Later in the debate on the Animal Welfare Bill, Charles Walker raises the difficulties of tracing owners of abandoned animals in order to prosecute.

Mr. Walker: Undoubtedly, abandonment is cruel, but how would the hon. Gentleman trace the owner of an abandoned animal, in order to bring a prosecution, without any form of identification? Is he suggesting the chipping of all domestic pets?

Greg Mulholland: The hon. Gentleman has pre-empted part of my speech. He makes a fair point, to which I will refer later.

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