Hundreds of thousands of pups may have been imported to the UK from eastern Europe to meet the demand for dogs in lockdown, the RSPCA has warned.
Animals as young as 15 weeks have travelled thousands of miles in the back of cars, vans and lorries. Commercial import licences given to foreign breeders by our Government in June, July and August soared to 12,000 from 5,000 over the same period last year.
Up to 150 dogs can be imported to the UK on one licence. Heavily pregnant dogs were also brought here and gave birth hours later.
The pups are sold and the mother driven back to eastern Europe to repeat the process. A new law in England bans the third party of sale of dogs, and requires owners to see the puppy at home with its mum.
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