EU pet register will help police combat cat and dog smugglers

THE European Parliament yesterday called for a compulsory Eu-wide register of cats and dogs to fight illegal and cruel pet trafficking in Europe.

Gangs exploit loopholes in EU freedom of movement rules and the bloc’s pet passport scheme to smuggle puppies and kittens to sell in other member states

The illegal pet trade can spread diseases such as rabies and causes huge suffering to the animals, many of which are bred in horrific conditions.

An estimated 46,000 dogs are traded between EU countries every month, most of them without being registered.

Black-market breeders lie about vaccinations, making it impossible to tell if an animal is protected.

Suzie Carley, chairman of the EU Dog and Cat Alliance, said: “Dishonest sellers are exploiting pet-movement laws to make quick profits, with little or no regard for animal welfare or the threat this poses to public health.”

Different EU countries have different rules on the registration of pet births. An EU system would ensure all pets are registered in the same way and allow authorities to check the origin of animals travelling into a country.

Sitting in Strasbourg, MEPS voted to draft an EU action plan to hand out tougher punishments for the gangs, which are mostly from Eastern Europe.

“This is a significant step in the fight against the illegal pet trade,” said Martin Hojsik, an MEP on the committee responsible for the resolution.