Warnings over puppy smugglers

VULNERABLE TO SCAMS AND

PEOPLE WHO DO LITTLE RESEARCH

MORE than a third of people do little or no research before buying a dog - and that is helping to support the “appalling” trade in smuggled puppies, according to research by a charity.

An investigation by the Dogs Trust suggests animal lovers in Leicestershire could be leaving themselves vulnerable to being scammed, or worse, inadvertently buying puppies smuggled to the UK from abroad in atrocious conditions.

The charity said its warning comes at a time when demand for dogs in the UK has never been higher and more puppies are being illegally imported into the country to meet that demand. It is calling for immediate action to stop the trade in young dogs and says animal lovers have a big role to play.

Its Choosing My Dog study surveyed 2,908 people in the UK who bought their puppy in the past seven years and asked them what steps they had taken to ensure they were buying wisely and ethically.

Respondents in the East Midlands revealed:

35 per cent bought their puppy without doing any research;

■ 25 per cent said they only saw their puppy on the day they took them home;

■ 21 per cent did not think it was important to be able to see the puppy with one of its parents;

33 per cent said their puppy was not microchipped – now a legal requirement.

Paula Boyden, the charity’s veterinary director, said: “Sadly, we continue to see more and more heart-breaking examples of puppies being illegally imported into the country.

“Puppy smugglers are making vast profits by exploiting innocent puppies,

‘CRUEL TRADERS’

breeding and transporting them in appalling conditions to sell on to unsuspecting dog lovers.

“Unfortunately, it is all too easy to be hoodwinked by these deceitful traders.

“That is why it is so important to do your research before buying a dog so you can do everything you can to buy your puppy responsibly. There has never been a more urgent need to end the appalling puppy smuggling trade.

“Government must take immediate action as too many puppies are suffering at the hands of cruel traders and too many dog lovers are being left to pick up the pieces. Every day of delay leads to preventable suffering for these poor puppies.”

Between the start of the virus lockdown and the end of September, the trust has rescued 140 puppies which had been illegally imported into the country from Central and Eastern Europe.

Those dogs were destined to be advertised online as “UK-bred” and sold for “extortionate” prices to unsuspecting buyers, it said.

It estimated the sales would have raised £266,000 for the crime gangs.

The charity, which has been campaigning to raise awareness of puppy smuggling since 2014, also saved 14 heavily pregnant mums during the lockdown.

They have since given birth to 56 puppies which, it believes, would have been worth an additional £115,000 to the smugglers.