top of page

Charity calls on MPs to raise awareness of puppy smuggling plight

​

​

December 1st 2015

 

Today (1st December) Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, took the opportunity to highlight the UK’s growing puppy smuggling problem to a host of MPs at its annual House of Commons reception hosted by Sir Roger Gale MP.

Following its initial report into puppy smuggling in November 2014, the charity this year conducted its second in-depth investigative report focused on the puppies travelling illegally into Britain under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). Dogs Trust found substantial evidence that underage puppies are still regularly entering the country on false documentation and are subsequently sold to unsuspecting consumers.

​

Despite recent changes to the PETS designed to strengthen the scheme, the report found evidence of;

​

  • Ineffective border controls and enforcement of PETS at British ports, with no requirement on enforcers to carry out even a basic sight check on the animal being imported
     

  • Dogs Trust managed to transport a stuffed toy with a pet passport three times without anyone noticing the dog was not alive
     

  • Breeders and dealers from Lithuania and Romania using the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) for the commercial importation of puppies to Great Britain, it is just for owned pets

 

​

  • Breeders and dealers from Lithuania and Romania supplying young puppies under 12 weeks of age – the legal age at which puppies can be vaccinated against rabies – with dates of birth simply being faked on pet passports
     

  • Vets in Lithuania and Romania falsifying data on pet passports for PETS
     

  • Puppies bred in horrendous conditions in Eastern Europe
     

  • Puppies from Eastern Europe advertised online with no reference to their countries of origin

Connect with Roger

01843 848588

  • Facebook Social Icon
  • Twitter Social Icon

Useful Links

© 2024 SLM

bottom of page