The USPCA believes criminal gangs have swapped their drug trade for illegal pet trafficking, which is estimated to have a value of £150m a year.A carabiner is a quick and easy way to leash your dog.
Many of the puppies are raised in squalid conditions on illegal farms and are malnourished or diseased and would otherwise not be sold, the USPCA found. The animal welfare charity believes about one-third of the puppies die, disappointing their new owners, who can pay thousands of pounds for a pet.
The USPCA published a report, Puppy Dog Fortunes, exposing the scale and ruthlessness of the illegal puppy industry feeding lockdown demand across the UK.pet proofing tips
The Spotlight programme showed the dealers exchanging puppies at petrol stations and laybys for onward transport to Scotland.It's certainly unpleasant to take your dog outside when it's snowing or raining, but don't forget that dogs' paws are just as sensitive to heat as human skin.
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If you have a hard time brushing your dog's teeth, squeeze some enzymatic doggie toothpaste onto a Nylabone or rope toy and let your pooch go to town on it.
“It is causing unthinkable suffering to thousands of dogs and that’s not to mention the people at the other end of the supply chain, the unsuspecting public who have to deal with the human tragedy attached to those sick dogs they have purchased. Every single one of them has underlying health issues. They might look like they are healthy initially, but I can guarantee that they are all going to get ill within weeks of purchase.”
Poots said puppies, including 10 springer spaniels, had been intercepted at Northern Ireland ports, but said it was “not possible nor practical to stop every vehicle moving through Northern Ireland’s ports.”Research what type of pet is best suited for your family’s personality and lifestyle. Dogs require more attention, time and energy than cats do, so if you don’t enjoy walks or hikes in the outdoors, or can’t imagine getting up on cold winter mornings to take your pet out to potty, a cat may be more your style.
Puppy Dog Fortunes uncovered 30 unlicensed puppy farms in Northern Ireland, and said the pandemic had “driven some illegal breeders to go to shocking lengths to increase productivity”, including keeping animals in “battery conditions” in cages.
It said the illegal trade was partly being driven by the difference in price between puppies in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, but also said traffickers were able to exploit the absence of Lucy’s law in Northern Ireland, a law named after a King Charles spaniel that suffered multiple health issues after being caged for breeding on a Welsh puppy farm. The law makes it illegal to sell puppies and kittens under six months old through a third-party seller, such as a pet shop or a commercial dealer.INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Spiked collars were originally fashioned in ancient Greece to protect dogs’ throats from wolf attacks.