A north-east MSP is pressing for tougher regulations to crackdown on illegal puppy farms.
Conservative Nanette Milne said the Scottish Government must use the responses of a recent consultation on dog ownership to make sure breeders register all puppies and councils have more support.
Last month three men admitted running an illegal puppy farm in the region, selling animals in such a bad state they died within days of being sold.
Frank James, his brother Edward and 18-year-old son Sean, all pleaded guilty to keeping 72 dogs in horrific conditions at Eastermains Ardlogie, Fyvie. Many of the animals suffered from lice, skin sores and matter hair.
Under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 and 1991 no person can operated a dog breeding establishment without first getting a licence from their local authority.
The regulations provides an exclusion for “hobby breeders” who sell the occasional puppy. However, any hobby breeder whose dogs produce five or more litters a year will be presumed to be a commercial breeder.
Mrs Milne said she had received “significant correspondence” regarding concerns surrounding puppy farms and the growth in the sale of puppies on line.
She said the recent government consultation showed that the indiscriminate breeding of dogs was seen to be at the root of irresponsible dog ownership.
“Respondents repeatedly called for this issue to be tackled, and argued that until it was tackled effectively, irresponsible dog ownership would continue,” Mrs Milne said.
“As we head towards the Christmas season a time when demand for dogs and especially puppies increases it is vital that we see action from the Scottish Government to address puppy farming and the indiscriminate breeding of dogs.
“I hope that ministers will now use the consultation to help address puppy farming and the indiscriminate breeding of dogs by bringing forward regulations such as requiring breeders to register every dog they breed and for councils to be given additional support to address problem dogs and the indiscriminate breeding of dogs in social rented properties.”
Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: “Unfortunately there is no easy fix for the issue of puppy farming.
“However, we believe the problem stems from people buying pets over the internet and we would like to see something done to regulate this.”