UNDER STRICT EMBARGO UNTIL MONDAY 20th JULY 00.01HRS THE PUPPY SMUGGLING SCANDAL CONTINUES -
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
-
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
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