Call to end cruel dog-smuggling trade

CAMPAIGNERS HAVE called on the Government to step in and stop under-age puppies and heavily pregnant dogs being smuggled across Europe for sale in the UK.

An undercover investigation by the Dogs Trust found animals were being forced to travel more than 1,000 miles across Europe in “shocking” conditions to meet the demand for fashionable breeds of dogs.

The animal welfare organisation said that as the UK leaves the European Union, the Government should redraw the noncommercial pet travel rules, which it claims are being exploited to smuggle puppies to the UK from central and eastern Europe.

Since the pet travel scheme, currently governed by the EU, was changed to allow puppies to enter UK at a younger age, dealers are using the opportunity to make millions of pound from illegally importing them, the Dogs Trust said.

Its investigation found puppies were being sedated in cramped conditions for more than 30-hour journeys, while pregnant bitches were forced to travel to allow the puppies to be born in the UK.

Paula Boyden, the trust’s veterinary director, said: “Our investigations have revealed shocking welfare conditions. There is no regard for the lives of these vulnerable puppies, who are subjected to gruelling journeys of more than 30 hours in hot, cramped and filthy conditions with no toilet breaks and very little water.

“Some don’t survive the journey, and those who do may have physical health and behavioural issues due to their poor start in life.”

The charity also claimed that corrupt vets are falsifying pet passports, providing fake vaccination stamps to allow puppies to travel when younger than allowed, and supplying sedatives to help smuggle them into the UK without detection.

A spokeswoman for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “This abhorrent and illegal trade is cruel and unnecessary, and risks spreading very serious diseases such as rabies. We have one of the most rigorous pet border checking regimes in the world and we are planning to crack down further with a complete ban on third-party puppy and kitten sales.”

She said leaving the EU would give the Government power to bring in fresh measures.