Will a new law prevent puppies being imported illegally?

Puppies illegally imported into the UK in “really terrible conditions” are ending up in rehoming centres, a dog charity has warned.

Some are just four weeks old — too young to travel — while others are heavily pregnant or open wounds from ear cropping. “Some just don’t survive” the journey, says Claire Calder from Dogs Trust.

Between 2020 and 2024, more than 1,000 illegally imported puppies that were rehomed came through Channel ports, according to the charity.

A proposed law aims to give the government stronger powers to crack down on what campaigners call the “illegal landing” of puppies.

Campaigners have warned that for a number of years some breeders have brought under age puppies – younger than 15 weeks – into the country, or smuggled in dogs without health certificates.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), said “illegally landed” did not necessarily mean smuggled, but referred to any animal which did not meet import requirements and would need to be quarantined under anti-rabies legislation.

Through its Puppy Pilot scheme, Dogs Trust pays for the quarantine costs of dogs seized at the border to aid the interception of illegally imported puppies by APHA.

Once these dogs have been through quarantine, the animal charity then provides care and rehabilitation for them at rehoming centres, prior to them finding their forever homes.

The proposed law would give the government power to stop the import of puppies and kittens that are under six months old.

The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill would also ban the import of dogs and cats beyond 42 days of pregnancy and limit the number of animals that are allowed in a vehicle.

Claire Calder, head of public affairs at Dogs Trust, told BBC South East: “We’ve seen puppies that are too young, unvaccinated, transported in really terrible conditions and some just don’t survive that journey.

“We’ve tragically seen puppies as young as four weeks old smuggled into the country, or dogs with open wounds from ear cropping and heavily pregnant dogs close to giving birth, so this new bill is incredibly important.”

Paula Boyden, a veterinary surgeon, said the pet travel scheme had been exploited for well over a decade, with many thousands of dogs imported for sale.

“In recent years we’ve also seen an increase in the import of heavily pregnant mums and dogs with mutilations, particularly cropped ears,” he said.

Any new legislation needs to be robustly enforced at the border, according to professional dog trainer Ryan O’Meara.

“Passing this law is a good first step, but it has to be backed by proper enforcement,” he said.

“We do need clear and practical rules that make it easier for border officials to do their job, whilst still allowing for recognised rescues overseas to responsibly bring their dogs into the UK.”

Danny Chambers, vet and Lib Dem MP for Winchester, who put the bill forward, said the illegal smuggling of puppies had long caused serious public health worries that dangerous diseases could be brought back into the UK.

“This bill will curb those concerns – stamping out savage practices that endanger animals everywhere,” he said.

The bill will now go to the House of Lords on its route to becoming law.

A Defra spokesperson said: “We were elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation – and that’s why we are supporting this Bill.

“These measures will close loopholes that are cruelly exploited by unscrupulous traders and stop the import of underage, mutilated and heavily pregnant dogs and cats.”