I want the law to be looked at if dog suffers broken leg at vet's, says Fylde MP in Parliament
The issue has been raised on behalf of a constituent whose four-month-old puppy suffered three fractures to a leg at a vet’s grooming session
Fylde MP Andrew Snowden is seeking talks with a Minister from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in a bid to tighten up laws on what happens if a pet dog breaks a leg at a veterinary clinic.
Mr Snowden has taken up the issue on behalf of a constituent whose four-month-old puppy suffered three fractures to a leg at a grooming session hosted by a vet’s surgery.
The MP said in the House of Commons that the unnamed constituent has been told at the clinic that she would receive some compensation providing she signed a confidentiality agreement.
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Mr Snowden pointed out to Leader of the Commons Sir Alan Campbell that he had written to DEFRA seeking a meeting on several occasions with no reply and asked Sir Alan if he would intervene to expedite the matter.
Sir Alan said he would and offered his best wishes to the puppy’s family.
As the law stands, if a dog breaks a leg while at a veterinary clinic, the animal in regarded as the legal property of the owner, meaning the incident falls under civil law concerning negligence and property damage.
Under UK law, a veterinary practice owes a legal duty of care to any animal brought into its facility and if a dog suffers a broken leg while in the care of a vet, whether the practice is legally liable depends on proving clinical or operational negligence.