UK Parliament Passes Law to Combat Illegal Puppy and Kitten Smuggling
The UK Parliament has passed a new law aimed at tackling the illegal smuggling of puppies and kittens. Under the new legislation, the import age for puppies and kittens is raised to six months to help prevent underage animals from being brought into the country.
The law also bans the import of dogs with cropped ears or docked tails at any age, reinforcing the UK's existing ban on ear cropping.
Enforcement of the new measures will be led by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Seizures at Dover port in 2023, where 116 puppies and kittens were confiscated, highlighted the scale of underage animal imports.
The policy's goal is to disrupt the illegal trade by making older puppies less marketable, using the six-month threshold as a practical barrier. Further regulations and any exemptions will be decided at a later date, with devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales required to pass additional legislation before the measures come fully into effect.
The changes have drawn mixed reactions. Rescue groups such as Stronger Together urge exemptions for rescue dogs to avoid harming animals that have already been mutilated. However, concerns have been raised that such carve-outs could be exploited.
Breeders and breed clubs, including Rosemary Kind from the Entlebucher Mountain Dog Club, warn of potential unintended consequences and increased costs, calling for possible exemptions or alternatives.
The RSPCA emphasized that effective enforcement depends on stopping illegal imports and addressing excuses sometimes claimed by smugglers, such as last-week imports.
The charity Dogs Trust illustrated the positive impact of such measures by sharing the story of two rescued puppies, Pip and Squeak, later renamed Elsa and Skye, who were successfully rehomed.
