Dog lovers warned over imported animals

Animal lovers have been warned that rehoming dogs from abroad could bring a risk of disease, as figures show around 20,000 were brought to the UK from Romania last year.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Dogs Trust charity warned that rehoming animals from overseas risks importing canine diseases not commonly found in the UK.

Figures from the Animal and Plant Health Agency show that in 2019 a total of 44,563 dogs were legally brought into the UK from overseas.

In total, 19,487 - or 44% came from Romania, more than the rest of the top five countries combined.

The animals were imported to the UK under the Balai Directive, which covers all commercially imported dogs, including commercial puppies, rescue dogs, research dogs and unaccompanied pets.

A spokeswoman for the Dogs Trust said: "There is a large number of stray dogs in many overseas countries, and the number imported from countries such as Romania has risen in recent years.

"We understand it is heartwrenching to see dogs abandoned or mistreated abroad but rehoming them brings the risk of bringing in a number diseases which are found in mainland Europe and which are not subject to testing or management under the rules of pet travel.”

A Defra spokesman urged potential dog owners to rehome from reputable UKbased organisations.

He added: "The UK has some of the highest animal health and welfare standards in the world.”