The South Antrim MLA stated: “I welcome the announcements made by Minister Muir regarding animal welfare this week. The Minister has expressed his intention to introduce several measures, including banning the third-party sale of puppies and kittens, mandating the installation of CCTV in slaughterhouses, and banning the use of shock collars, among others.

“The progress the Minister has achieved on these issues is long-awaited by many in our community and will contribute to improving animal welfare standards in Northern Ireland.

“I would also like to acknowledge the Minister’s commitment to engaging with key organisations such as the Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group to work on animal welfare reform and, as Chair of the All-Party Group on Animal Welfare, I look forward to continuing to collaborate with him and his department on these matters.

“The Alliance Party has advocated for animal welfare reform for some time and my colleagues and I welcome the advancements made by Minister Muir in protecting animals across Northern Ireland. These are just a number of actions that the Minister intends to take towards improving animal welfare legislation, which not only protects our beloved animals but also enriches our society as a whole, and I look forward to hearing about the additional measures that are currently in the works by his department.”