Legislation is currently going through Parliament in the UK to ban the importation of cats and dogs bred at cruel puppy farms and kitten mills often in Romania and Poland on the European continent. This has been a big ongoing problem in the UK for quite a long time.
Private members bill
The proposed legislation was introduced by a member of Parliament as a private members bill. However, senior government sources have said that the Conservative members of Parliament will be told to back the legislation which will ban the importation of dogs and cats under six months old into the UK.
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It will also ban the importation of animals that have had their tails docked or ears cropped. Both these procedures are banned in the UK. This is to combat the trade in fashion dogs as accessories.
There is growing support for the bill I’m told by The Times. It’s expected that the law will be on the statute books by the autumn. There’s been a lot of campaigning by animal advocates to introduce this ban.
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Profitable and cruel
These unscrupulous dog and cat breeders have made a lot of money by importing unhealthy animals into the UK. They are often bred in squalid and unhealthy conditions on puppy farms.
The puppies and kittens are separated from their mothers while too young to travel. Their immune systems are undeveloped. The report from The Times is that fake vaccination certificates are issued before transportation to the UK.
The pet travel scheme is exploited in allowing pet owners to travel between Britain and Europe with up to five animals at one time without going through quarantine.
Once they’ve brought the animals into the UK, they sometimes rent an Airbnb property to give the impression that they are bona fired dog or cat owners selling pets.
It’s estimated that the trade has been worth millions of pounds annually. In 2023 is estimated that 485 puppies were smuggled into the country as well as 110 pregnant dogs.
Huge health issues
Often, the animals fall seriously ill after they’ve been sold to an unsuspecting purchaser. Often purchasers are taken in by the sight of cute puppies and kittens advertised on social media. They are drawn in by the appearance of these pets. Sometimes they forget about investigating the issue properly and preparing properly.
Due diligence
I’ve said many times that when people adopt a cat or dog they should really go slowly and do due diligence. Investigate properly and make sure you know what you are purchasing. Never send money upfront. Visit the breeder. Ask difficult questions in a polite way.
One person who almost fell for this scam (which is what it is in effect) is Selaine Saxby. She is the Conservative member of Parliament who is sponsoring the bill. She therefore speaks from first-hand experience. She was looking to buy a dog before the second Covid-19 lockdown.
She said that she “saw a young puppy advertised for sale who was absolutely gorgeous. I nearly bought him until a friend pointed out that the advert should have raised all sorts of alarm bells. But sometimes you just get caught up in the moment.”
She says that the bill will help prevent any other unsuspecting buyers from falling into the trap by tackling the problem at source.
She said that, “by banning the import of puppies under six months of age from abroad, this legislation will allow customs officers to clearly identify cases and [give them] the power to tackle offenders”.
RSPCA
The RSPCA spokesperson, Doctor Samantha Gaines, a dog welfare expert, said that far too many people were unsuspectingly supporting this illicit underground trade. They were sadly supporting animal cruelty and neglect.
She added: “We know that puppy dealers like to bring in puppies as young as possible so that they are more marketable and desirable to buyers. But owners may end up with a puppy who is extremely sick, with the potential for severe behavioural problems, or who could even be carrying dangerous zoonotic diseases into the UK.”
Rabies
There is the potential problem of rabies being restarted in the UK where it has been extinct for many years. It is hoped that the legislation will gain cross-party support.
Dogs Trust
Another charity, Dogs Trust, has for 10 years been trying to introduce this kind of ban to the tackle this illegal trade described as “horrific puppy smuggling” by the charity.
It appears that the Labour Party intend to widen the scope of this bill to include hunting which may muddy the waters and complicate its passage through Parliament.
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