Crowds gather as Wigan dad's animal rights petition given to Downing Street
Richard Ackers has been campaigning to get his proposals in front of MPs for nearly a year
Last updated 8th Dec 2021
A Wigan dad who's spent the last year campaigning for tougher rules around the sale of animals online will finally hand in his petition to Downing Street later on today.
The petition, which has been backed by over 100,000 people, was set up by Richard Akers who has spent the past week doing a charity walk from his home in Wigan to London.
The "Reggieslaw - Regulate online animal sales petition" was set up by Richard last year after a pet he bought for his family died just days after he took it home.
Richard wants to stop anyone else going through what he did when his puppy he bought on the internet died after just two days.
Supporters of the petition met in Trafalgar Square before walking towards Downing Street to hand Government officials the document in person.
Before heading in to 10 Downing Street, Richard said: "I can't believe, it feels surreal I'm here outside Number 10. I can't wait to go in, I just hope Reggie is looking down on us with pride."
Walking to Downing Street
Richard has spent the past six days walking from his home in Wigan to Downing Street raise awareness for his campaign.
The Wigan dad set off on his 232 mile trek in order to raise money for animal charities and spread the word about the debate, with all the money raised going to Hope Rescue and Animal Protection Services.
He set off at 7:45am on the 2nd of December and has done the 232 mile trek during the course of a week, before finally arriving in Downing Street at 2pm earlier today (7th December).
The campaign has received the support of dozens of MPs from across the political spectrum including Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Luke Pollard.
Last month committee of MP's agreed to allow MPs to debate the proposals next week.
The debate will take place on Monday 13 December at 4.30pm in Westminster Hall, which is the second debating chamber of the House of Commons. Christina Rees MP, a member of the committee, will open the debate.
Handing the document to Downing Street
Reggie fell ill with diarrhoea just three hours after he was purchased. After recommendation from a vet Reggie was put to sleep.
Campaigners rallying in Trafalgar Square earlier today, including Richard Akers (middle, blue coat)
Campaigners outside the gates of Number 10 after walking from Trafalgar Square
Campaigners outside the doors of Number 10 delivering the petition
It all started last December when Richard purchased his new puppy Reggie for £1,800 but within three hours of arriving back home, he fell ill with diarrhoea.
By the following morning, he had deteriorated and was suffering from both diarrhoea and vomiting which became progressively worse until he was rushed to the vets.
After being given the options of either a major blood transfusion or putting him to sleep and with the vet recommending the latter, the decision was made to let him go.
READ MORE: UK's leading online marketplaces will share data to crack down on pet fraud
Richard said: "I cannot disguise that our decision to follow this advice was one of the most difficult and traumatic that we have ever taken and still affects us to this day.
"Reggie died just four days after we bought him, officially due to parvovirus.
"The end of his very short life was painful and horrific."
Richard is now campaigning for better regulation of any websites where animals are sold.
The petition says:
"Given how many animals are sold online, we want Government to introduce regulation of all websites where animals are sold. Websites should be required to verify the identity of all sellers, and for young animals for sale pictures with their parents be posted with all listings."
Animal Welfare Alliance
Whilst waiting for the petition to gather its 107,000 signatures, Richard has already made huge changes to the way a number of selling websites work.
Since September, 10 of the UK's leading online marketplaces have introduced new systems to crack down on scam pet sellers.
They now share data on unscrupulous sellers and are able to provide a more detailed account of their activities to Animal Protection Service who can then look to prosecute.