East Lancs MP backs drive to stop illegal puppy smuggling

A SENIOR East Lancashire MP is backing a campaign to crackdown on the ‘cruel and illegal trade’ of puppy smuggling.

Ribble Valley Tory and House of Commons deputy speaker Nigel Evans has attended an event hosted by the Dogs Trust to discuss the importance of tackling the issue.

The charity told him that puppies continue to be illegally imported into the UK on an industrial scale, with an increasing number of heavily pregnant dogs and dogs with mutilations such as cropped ears often travelling long distances from Central and Eastern Europe in horrific conditions.

The Dogs Trust have recently undertaken five investigations which have exposed smugglers seen to be using the UK’s Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) as a means of avoiding detection whilst illegally importing dogs and puppies into Great Britain for sale.

It has taken more than 2,256 illegally imported puppies into their care, which otherwise would have been sold to unsuspecting members of the public generating over £3million for illegal importers.

Veterinary Director at the Dogs Trust, Paula Boyden said: “The Dogs Trust has spent eight years exposing this abhorrent trade and our investigations have revealed that puppy smugglers remain undeterred and are continuing to bring in thousands of underage puppies and pregnant dogs, often in the most dreadful conditions, whilst not providing for their needs.”

Mr Evans said: “I was delighted to this week meet with representatives from The Dogs Trust and learn about the vital work being done by the charity on puppy smuggling.

“I commend and support the work being done by The Dogs Trust in their role to bring an end to this cruel and illegal trade.

“The issue of this illegal trade into the UK is colossal.

“We are seeing an increasing number of pregnant dogs and puppies which are often underage, unvaccinated, or carrying harmful diseases being illegally brought into the UK.

“As smugglers continue to abuse The Pet Travel Scheme, finding new ways to avoid detection the dogs and puppies travelling in incredibly poor welfare conditions continue to suffer.”