LEDBURY'S MP, Bill Wiggin wants to see the end of puppy farms which "completely ignore the welfare of the puppies".

Mr Wiggin MP spoke up in Parliament last week about the problems of selling puppies and kittens commercially.

He he also sounded a note of caution, to make sure that respectable breeders and dog owners are not mistaken for "puppy farmers".

Mr Wiggin said: "Bill Wiggin MP said, ‘Most animal lovers, if their dog has puppies, will want them to go to good loving homes. We have to be careful that whilst targeting commercial puppy farms we don’t unduly target responsible dog owners."

Following the debate Bill Wiggin MP wants more to be done by both the RSPCA and the Government, to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the puppy trade.

The campaign group PupAid recommends that the best way to reduce the chances of buying from a puppy farm, is to make sure you see the puppy in the company of its mother before purchase.

Mr Wiggin said: ‘I urge people to take this advice on buying a puppy, and ensure that they see it interacting with its mother. This is a good check that a puppy has come from a good home.

"I also want to make it easier for people considering getting a rescue dog in need of a good home, rather than spending many hundreds of pounds on a puppy."

This week, Mr Wiggin was meeting representatives animal welfare charities, to continue discussions on protecting the welfare of puppies and efforts to reduce the current pressure that oversubscribed dog rescue centres are under.