Lucy’s Law introduced to protect pups and kittens in NI

Others, however, have seen promise in it.

Joanne Smith, who owns Kilworth Danes in Gilford, said Lucy’s Law was “a massive step in the right direction” but agreed more could still be done.

Smith said Lucy’s Law gave some legal underpinning to this method of breeding and selling.

“It stops people handing over dogs in cark parks and filling station forecourts.”

However, she said it will not stop people getting dogs from large scale “puppy mills”.

“Just because you have a licence doesn’t make what you’re doing ethical. There are some breeders who have 200 bitches and the animals are all machine fed.

“Lucy’s Law can’t stop that but we need one that will. But this is a good first step.”

Eimear Tubman who runs Dogsni.love – “Northern Ireland’s only ethical dog site, advertising dogs for sale, stud and related services” – said Lucy’s Law will “make it harder for unscrupulous sellers to hide behind third-parties”.

“That has to be a positive step,” she said.

Most charities BBC News NI contacted said there are no dog breeders they would endorse.

Tubman was critical of this and said it is important to distinguish good breeders from bad ones.

“There are some wonderful breeders in Northern Ireland who devote enormous amounts of time, care and money to doing things properly.

“We should absolutely call out poor breeding practices, but we should also recognise and support the people who genuinely put their dogs first.”