Charities applaud new legislation prohibiting puppy smuggling

A new law aimed at combating the smuggling of puppies and kittens into the UK has successfully passed Parliament this week, following two previous unsuccessful attempts. Animal welfare organizations are calling the legislation a major victory, though some caution that there may be unintended consequences.

In September 2025, two tiny Yorkshire Terriers were seized at the Port of Dover. Just seven weeks old, they had endured a 26-hour journey in a box on the backseat of a car traveling from Slovakia, with minimal food and water. The puppies, later named Pip and Squeak by Dogs Trust, were taken in by the charity.

"They were very timid and wary of their surroundings," said Katie Bryan, Rehoming Coordinator at Dogs Trust. "It was evident that being separated from their mother so early had left them unsure of how to interact with people or even understand how to be dogs."

The new legislation is set to help curb the illegal importation of puppies, a problem exacerbated by the Brexit transition, which allowed changes to import rules. In 2023, a total of 116 puppies and kittens were confiscated at the Port of Dover for being below the legal age limit of 15 weeks.

Many of these animals are smuggled using false documents, with microchips containing counterfeit information or sometimes being passed off as pets. The responsibility of identifying such animals lies with Matt Henning's team at the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Henning has recounted cases of animals being smuggled in deplorable conditions, such as being hidden under driver seats, packed with raw meat or motorbike wheels, or even placed in makeshift cages.

"The situation is often heartbreaking," Henning shared. "Animals arrive in a terrible state, and some are so severely ill that they have to be euthanized." He recalled one instance where a dog from Romania arrived barely conscious, suffering from multiple abuses during the smuggling process, including being dressed in a nappy to absorb waste. "When the dog was examined, the vet found that one of its legs was missing and the remaining stump was raw from the abuse," Henning added.

Another concern is that these illegally imported dogs may not have been tested for diseases like rabies or brucella canis, which could pose risks to other animals and people in the UK.

The new law will raise the minimum age for importing puppies and kittens to six months. The Animal and Plant Health Agency believes this will help identify underage animals more easily and discourage illegal trade, as older puppies tend to be less appealing to smugglers due to their reduced "cuteness." While some supporters of the law praise the age limit, others warn of potential drawbacks.

Rosemary Kind, chair of the Entelbucher Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain, expressed concerns that the law could affect the importation of puppies from certain breeds due to limited genetic diversity in the UK. She noted that waiting until puppies are six months old could significantly raise costs and create logistical challenges for breeders. "These are not large-scale puppy farms," Kind said. "They are small-scale breeders raising dogs in their homes. It's unreasonable to expect them to keep puppies for an additional six months." She is working with The Kennel Club to seek exemptions for specialist breed puppies.

Additionally, the law will prohibit the importation of dogs that have undergone ear cropping or tail docking, practices that are illegal in the UK. Danny Chambers, the Liberal Democrat MP who championed the law, pointed out the harmful consequences of these procedures. "Dogs that undergo ear cropping without anesthesia often develop behavioral problems, and the mutilation makes them appear aggressive to other dogs," Chambers said.

Earlier this year, Louise Nicholson Hume adopted a cane corso named Betty, who had been subjected to ear cropping and tail docking in Romania before being seized at Dover for being underage. "We were prepared for the reactions we'd get, but as long as Betty was happy, we didn't mind," Hume shared. "She was terrified at first, but now shes an eager learner and has truly become a part of our family."

Despite the success of the law, some groups argue that it may have negative implications. Linda Demetriou, who runs the charity Stronger Together Animal Rescue, fears that the ban will prevent the rehoming of abused dogs that have already been mutilated abroad. "These dogs will be left in cages because we wont be able to place them in loving homes," Demetriou said, calling for exemptions for rescue dogs.

However, animal welfare organizations worry that creating exemptions would be exploited by smugglers, undermining the effectiveness of the law. David Bowles from the RSPCA emphasized that without the option to import mutilated dogs, smugglers could no longer use the excuse that their dogs were brought in legally. "By halting imports of these dogs, it will greatly assist our efforts to enforce the ban," Bowles said.

The government is collaborating with devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales to finalize the legislation, with any exemptions being considered in future regulations. Meanwhile, for Pip and Squeak, there is a happy conclusion: both puppies were rehomed and renamed Elsa and Skye. Their new owners report that they are settling in well and thriving in their new homes.

Author: Logan Reeves