Vets warn of threat to pets from ‘Trojan dog’ imports

VETS have issued a warning over buying or adopting pets from abroad, saying that these “Trojan dogs” can carry life-threatening diseases to the UK.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has urged political parties to make mandatory health checks for dogs brought into the country part of their general election manifestos.

Recent figures released from Defra demonstrate that imports of dogs to Great Britain through the Pet Travel Scheme doubled to 307,357 dogs in 2018, from 152,075 in 2013.

Celebrities have contributed to the trend, including actor Orlando Bloom, who rescued his pet, Sidi, from Morocco. Presenter and former tennis player Sue Barker adopted her dog from Romania. Comedian Ricky Gervais is also a patron of a charity which imports rescue dogs to the UK from Romania. There is no suggestion any of these people have brought diseased dogs into the country.

Daniella Dos Santos, president of the BVA, warned that although it is popular to take puppies home from foreign countries, it is safer to adopt pets from within the UK.

She said: “Adverts for organisations that re-home European dogs are often only a couple of clicks away, but in reality these ‘Trojan dogs’ often have unknown health histories and may pose a risk to the native pet population, and even humans in some cases.

“If you already own a rescue dog from abroad, approach your local vet for advice on testing and treatment.”

A spokesman for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “We operate one of the most rigorous border checking regimes for pets in the world.”