Parents in Scotland have been warned to be wary of buying puppies this Christmas as they could be unwittingly helping to fund gangsters. The Crown Office and Scottish SPCA said callous crooks involved in illegal puppy farms make millions of pounds every year by duping Scots with trafficked dogs – with the number expected to spike during the festive season.
They’ve now issued a stark joint warning to the public urging them not to be tempted into buying a puppy online from unlicensed sellers – where some designer breeds can fetch as much as £3000. The Record has previously revealed heartbreaking stories of pup mistreatment, with unsuspecting buyers taking home pets in dreadful health and often too sick to survive.
Kenny Donnelly, deputy crown agent for serious casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “We know that many parents may be considering buying a puppy for their children at this time of year as a Christmas present. We would urge people to carry out proper research and only purchase puppies from authorised breeders.
“Organised crime gangs continue to spread their malign influence into illegal puppy farming and use the huge profits they accrue from it to inflict widespread harm on communities throughout Scotland. These gangs are involved in the distribution of illegal drugs and money laundering.
“It is critically important that anyone considering buying a puppy do so from legitimate dog breeders in order to avoid unintentionally supporting this cruel and illegal trade which exploits pets and causes them terrible suffering. Consequently, we seriously urge people to rely on authorised breeders.”
The Scottish SPCA has responded to an astonishing 3340 calls connected to puppy farms in the last five years – an average of 668 a year. The animal welfare charity warned that many of the dogs bought from illegal farms suffer severe health problems and either cost their owners huge vet bills or die within the first few months at their new homes.
Scottish SPCA head of rescue and prevention Laura McIntyre said: “Although the low-welfare trade in puppies slowed due to the ending of lockdown and the cost-of-living crisis, we know that unscrupulous breeders are still out there targeting unsuspecting members of the public. We work in partnership through this multi-agency taskforce and our special investigations units undertake intelligence-led missions to target those involved with illegal puppy farming.
“Smuggled pups often look fine when they are purchased, but problems will begin to show at a later stage. Our message to the public is, do not buy online or from someone where it is impossible to verify where the dog is coming from.
“The only way this will disappear, and people stop profiting at the expense of these dogs, is if the public demands it stops. Anyone considering buying a puppy should research the potential breeder carefully, as unauthorised breeding can have a significant impact on the welfare of dogs.
“If you have purchased a puppy who shows any signs of illness or distress, take them to a vet immediately.” Dogs sold on Gumtree and other online marketplaces are often cheaper than reputable dealers but can still net more than £2000 per pup.
A criminal ring of Irish breeders is notorious for exploiting Scots with false stories claiming puppies on sale are well cared-for family pets. The Daily Record has documented how many of the pups, already extremely ill when prematurely snatched away from their mothers, have died within days of being sold.
We previously told how organised gangs of puppy farmers were using rented flats as shop fronts to lure in victims in Glasgow – with Irish couples even going as far as using babies and children to create the impression of the dogs coming from loving homes. In 2021 amid a surge in the illegal trade during Covid lockdown, Scots families were scammed out of some £15million by cruel puppy gangs.
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