Bulldog Film Distribution has confirmed that their upcoming documentary Dogspiracy, will be released in UK cinemas from 1st August. Screenings and Q&A events will take place across the UK throughout August including a host of cinemas screening for a special one-off event on Tuesday 26th August to mark National Dog Day.
Across the globe, millions of dog breeders and rescue shelters supply puppies responsibly, but sadly there’s also a sinister underworld of abuse and exploitation.
Directed by Paul Crompton, Dogspiracy follows British vet, author and animal welfare campaigner Dr Marc Abraham OBE as he investigates the US puppy mill pipeline, canine fertility clinics and puppy smuggling. In America and the UK he meets compassionate decision-makers who have the power to change the law. But he eventually uncovers a conspiracy that prevents important, essential legislation from being passed. This leads to frustration equalling many more years of legalised abuse. Dogspiracy aims to empower the public into knowing how to do the right thing, despite obstruction by a few influential politicians.
Dogspiracy is not only an eye-opening documentary, but also a call-to-arms to help apply pressure to both UK and US governments and politicians to try to do more to protect pet welfare.
In the US Marc, meets with campaigners in Pennsylvania to introduce Victoria’s Law, a similar Bill to Lucy’s Law. In the US as it stands, only a handful of states, including California, Maryland and New York have successfully passed bills which prohibit the sale of commercially bred puppies and kittens in pet stores. As it stands, Pennsylvania has no immediate plans to put Victoria’s Law to the vote.
In the UK, Lucy’s Law was introduced in 2020, prohibiting pet shops and other commercial third-party dealers from selling puppies and kittens under six months old; instead puppies and kittens must be obtained direct from the breeder or a legitimate rescue centre. Dr Marc Abraham OBE spearheaded the campaign garnering cross-party politicians, campaigners, the British public and celebrities like Ricky Gervais, Rachel Riley, and Peter Egan.
Further steps were made to protect a raft of animals, from pets to livestock, in the the proposed and highly anticipated Kept Animals Bill, which looked to “make provision about the welfare of certain kept animals that are in, imported into, or exported from Great Britain.” This Bill, which included banning puppy smuggling, is explored in more detail in the documentary, butt was sadly withdrawn from Parliament in 2023.
Fast forward to 2025 however, and there have now been further positive steps to improve animal welfare in the UK. The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill has now passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons, so will now make its way to the Lords. This Bill aims to “make provision for and in connection with restricting the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets.”, including banning illegal puppy imports; it’s been warmly welcomed by Marc and the Dogspiracy team.
If you feel strongly about the issues and the proposed Bills, you are advised to speak to your local political representative.
