There has been a growing trend of importing dogs in the UK from overseas. This can caused the increase in illegal puppy smuggling has also increased. This is also causing health issues in the pets. This had led the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (RSPCA) to issue an urgent warning to the pet enthusiasts in the UK.
Various investigations were done by The Independent, the RSPCA and the BBC. They found that those dogs might display problems with their behaviour. These dogs might carry transmissible illnesses having been transported under awful circumstances.
In an article in The Independent, an RSPCA representative said, “We’re seeing more imported dogs with issues ranging from exotic illnesses to anxiety and aggression.”
⚠️ Alarming Disease Cases on the Rise
Among all these developments, the most worrying is the detection of Brucella canis which is an extremely dangerous infection in dogs which can eventually contaminate the human body as well. As per BBC report, the UK had its first verified dog to human transmission from the infected dog which got here from Belarus.
According to the BBC “The foster carer got the disease, and the dog was put down.” This particular instance also highlights the high risk of importing dogs without sufficient health screenings.
The unchecked imports are also the reason for other diseases like rabies, heartworm, and leishmaniasis to reappear which were already eliminated from the UK.
🧠 Behavioural and Legal Red Flags
Along with the risks to health, UK vets and the RSPCA also note upsurge in the behavioural issue in imported dogs. Most of them were bred in subpar environments including unlicensed puppy farms.
According to the MSN report, owners may not be adequately ready to cope with anxiety caused due to separation, violence driven by fear, or interaction disorders which can occur post early trauma.
Mutilated dogs especially with trimmed ears are illegal in the UK. But there are many cases of such dogs being imported in the UK. According to the RSPCA, ear cropping incidents rose by 620% from 2015 to 2020.
Dogs have long served the UK in remarkable ways—including in wartime. Read more about the history of British war dogs and their heroic roles from WWI to Afghanistan.
📜 What the RSPCA Is Calling For
To speed up the animal welfare (importing of Cats, Dogs and Ferrets) bill process, the RSPCA is requesting the UK government. This bill will help in :
- Banning the import of any dogs with mutilations such as cropped ears.
- To raise the age of the dogs to 6 months to be imported to reduce the puppy trade.
- Screening should be compulsory before any pets are allowed to come in the UK.
The charity also suggests the buyers adopt from legitimate UK shelters and try to avoid foreign breeders.
✅ What Pet Owners Can Do
The owners need to use the puppy contract when obtaining a new dog. This will help to protect the pet itself along with family members of owners and also the general public.
- Seek complete medical and immunisation certificates.
- Trying not to buy pets on social media or any online platforms.
- People should alert RSPCS about any dodgy breeders and vendors.
In a public release RSPCA said, “You might assume you are helping and rescuing a dog but in reality you might be assisting an illicit business.”
📣 Final Thoughts
Saving dogs from foreign places might attract a lot of potential pet owners but they should also consider the public health in their mind. They might also think about the welfare of the pets. Potential owners should be aware and make responsible decisions while adopting one.