Dog smuggling fears increase after rules change

PROSPECTIVE pet owners have been urged to buy dogs only from legitimate breeders amid claims of a surge in pup smuggling following changes to quarantine rules.

Channel 4’s Dispatches claimed the changes have sparked a big increase in the number of dogs being brought into the country, many illegally.

Before laws were relaxed last year, owners needed to vaccinate their pets against rabies and wait six months before taking their animal overseas on a pet passport, meaning only older dogs could go in and out of the UK.

Undercover Designer Dogs – Channel 4 Dispatches is on at 8pm tonight.