Dogs Trust exposes puppy smuggling and Pet Passport flaws

Dogs

Health & Safety

•19 August 2025

The Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest charity dedicated to dog welfare and rehoming, has long uncovered the dark reality behind puppy smuggling and critical weaknesses in the UK’s Pet Passport scheme. Their investigations reveal how easily unscrupulous traders bypass laws designed to keep dogs and the public safe.

Legal Import of Dogs to the UK

For any dog entering the UK legally—whether returning pets or imported dogs—the Pet Passport scheme is mandatory. This scheme requires dogs to undergo rabies vaccinations, microchipping, worming, flea treatment, and antibody testing, among other health checks. The pet passport must include a serial number matching the dog's microchip.

These processes protect the UK from serious diseases such as rabies, eradicated in Britain but still present in parts of mainland Europe.

Exposing the Problem

Investigations by Dogs Trust have uncovered that certain European veterinary clinics in countries like Lithuania and Hungary frequently falsify pet passport documents. Such fraudulent paperwork bypasses vital health protocols, allowing young, unvaccinated, or untreated puppies to enter the UK.

Importantly, many puppies derive from mass breeding operations, commonly called puppy mills, which prioritise profit over animal welfare. Illegal imports thus fuel unethical breeding abroad while exposing UK pets and families to health risks.

How the Pet Passport Scheme is Exploited

The scheme's vulnerabilities include minimal border checks focused solely on paperwork, often without visual inspection of the dog. On multiple occasions, Dogs Trust successfully passed border checks using deliberately fake documentation and even a toy dog, demonstrating a critical flaw in border enforcement.

This lack of physical checks, alongside ready cooperation from unethical vets abroad, facilitates easy smuggling of dogs under sham documents.

Health and Welfare Risks

Unvaccinated puppies entering the country risk reintroducing rabies and other infectious diseases, endangering other animals and people. Additionally, they may carry untreated parasites.

The trade also causes suffering through poor breeding conditions, contributing to chronic health problems and behavioural issues in affected dogs.

Actions and Reforms

Following the Dogs Trust’s original 2014 report, the Pet Passport scheme rules saw some tightening, including laminated passports and inclusion of owner details. However, these measures did not sufficiently close loopholes or improve enforcement.

Dogs Trust’s ongoing campaigns helped pave the way for the recent Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill passed by the UK Parliament in July 2025. This legislation introduces stricter controls, including a ban on importing dogs under six months of age and improved welfare standards for imports.

Furthermore, the responsibility for policing dog imports is shifting from ferry and Eurotunnel operators to government agencies, aiming for more rigorous checks.

Responsible Purchasing and Ownership

If you’re considering getting a pedigree puppy, it’s crucial to find reputable breeders and avoid puppies offered at suspiciously low prices or from uncertain sources. Responsible ownership involves ensuring dogs come from healthy, ethical environments and have proper health documentation.

By supporting ethical breeding and adhering to import regulations, UK dog owners can help curb the illicit puppy trade and promote better welfare for all dogs.