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| Lucy's Law: The story of the dog that sparked a campaign | Lucy's Law: The story of the dog that sparked a campaign |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| When Lucy was rescued from a Welsh puppy farm five years ago, she was suffering. | When Lucy was rescued from a Welsh puppy farm five years ago, she was suffering. |
| The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's hips had fused together, she had a curved spine, bald patches and epilepsy after years of mistreatment. | The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's hips had fused together, she had a curved spine, bald patches and epilepsy after years of mistreatment. |
| She'd been kept in a cage much of her life and was no longer able to have puppies. | She'd been kept in a cage much of her life and was no longer able to have puppies. |
| But the five-year-old went on to be re-homed by Lisa Gardner - and now her story is helping to change the law. | But the five-year-old went on to be re-homed by Lisa Gardner - and now her story is helping to change the law. |
| Pet shops and dealers in England will be banned from selling puppies and kittens under government plans. | Pet shops and dealers in England will be banned from selling puppies and kittens under government plans. |
| It's after her story was the focus of the Lucy's Law campaign - which has been calling for the ban to be implemented. | It's after her story was the focus of the Lucy's Law campaign - which has been calling for the ban to be implemented. |
| "It was clear from her physical condition that she had been subjected to appalling conditions," said Lisa in an interview with the Mirror. | "It was clear from her physical condition that she had been subjected to appalling conditions," said Lisa in an interview with the Mirror. |
| "However, with lots of patience, Lucy went on to enjoy a full, albeit far too short life, filled with happiness." | "However, with lots of patience, Lucy went on to enjoy a full, albeit far too short life, filled with happiness." |
| Lucy had three years of love before she died in 2016. | Lucy had three years of love before she died in 2016. |
| It spurred Lisa on to launch a campaign to prevent poor treatment of dogs in puppy farming. | It spurred Lisa on to launch a campaign to prevent poor treatment of dogs in puppy farming. |
| The ban has been backed by celebrities such as Ricky Gervais. | The ban has been backed by celebrities such as Ricky Gervais. |
| "Her body was broken when she was rescued at five years old," vet Marc Abraham, who also helped launch the campaign, told BBC 5 Live. | "Her body was broken when she was rescued at five years old," vet Marc Abraham, who also helped launch the campaign, told BBC 5 Live. |
| "She had three years in freedom, being pampered and having a normal life as a pet. | "She had three years in freedom, being pampered and having a normal life as a pet. |
| "We launched Lucy's Law a year after her passing as a tribute to her and all the breeding dogs that are hidden from the public." | "We launched Lucy's Law a year after her passing as a tribute to her and all the breeding dogs that are hidden from the public." |
| Dogs like Lucy are often kept by breeders to produce litters of puppies, which are then taken from their mothers at four or five weeks old, according to Marc. | Dogs like Lucy are often kept by breeders to produce litters of puppies, which are then taken from their mothers at four or five weeks old, according to Marc. |
| The government's decision is a triumph for Lucy, Lisa and Marc and has been welcomed by animal welfare charities. | The government's decision is a triumph for Lucy, Lisa and Marc and has been welcomed by animal welfare charities. |
| 'He was so weak' | 'He was so weak' |
| Lucy's story is not uncommon. | Lucy's story is not uncommon. |
| In 2015, one family in Sussex were tricked by someone selling what they believed to be a nine-week-old crossbreed puppy on a website. | In 2015, one family in Sussex were tricked by someone selling what they believed to be a nine-week-old crossbreed puppy on a website. |
| They spent £470 on Max, a "cavapoo" (Cavalier King Charles mixed with a poodle) but which turned out to be a different mix entirely. | |
| "We were so excited to have him home but, just 17 hours after he arrived, it all went wrong," said Rebecca Reed. | "We were so excited to have him home but, just 17 hours after he arrived, it all went wrong," said Rebecca Reed. |
| Max wouldn't eat but was drinking constantly and Rebecca was called home from work by her husband when the dog became seriously ill. | Max wouldn't eat but was drinking constantly and Rebecca was called home from work by her husband when the dog became seriously ill. |
| "He was like a wet blanket on the floor. He couldn't even lift his head, he was so weak. It was heartbreaking," Rebecca said. | "He was like a wet blanket on the floor. He couldn't even lift his head, he was so weak. It was heartbreaking," Rebecca said. |
| A vet diagnosed Max with megaesophagus - a condition where dogs are unable to get food into their stomach. | A vet diagnosed Max with megaesophagus - a condition where dogs are unable to get food into their stomach. |
| 'Better protection' | 'Better protection' |
| Rebecca tried to contact the seller to find out if any other puppies had the condition, but her calls were ignored. | Rebecca tried to contact the seller to find out if any other puppies had the condition, but her calls were ignored. |
| She had to change her working hours to feed Max liquidised food and her husband built him a special chair to help him digest what he had eaten. | She had to change her working hours to feed Max liquidised food and her husband built him a special chair to help him digest what he had eaten. |
| The family estimate caring for Max has cost them £5,000 because they had bought him from a seller who they say lied about the dog's age, health and vaccination history. | The family estimate caring for Max has cost them £5,000 because they had bought him from a seller who they say lied about the dog's age, health and vaccination history. |
| "We believe that all puppies and kittens should be born and reared in a suitable environment, with their mother, and should be sold directly from their place of birth," said RSPCA animal welfare expert Lisa Hens. | "We believe that all puppies and kittens should be born and reared in a suitable environment, with their mother, and should be sold directly from their place of birth," said RSPCA animal welfare expert Lisa Hens. |
| "We hope this move will offer better protection to puppies and their parents and reduce the number of families duped by rogue dealers in this illegal multi-million-pound industry." | "We hope this move will offer better protection to puppies and their parents and reduce the number of families duped by rogue dealers in this illegal multi-million-pound industry." |
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