Proposals to introduce a Northern Ireland version of 'Lucy’s Law’ have received approval, which DAERA Minister Andrew Muir says represents a significant step towards ending third-party commercial sales of puppies and kittens.

The planned rules, a key element of the Minister’s Animal Welfare Pathway, would prohibit dealers and other third-party commercial sellers from selling or supplying puppies, and from selling kittens. Subject to legislative and Assembly processes, buyers would generally need to purchase directly from the breeder and see the animal with its mother at the place it was bred.

Officials say the draft measures are designed to break dealer chains that can obscure poor breeding practices, bolster protections for puppies and kittens, and give would-be owners clearer, more reliable information about an animal’s origins.

Lucy’s Law is named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescued from a breeding establishment in Wales, where she endured appalling conditions and repeated breeding. The campaign in her name highlighted how third-party sellers can hide substandard practices and the early treatment of puppies and kittens.

Minister Muir said: "Northern Ireland’s own version of Lucy’s Law reflects my commitment to ensuring that vulnerable companion animals are treated with the care, compassion and responsibility they deserve.

"I am proud to bring these proposals forward as part of a wider programme to strengthen animal welfare standards. By restricting third-party commercial sales and requiring prospective owners generally to deal directly with the breeder, the regulations will increase transparency and make it harder for irresponsible operators to conceal poor breeding practices. "The new requirements will support responsible breeding and selling, improve accountability and help prospective owners make informed decisions by giving them clearer, more reliable information before they take on a new pet."

Minister Muir concluded: "Animal welfare is a cause I care deeply about, and I am determined to deliver lasting improvements for animals across Northern Ireland. Officials are continuing to progress further animal welfare measures, and the Department intends to consult on recommendations relating to dog breeding during this mandate."

Under the proposals, prospective buyers would generally need to see a puppy or kitten with its mother at the place it was bred. For puppies, the sale or handover would also have to occur at that location and be carried out by the breeder. New record-keeping and advertising rules would apply to those breeding and selling puppies and kittens.

Advertisements would be required to include specified details such as the animal’s age, where it is being kept, the relevant council area and a clear photograph of the puppy or kitten with its mother. They must also carry a responsible ownership message reminding people that taking on a pet is a long-term commitment. Puppies could not be supplied before they are weaned or before eight weeks of age. Anyone supplying a puppy would need to be at least 16, provide the new owner with relevant health and care information, and keep appropriate records.

Councils would be responsible for enforcing the new regulations, in line with their existing statutory role for animal welfare under the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

DAERA intends to bring forward the regulations by the end of 2026, subject to the necessary legislative and Assembly procedures. A lead-in period would be provided before the requirements take effect, allowing the public, councils and affected parties time to prepare. During that period, the Department plans public awareness activity to help prospective owners understand the new rules and to ensure breeders and sellers are aware of their obligations.