Petition · past parliament
Allow registered charities to adopt 4-6 month puppies in proposed new bill.
Rejected
10 signatures
What the petition asks
We fully support the proposed new Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill and support the main aim of improving animal welfare standards.
We support the aim to stop puppy smuggling. However we request that charities who are registered are able to import rescue puppies from 4 months as we do currently.
We support the aim to stop puppy smuggling. However we request that charities who are registered are able to import rescue puppies from 4 months as we do currently.
The key development window for a puppy is ages 0-16 weeks. At the moment puppies are allowed to be adopted from foreign countries at 15 weeks.
This gives the dogs a much better chance at being able to adapt. To be able to physically and mentally develop in a way that gives them the best chance at the life that they deserve.
This will also ease pressures on rescue centres in foreign countries who will otherwise have to care for them for longer and therefore turn away more dogs in need.
This gives the dogs a much better chance at being able to adapt. To be able to physically and mentally develop in a way that gives them the best chance at the life that they deserve.
This will also ease pressures on rescue centres in foreign countries who will otherwise have to care for them for longer and therefore turn away more dogs in need.
Why it was rejected
It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.
Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action.
We understand that you are concerned about it being made more difficult for charities to import puppies, but it's not clear if you want the existing requirement for dogs to be at least 15 weeks old to be maintained for charities, or for it to be reduced to four months.
You could start a new petition explaining clearly what you would like the Government or Parliament to do.
The current Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill would give the Government new powers to increase the minimum age of imported puppies, but the legislation itself wouldn't increase the minimum age.
We understand that you are concerned about it being made more difficult for charities to import puppies, but it's not clear if you want the existing requirement for dogs to be at least 15 weeks old to be maintained for charities, or for it to be reduced to four months.
You could start a new petition explaining clearly what you would like the Government or Parliament to do.
The current Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill would give the Government new powers to increase the minimum age of imported puppies, but the legislation itself wouldn't increase the minimum age.
Timeline
| 9 Jun 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 14 Jun 2021 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
10
Status
Rejected
Rejected
14 Jun 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.