Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, has chaired an evidence session for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's Inquiry into Pet Welfare and Abuse.

One of the key factors driving the inquiry is the significant increase in pet ownership during the pandemic.

This surge in demand has led to markets relying on 'unscrupulous foreign traders'.

The committee also heard about the concerning link between pet abuse and domestic abuse within households.

Puppy farms and animal mutilation were highlighted as other distressing issues.

Dr Hudson, who is a veterinary surgeon as well as a member of the committee, expressed his deep concern over the prevalence of such practices in the UK in 2023.

He said: “For practices such as industrial puppy farming, pet smuggling and animal mutilation to be increasing in the UK in the year 2023 is deeply worrying and we must demand better.

"Our session also evaluated the pressures in the equine sector in terms of the number of owners struggling to keep their horses and highlighting the concerning facts that potentially thousands of horses are illegally exported to Europe for slaughter each year.

"More pet owners have led to an increase in illegal puppy smuggling to appease the demand and a boom in puppy farms.

“Furthermore, these new pet owners can sometimes be inexperienced, leading them to irresponsible pet buying, such as purchasing declawed cats and dogs with cropped ears."

One of the topics that Dr Hudson raised during the session was the dark side of puppy yoga.

This involves practicing yoga among young puppies.

Animal rights experts have raised concerns that this practice may violate the Animal Welfare Act.

The removal of puppies from their mothers before the age of 8 weeks and harassment during the yoga sessions can have detrimental effects on their development.

Unvaccinated puppies participating in these sessions can compromise biosecurity and contribute to irresponsible pet buying.

Dr Hudson has also been a vocal advocate against the cruel puppy smuggling trade, which has thrived since the first Covid lockdown.

The trade has become industrialized, with animals being shipped long distances with little regard for their welfare.