Richard has thrown his weight behind an parliamentary petition to change the rules on animal rehoming centres.
Speaking about the campaign, Richard said:
"So many people have been distressed by the reports regarding the dog rehoming centre in Crays Hill. Many local agencies have been involved in the response to this and will continue to be in the coming weeks and months.
Given the live investigation and ongoing case, I have been restricted in what I can say. However, it has been truly saddening to see such a loss of dogs’ lives, and I am am determined to see the legislative change regarding licensing for animal rescue/rehoming centres come in.
Please see my statement in the letter for further information on the immediate actions I am taking and working on both with the Dogs Trust and RSPCA after meetings in the last couple of weeks.
If you have not yet signed the petition for a debate in Parliament regarding licensing of revoking centres, please do so here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/718660
Over 43,000 people already have and if we can get to 100,000, I can support the case before the Petitions Committee for a debate and push the Government to act. I am waiting for responses to a number of Parliamentary questions I have already tabled for DEFRA too. If we can build enough pressure, the Government will act."
