1 in 5 UK vets report seeing illegally imported puppies last year, as BVA calls on Government to act

Twenty percent (1 in 5) of UK small animal vets have seen puppies they believe to have been imported illegally into the country in the last year, according to the British Veterinary Association (BVA). With increased concerns around the risk to public health from imported diseases such as rabies, BVA calls on the UK Government to urgently put a stop to unlawful puppy smuggling by progressing the Animal Welfare (Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill through Parliament and into law without any further delay.  

The call comes on the heels of a roundtable in Parliament today, hosted by vet and MP Danny Chambers to highlight the potential impact of this legislation, which would introduce crucial measures to clamp down on puppy smuggling, ban the import of pets with illegal mutilations like cropped ears, and secure public health by preventing diseases such as rabies from being imported into the country.   

The Bill, which passed its second reading in the Commons in November, has been awaiting a date for the committee stage since then.  

Data from BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey revealed that French bulldog puppies were by far the most common breed vets reported concerns about, with just under half (48%) of vets who had seen suspicious puppies referring to this breed. 

The biggest source of suspicion that these dogs may have been imported illegally was the client's explanation of how or where the puppy was acquired (79% of vets said this). Half of vets who had seen illegal pups (52%) suspected they had been imported illegally because the puppies were too young to have been imported but they had been told they came from abroad. A third of vets (33%) had suspicions because they found foreign microchips in puppies that were too young to have been imported legally, and a similar proportion (30%) had seen puppies whose age didn’t match the information on the passport.  

British Veterinary Association President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux said:  

“These new figures from our members who work in small animal practice show that puppy smugglers are continuing to use unscrupulous methods to bring puppies into the country and duping new owners into buying sick or poorly socialised pets.  

“Illegally imported puppies have often been poorly bred, without the correct vaccinations or necessary health checks needed, which can result in life-threatening illnesses for the pups and heartache for their new owners. 

“In the last few years, we have seen measures to stop puppy smuggling come close to becoming law but disappointingly failing to cross the line. We’re urging Government to progress vet and MP Danny Chambers’ Bill, which has broad support from vets, animal welfare charities, parliamentarians and the general public, into law in this parliamentary session.” 

BVA is calling on the public and its members to write to their local MP, urging them to support the Bill at every opportunity.  

Download the template letter here.