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How you’re helping us end puppy smuggling

We’re changing the tale for smuggled pups.

Illustration of Chow Chow puppies in a cage to be smuggled

The cruel puppy smuggling trade has gone unchecked for too long.  

Dogs and puppies are transported into the UK in horrifying conditions. Often, these journeys leave them with long-term issues, both physical and behavioural. But there are very few consequences for puppy smugglers, even if they do get caught. For ten years, we’ve been working to change the law and protect innocent dogs. And we’re almost there.

In order to crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies we need the Government to:

  • Increase the age puppies can be imported to 6 months  
  • Ban the non-commercial transport of heavily pregnant dogs  
  • A complete ban on the commercial movement of pregnant dogs into Great Britain  
  • A ban on the importation and sale of dogs with cropped ears and docked tails  
  • Bring in tougher penalties for those caught illegally importing dogs. 

With your help, we've shown the Government that this issue is close to the hearts of many of us across the country. Last year, over 17,000 of you wrote to your local MP to demand that the Government honour their manifesto commitment, and finally end puppy smuggling. We’re so grateful to everyone who made their voice heard and has helped us keep the issue of puppy smuggling on the agenda. 

17,000 of you

emailed your MP and demanded change.

What happens next? 

The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets) Bill had been progressing through the Parliamentary process with the aim of becoming law. But sadly, it could not complete its journey. When the General Election was called, this session of Parliament was brought to a close, meaning the Bill was dropped.

Undeterred, we won’t stop working to bring an end to Puppy Smuggling in the new Parliament. We hope we can rely on your support once more.  

Meet some of the smuggled puppies we've helped:

Changing the tale for smuggled Snowy and her puppies

Changing the tale for smuggled Snowy and her puppies

Snowy is just one of many pregnant mums trafficked in terrible conditions.

The road to recovery for smuggled pup Sean

The road to recovery for smuggled pup Sean

Stopping the suffering for trafficked puppies like Sean the Shar Pei.

Rescuing young pup Bailey from puppy smugglers

Rescuing young pup Bailey from puppy smugglers

Poor Bailey and his brother were trafficked by smugglers at just seven weeks old.

Find out more about our efforts to end this cruel trade:

Our work to end puppy smuggling

Our work to end puppy smuggling

For more than a decade, we've been campaigning to end the vile puppy smuggling trade for good.

Would you like to campaign on behalf of Dogs Trust?

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