UNDER STRICT EMBARGO UNTIL MONDAY 20th JULY 00.01HRS
THE PUPPY SMUGGLING SCANDAL CONTINUES
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Dogs Trust successfully ‘smuggles’ stuffed toy dog into Great Britain to
highlight the failings at our borders and the continued abuse of the Pet
Passport Scheme
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Pressure on for border control staff as today (20th July) marks the start of
school holidays and surge in holiday makers travelling to France via
Eurotunnel and ferry carriers
Dogs Trust today (20th July) reveals the findings of a follow-on undercover investigation into
the cruel puppy smuggling trade. Underage and unvaccinated puppies continue to travel
illegally from Eastern Europe to Great Britain destined to be sold online to unsuspecting
members of the public by commercial dealers and breeders. The charity also ‘smuggled’ a
stuffed toy dog in a carry-crate from Europe onto British soil multiple occasions without any
enforcer identifying her as fake – begging the question, what else could have been in that
crate and why is it still so easy to smuggle puppies?
The charity first highlighted the influx of illegally landed puppies from Eastern Europe in
November 2014, following a relaxation of the Pet Travel Scheme in 2012*. These findings
were then presented to DEFRA, who heralded the already-planned changes to the Pet
Travel Scheme (which came into force on 29th December 2014) as the solution**. Dogs Trust
had strong suspicions that the changes would be ineffective - the findings of our second
investigation have proven us correct. The illegal puppy trade continues to boom and the
potential risks to human and dog health and welfare remain.
Dogs Trust’s second undercover investigation has gathered further evidence of corruption
from vets and breeders in Lithuania and Romania, and the worrying ease in which
commercial transporters can illegally bring puppies into Great Britain under a scheme
designed for pet owners. Our experiment with Mitzi, the stuffed toy dog, shows the urgent
need for visual checks of pets travelling with passports. In the absence of any physical sight
check at the borders, corrupt dealers can smuggle underage, sickly, or undocumented
puppies into Great Britain – bringing with them a risk of disease.
Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director of Dogs Trust comments:
“Dogs Trust has twice now presented DEFRA with evidence of the illegal puppy trade, both
from those smuggling puppies and those exploiting the Pet Travel Scheme for profit***. We
have provided detailed recommendations which if implemented, would act as a great step
forward in curbing the problem. We are hugely disappointed with DEFRA’s response. As our
evidence demonstrates the Pet Travel Scheme amendments in December 2014 have been
ineffective, we urge all the appropriate agencies to take the findings of our two investigations
seriously. The implications of the puppy smuggling trade are huge; for consumers who are
being duped and the puppies that suffer horribly, plus the risk of disease that is kicking at our
shores.”
Paula adds: “We need a joined up approach and Government support, it cannot be left to
animal welfare charities and concerned individuals to fight the puppy smuggling scandal
alone.”
Summary of Findings from Dogs Trust’s Undercover Investigation
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
Successfully smuggled a fake toy dog without a physical sight check using a fake
passport and fake microchip at GB borders three times out of four attempts
Breeders and dealers from Lithuania and Romania using the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) for the
commercial importation of puppies to the Great Britain, despite the recent introduction of
changes designed to strengthen the scheme
Breeders and dealers from Lithuania and Romania supplying young puppies under twelve
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. The changes to PETS
introduced on 29 December were intended to prevent these fraudulent actions. However, vets
are easily removing and replacing the new laminated strips and filling in the extra information
required with fictitious information
Puppies bred in horrendous ‘puppy farm’ conditions in Romania
Filmed three breeders in Lithuania all of whom sold us puppies under the age of three months
and arranged for passports to be issued via their own vet contacts. The bought puppies were
responsibly rehomed.
Obtained eight passports from seven vets in Lithuania who falsified data on the passports in
order to allow puppies under the age of 15 weeks to travel to Great Britain
Filmed seven vets in Romania, two of whom stated that they could falsify passport information
for us
Filmed five breeders in Romania who had sold puppies to the UK in the past, all of who said
they could arrange fake passports for underage dogs
Contacted one further breeder in Romania by phone who said he could arrange passports for 8
week old puppies
ENDS NOTES TO EDITORS
Posing as buyers planning to sell the puppies in the UK, we were sold ‘pedigree’ Russian Toy
Terriers in Lithuania. After a month of having the puppy in our care, it was clear that the puppy
was not pedigree and we had the puppy examined by a show Judge, who said the puppy was
not pure breed.