Scotland are doing some fantastic work to find dogs suitable homes. I will end by joining with other members and encouraging people to adopt a dog rather than buy one. I have two more speakers and then the minister's response. Due to that, I am minded to accept a motion without notice under rule 8.14.3 to extend the debate to allow this to happen. Can I invite Emma Harper to move motion without notice? The question is that the debate be extended by no more than 30 minutes. Are we all agreed? That is agreed. I called Gillian Martin to be followed by Mark Ruskell. I want to not only thank Emma Harper for bringing this debate to Parliament today but for her tireless work on raising awareness around puppy trafficking, illegal puppy farming and dog welfare. Last year, in the debate that she brought then, I talked about my friend's wonderful dog, Dita, a giant schnauzer, who was a maltreated breeding bitch, a casualty of the insatiable demand for pedigree puppies. She was rescued by my pal and was lucky to live out the rest of her life surrounded by love. However, this year, my speech does not have such a happy ending, because last month, the biggest illegal puppy farm in the country was discovered in Fife in my constituency. Yet again, we see that the love that we have as a nation for our dogs is manipulated for commercial gain at the expense of the health and welfare of those dogs. In June this year, I wrote to Aberdeenshire Council out of concern that was raised in the local press that Michelle Wood of Fife had applied for planning permission for kennels. Ms Wood was linked to the James family, three members of which had previously been banned from running a pet shop and owning more than two dogs, after animals in their care were seized from horrific conditions. The press suspected that Ms Wood was a front for the James family, who had already unsuccessfully applied several times for licences via other family members. Martin, the area committee, joined the dots and refused the licence and planning permission, but last month, the SSPCA in Police Scotland raided premises in the Fife area and seized 105 animals. That included more than 90 bitches in their pups, who were bred illegally and kept in horrifying conditions. Investigations are on-going, so I cannot say any more except this. Many of the animals seized were in such poor condition that they have had to be put to sleep. Extensively and aggressively bred bitches do not produce healthy babies. If you buy a puppy from someone you do not know or you have no trusted recommendation from, you not only run the risk of having a very sick animal in your hands—one that heart-breakingly, a vet may recommend that you put it down—you also unwittingly perpetuate the illegal trade. The people who illegally breed these dogs know our vulnerabilities. They know that it is very difficult for a customer to walk away from a puppy, even if they have doubts about how they are being cared for. Illegal puppy farms, such as the one in my constituency, pray on our love of dogs, but if you truly love dogs, you will home a dog responsibly. Adopt an older dog if you can, and if you must get a puppy, don't buy one on impulse. Do your homework and let's end this disgraceful and cruel trade. The last of the open debate speakers is Matt Ruskell. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I join other members in thanking Emma Harper for bringing forward this debate tonight. I will also declare an interest as an honorary member of the British Veterinary Association, and I will declare an interest as the owner of a retired greyhound called Bert, who is also the winner of the Holyroodog of the Year public vote this year. He greatly enjoyed his day inside the Parliament. He ran up and down corridors, even broke into Willie Rennie's office at one point. He didn't leave him any messages, but he had a great time. I would like to pay tribute to the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary, which is the organisation that rehomed Bert with us. They take dogs that have often come from quite disgraceful conditions in the racing industry, and they foster them. They bring them into a real home where the dogs can get used to being in a loving environment with a real family. They then take those dogs and work with potential owners. They home-check the potential owners' homes to make sure that they are suitable for the dogs. They then work with the dogs right the way through the adoption process with their new families and their forever homes. There is a bit of a misconception about greyhounds, because people think that they need to be walked lots. They don't. Two short walks a day is usually suffice. They don't need a huge amount of exercise, and they are not highly strung. They are very chilled out, very relaxed dogs. They are great family pets, but there is a serious point here, because we need to look, I believe, at regulating the industry further. Hundreds of greyhounds are killed each year, often simply because they have gone lame and they cannot race anymore. Greyhounds are often shot in the head with a bolt gun. Some greyhounds are sold to China, where they race at a greyhound track called the Canidrome, where unless the dog places first, second or third in its first five races, the dog is otherwise destroyed. There is a serious issue here about an industry that is making a lot of money, a betting industry which is making a lot of money from the exploitation of animals. I believe that we need to look again at regulating the greyhound industry, and compulsory rehoming should be, at the very least, a significant reform. I back Emma Harper's call here that we should adopt not shot, but we should also look where appropriate at adopting greyhounds. I now call Roseanna Cunningham to respond to this debate for around seven minutes please, cabinet secretary. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I congratulate Emma Harper, as so many members in the chamber already have, for calling this debate shortly after the publication of the research commissioned by the Scottish Government from the universities of Northumbria and South Wales to help the understanding of the policy challenges relating to the illegal trade and irresponsible breeding of puppies. It is important that we do this kind of research to make sure that as we move forward on policy issues that the underpinnings for that movement are strong. I would also like to thank everyone else who contributed to this debate. There were a number of speakers, and it is fair to say that many of them were echoing each other's sentiments and comments, as one would imagine in a debate such as this. I am not going to try and recall the names of all the dogs and puppies that were referenced in the debate. I see that that is something that most members care very much about. Sadly, I am one of those people who have to make a choice because of my work-life balance that having a puppy or a dog would not be appropriate in the current circumstances. I wish that other people would understand that there are times when one should not have a dog of any kind because, if one cannot look after a dog, it is not fair on the dog to take one on. Emma Harper opened the debate and I recognise her long-standing and steadfast concern about the issue. She flagged up the research and she reasonably reinforced that adopting a rescue dog is by far the best way to acquire a dog in the first place, as did many other members. I want to say that both Rhona Mackay and David Stewart referred to cross-border trade issues, not so much about the illegal puppy trafficking that we are thinking about here, but the desire of people to adopt dogs that they think are being abused in other countries. That overlooks the fact that there are huge numbers of dogs here that need to be rehomed. Sadly, through a misplaced sense of care, pet movements are simply encouraging illegal trafficking. They are doing it from the best of intentions, but it is a case where intentions unfortunately result in completely the opposite to what they probably want to see happen in the first place. The illegal puppy trade is indeed a blight across the whole of Scotland, and I listened with interest to Gillian Martin's description of what has happened in her own local area. The fact remains that Cairn Rhyon is a main entry port for many unfortunate puppies. My officials regularly attend meetings there, and they keep me informed as to what is happening locally. The co-operation and intelligence sharing between the enforcement authorities and welfare organisations across the UK in campaigns such as Operation Delphin is greatly encouraging. I am pleased to see that HMRC is now taking a very close interest in recovering large sums and unpaid taxes from the criminals involved in the lucrative cash-based trade. Sometimes ways to tackle it are not immediately obvious, so I think that that is a very welcome step. The puppy trade is driven by buyer demand. There is a great deal of information already available to those who wish to buy a puppy responsibly, so we would really like to ensure that everyone thinking of buying a puppy or any pet—not just a puppy—has no difficulty in finding advice if they look for it. Our code of practice for the welfare of dogs advises potential purchasers on all the aspects to consider when obtaining a puppy and how to purchase it from a reputable source. Indeed, as I indicated at the outset, one should take on a dog at all. Christine Grahame, cabinet secretary, I certainly do not want to corner you, but are you sympathetic to my proposal—I am trying to corner you—that we embed and statute those duties on the person that is acquiring them, rather than just having guidance worthy though it is? I think that I would want to look very carefully at all proposals, but I think that we all recognise that the member is indeed at it, as we have already had a meeting on this very subject. Congratulations to the member for chancing her arm as she is often want to do in circumstances like this. Of course, all proposals that are practicable and manageable will be looked at very carefully. Sadly, as a number of members have said, codes of practice can only go so far. The research that we funded confirmed that many buyers act on impulse without seeking information beforehand, and we will still agree to take delivery of an animal in exchange for cash in the most unlikely places, perhaps wrongly believing that there is such a thing as a cup-priced pup, and it is something that we need to eradicate from people's thinking. By doing that, they unwittingly at best provide a market that can be exploited by puppy traffickers. There is also a tendency for well-meaning buyers to want to rescue puppies that may be sick or are from dubious sellers, but that just continues to fuel the trade. If they want to rescue a pup, there are plenty of reputable establishments and they should be the first port of call for anyone who wants to take on a rescue dog. In keeping with the commitment and the programme for government, work on a public awareness campaign in conjunction with the SSPCA and other leading welfare organisations is already underway. Sadly, events in the past year have also shown that not all of those looking after rescued animals do so with the best interests of the animals at heart. That is why we committed to consult on a modern system of licensing and registration for animal sanctuaries and re-homing activities. That will ensure that effective controls are in place to further protect the welfare of rescued animals. The consultation paper launched on 11 December, so I would call on all those with an interest in the subject to make their views known. We should not be under any illusions. The demand for particular breeds and movements of dogs between Northern Ireland and Scotland will not be easy to disrupt. There are no animal health restrictions on the free movement of pet animals between these two parts of the UK, just as there are no restrictions on movements of dogs to Scotland from England and Wales, although poor welfare conditions can be dealt with. That sounds gloomier than I hope the position is or will become. We will continue to work closely with the pet animal advertising group, support their efforts in this area, which have some effect. However, the key message remains that the illegal trade in puppies from Ireland and elsewhere could be seriously disrupted if every puppy by a first considered re-homing an animal from a centre in Scotland, or if they must buy a puppy, insist that they always see it first with its mother at the breeders premises. Finally, I hope that, in time, the message, adopt, don't shop, will become as well known as the advice that a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. That concludes the debate and the meeting is closed.