Northern Ireland’s ‘Lucy’s Law’ gets green light in crackdown on puppy farming
Wednesday 07 October 2026
Northern Ireland is moving towards a major change in how puppies and kittens can be sold, with new rules designed to make it harder for puppy farms and irresponsible breeders to hide behind third-party dealers.
Under proposals approved for Northern Ireland’s own version of Lucy’s Law, people buying a puppy or kitten will generally have to deal directly with the breeder and see the young animal with its mother at the place where it was bred.
For puppies, the sale or handover will also have to take place at that location and be carried out by the breeder.
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir described approval of the proposals as a major step towards ending third-party commercial sales and increasing transparency for people looking for a new pet.
Making breeders more accountable
The regulations are intended to disrupt chains of dealers which can make it difficult for buyers to discover where an animal was bred or the conditions in which it spent the first weeks of its life.
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.”
What the new rules will mean for buyers
Advertisements for puppies and kittens will have to provide specified information, including the animal’s age, where it is being kept, the relevant council area and a clear photograph showing the puppy or kitten with its mother.
Adverts will also have to carry a responsible ownership message reminding prospective owners that taking on a pet is a long-term commitment.
Puppies must not be supplied before they have been weaned or before they reach eight weeks old. Anyone supplying a puppy must be at least 16, provide the new owner with relevant health and care information and keep appropriate records.
The changes are intended to give prospective owners a clearer trail back to the breeder and make it more difficult for commercially bred animals to be passed through dealers whose involvement can obscure their origins.
Why it is called Lucy’s Law
Lucy’s Law is named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescued from a breeding establishment in Wales where she had been kept in appalling conditions and repeatedly used for breeding.
The campaign launched in her name drew attention to the role third-party sellers can play in concealing poor breeding practices and the origins and early treatment of puppies and kittens.
Councils to enforce new regulations
Northern Ireland’s councils will be responsible for enforcing the regulations, in line with their existing statutory animal welfare responsibilities under the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
Mr Muir said further animal welfare measures are also being developed.
“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.”
The Department intends to bring the regulations forward by the end of 2026, subject to the necessary legislative and Assembly procedures. They will not take effect immediately, with a lead-in period planned to give councils, breeders, sellers and the public time to prepare.
Public awareness work is also planned during that period, meaning prospective pet owners should receive further guidance on the new protections before Northern Ireland’s Lucy’s Law comes into operation.
