I welcome this Bill being brought forward. It is actually quite common sense. It could have gone further but I respect that the Deputy is trying to make a really big first step, which is important. We are now being recognised as the European capital for breeding dogs and pups. There are a lot of things we want to be top of the list for in Europe but that is certainly not one we want to be seen as, especially when we are a people renowned for our history with dogs. I was listening to other people talk. The joke in our house is that I go home on a Thursday evening and when I go in the door at whatever time it is, 8 o'clock or 9 o'clock, our little dog Coco is waiting at the door for me shaking her tail off. My two daughters are shouting "Hi Dad" down the stairs and my wife Michelle is probably busy doing something. There is a special bond. I remember when we got Coco I was running in the by-election. I came home one night after canvassing and she was in the kitchen with my two daughters and my wife. Michelle said to me, "Sure you are out canvassing anyway and the girls will have Coco while you are out", and what could I say. I have had dogs all my life and so has my wife. A dog is like a family member. I know some people might condescendingly ask, "What do you mean by that?" but for anyone who has a dog, there is a special bond when you have a dog in your house. I know sometimes when my daughters are doing exams and when they are down, if the dog is upstairs, she is up in one of the bedrooms. There is a bit of comfort in having that companionship and only a dog can give it sometimes. I welcome this Bill. It is really important. Another point I want to make is around the housing crisis and the number of people getting evicted. People ask what that has got to do with dogs and breeding. A lot of people who go into emergency accommodation cannot take their dogs with them, so they either have to give their dogs to a family member or give them away. These are consequences of the housing crisis and homelessness. A lot of landlords now will not take dogs. I am not sure if it can be included in this Bill or in another piece of legislation but I believe people need rights to bring their pets with them, obviously in a controlled way. They should not be barred from renting accommodation because they have a pet or a dog. We want to see these proper regulations. We do not want to see some of the horrendous things that are happening with breeding at the moment. I live in Gurraunbraher now. I remember when growing up there were dogs everywhere. There would be dogs running loose all the time. People have evolved and there is a lot more respect for dogs among the vast majority of people but there is a small minority and they cannot be let get away with it.

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