Puppies smuggled from Eastern Europe into the UK posing a risk to public health

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has released findings from an in-depth six month investigation into the trafficking of puppies from Eastern Europe into the UK under the EU legislation on the movement of pet animals. Aside from the very obvious animal welfare concerns there is a risk to public health through rabies and other diseases, such as a severely debilitating tapeworm, which are not currently found in the UK.

This shocking investigative footage reveals criminal breeders, vets and transporters in Hungary and Lithuania abusing the EU legislation and a lack of adequate enforcement and protocol by the relevant UK authorities. European vets have been caught on camera creating false pet passports and fake rabies vaccination records; the charity reveals underage puppies slipping through the net undeclared and lack of checks at ferry ports and borders, simplifying the smuggling process. With breeders making upwards of £100,000 (€126,000) a year from the sale of smuggled puppies, the trade is spiralling out of control with no deterrent.

The EU legislation on the non-commercial movement of pet animals allows pet dogs from EU and some listed countries to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet certain conditions. However commercial breeders and dealers are using the scheme to illegally import puppies to be passed off as dogs bred in the UK to unsuspecting customers, often without meeting the required conditions.

Dogs Trust highlighted to the UK government the consequences of the changes to the EU legislation back in 2013 and was asked to show clear evidence of the issue. Dogs Trust’s undercover footage and evidence report was presented to the UK government on 5th November, highlighting some very worrying concerns including:

• An underground network in Hungary and Lithuania including breeders, dealers and vets aiding this illegal trade and using the EU pet movement legislation for the sale of puppies in the UK
• A regular supply of young puppies under the legal age they can be imported regularly entering the UK for sale, and which are inadequately vaccinated against rabies
• Unscrupulous vets falsifying data on pet passports and dealers selling underage puppies in the UK with falsified passports and without the correct vaccinations via internet sites
• Worryingly ineffective Border controls and enforcement at UK Ports
• A lack of penalties or deterrents for people attempting to illegally import puppies

Since sharing our evidence with the UK government, Dogs Trust understands they will be speaking with the relevant Lithuanian and Hungarian authorities about the findings. Whilst Dogs Trust welcomes the UK government’s efforts to respond, this must not be a knee jerk reaction to the report and can’t stop here. We also urge the European Commission to take a thorough look at the report and respond with further action.

Dogs Trust Veterinary Director, Paula Boyden says:

“Now is the time for both the UK government and the European Commission to sit up, listen and act. We have provided the evidence of this illegal trade and our investigation clearly illustrates that something needs to be done urgently as the EU legislation is simply not being enforced.”

Dogs Trust is urgently calling on the European Commission:

• To introduce EU legislation requiring the registration of dog’s microchips on an accessible database, which is linked to an EU database.
• To ensure that in future years the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office’s inspection programme includes checking Member State compliance with EU Regulation No 576/2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals.

Dogs Trust is urgently calling on the UK Government:

• To make the current checks that are conducted before allowing a pet to travel far more robust
• To bring the wait period post vaccination and quarantine for illegal (non-compliant) landings in line with the incubation period of rabies. A 3 month wait/quarantine would mean that the minimum age of entry would be 6 months, which would help to eliminate the trade as puppy buyers want younger dogs
• To introduce stricter fines and deterrents for those caught illegally bringing dogs into the UK

It is clear that far more can be done to curb the trade. New EU legislation on pet travel will come into force at the end of December this year, which will allow EU countries to set penalties for those breaking the rules. The new legislation states that the penalties must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. However Dogs Trust and their contacts at the UK ports believe the proposed changes are woefully inadequate and will only serve to drive more commercial breeders to bring undeclared dogs into the country.

We only have to look at the way the UK’s tax authorities are tackling the cigarette smuggling industry to understand the severe sanctions that can be imposed. Most notably fines of up to £5,000 for selling illicit tobacco and travel restrictions on repeat tobacco smugglers. This trade poses a serious risk to human health and it is only a matter of time before the puppy smuggling trade will do the same..

Paula continues:

“The numbers of animals coming in to the UK from Eastern Europe under the EU pet movement legislation has increased rapidly since 2012 when changes to the legislation made it easier for people to enter the UK with puppies. According to the UK government, the number of dogs entering the UK in this way rose by 61% in the first year when controls were relaxed. Just 2.5% of pets were found to be non-compliant in 2012.”

For more information and to download the report go to: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/whats-happening/issues-campaigns/puppy-smuggling/