Gene Hill, the esteemed American author renowned for his nature-centric literary works, eloquently expressed the profound bond between humans and dogs, stating, “Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he’s owned a dog. A dog can show you more honest affection with a fl77ick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes.” Inspired by these heartfelt sentiments, Virendra Sharma, Member of Parliament representing Ealing Southall in the United Kingdom, was moved to wholeheartedly endorse the efforts of the Welfare Charity Dogs Trust in combating the scourge of puppy smuggling within the UK.
The focal event transpired within the esteemed chambers of the House of Commons, commemorating over a decade of concerted charitable endeavors aimed at eradicating puppy smuggling. This initiative stemmed from the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets) Bill, meticulously tabled by Selaine Saxby, Conservative MP for North Devon, with the explicit aim of addressing the existing regulatory gaps facilitating the unchecked proliferation of the puppy smuggling trade.
There are a significant number of pets imported into the UK every year, with 320,000 brought in under the Pet Travel Scheme, and 44,000 as commercial imports last year.
According to Paula Boyden, veterinary director at Dogs Trust, “Dogs Trust has been campaigning for tougher laws around the illegal importation of dogs for over 10 years, during which time we have cared for more than 3,000 puppies caught up in this abhorrent trade.”
During the proceedings, representatives from Dogs Trust elucidated the groundbreaking Puppy Pilot scheme, inaugurated in 2015, which seeks to intercept illicitly imported puppies and provide them with essential care and rehabilitation until they are placed in nurturing homes. Remarkably, Dogs Trust has tendered to the needs of over 3,100 unlawfully imported puppies, whose potential sale to unsuspecting individuals could have yielded illicit profits exceeding £4.5 million for their unscrupulous importers.
Furthermore, discussions ensued regarding the recent ‘Tragic Tales & The Decade of Delay’ campaign, featuring poignant real-life narratives of dogs rescued through the Puppy Pilot initiative. This advocacy drive implores the government to enact legislation that addresses various facets of the puppy smuggling trade, including increasing the minimum age for imported puppies to six months, prohibiting non-commercial importation, banning the commercial movement of pregnant dogs, forbidding the import and sale of dogs subjected to cosmetic alterations such as ear cropping and tail docking, imposing penalties for puppy smuggling, and imposing restrictions on the number of pets transported via vehicles.
In a show of unwavering solidarity, MP Virendra Sharma pledged unequivocal support for Dogs Trust’s campaign to combat puppy smuggling, affirming, “I am delighted to lend my support to Dogs Trust in their noble endeavor to eliminate puppy smuggling, and I earnestly anticipate the expeditious enactment of legislation to address this pressing issue.”
Claire Calder, head of public affairs at Dogs Trust, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming parliamentary support garnered at the event, fervently advocating for the closure of regulatory loopholes perpetuating this inhumane trade. With steadfast commitment from MPs across the political spectrum, Dogs Trust aims to realise its decade-long campaign to end puppy smuggling, thereby championing the cause of dog welfare throughout the UK. Dogs Trust, as the preeminent dog welfare organisation in the UK, routinely tends to the needs of approximately 14,000 dogs across its extensive network of 21 rehoming centers, striving to prevent behavioral issues that may culminate in abandonment. The ultimate aspiration of Dogs Trust is to foster a society wherein dogs can lead fulfilling lives, free from unnecessary harm. George Vest, distinguished US Senator, encapsulated this sentiment aptly, asserting, “The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.”
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