THE PUPPY SMUGGLERS
HOW THE ILLEGAL TRADE OF PUPPIES INTO BRITAIN IS PROVING COSTLY - AND IN SOME CASES DEADLY
HUNDREDS of unvaccinated designer puppies are being smuggled into Britain every year, figures have revealed.
Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, found that between the end of 2015 and the end of 2017, some 671 puppies were seized by authorities on their way into the country.
More than 80 per cent were French Bulldogs, Dachshunds, English Bulldogs and Pugs - commonly considered “designer” breeds because of their high demand. The Dogs Trust estimates that French Bulldogs sell for as much as £1,570, Dachshunds go for £1,000 while Pugs are priced at £880. The data suggests Britain is a prime destination for puppy smugglers who want a quick sale. The Dogs Trust estimates that most puppies are smuggled from Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland.
After puppies are seized, the Dogs Trust pays for them to be quarantined and cared for before they get rehomed - although not all of them survive.
Some 40 puppies that were seized either died or were put to sleep as a result of travel conditions, illness, or poor breeding.
Puppies are allowed into Britain if they meet certain criteria. The government’s Pet Travel Scheme states that puppies can only travel to the UK provided they have been microchipped and vaccinated, have a pet passport, and are at least 15 weeks old.
A Dogs Trust spokesperson said: “Corrupt breeders and dealers are making huge financial profits from this trade after breeding them in large numbers and exploiting the demand for these desirable breeds in Britain.
“Whilst many people’s purchases may be well intended, unbeknown to them the internet has become a thriving marketplace for advertising illegally imported puppies.
“Buying an illegally imported puppy could potentially cost well-meaning but unsuspecting families thousands of pounds in quarantine and vet bills and emotional heartache for the family if the puppy falls ill or worse, dies.
“The pet checking system at ports needs a significant overhaul to stop these poor puppies coming through undetected in shocking conditions – we’re currently engaging with the government agency responsible for this.” A government spokesperson said: “We are cracking down on animal trafficking with one of the toughest pet border checking regimes in the world. “Every pet dog travelling to the UK has both microchips and passports checked to make sure they are properly vaccinated and old enough to travel. “As we leave the EU, we are looking at how we can further strengthen checks to stop this abhorrent illegal trade.”