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Impact of Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe: Health Risks and Market Consequences

Explore the alarming findings of FOUR PAWS report 2013 on the illegal puppy trade in Europe, revealing health risks, market manipulation, and links to organised crime. Learn about high-profit schemes, animal health issues, and consumer pitfalls. Discover the dark side of the sprawling illegal puppy trade network across EU countries and its detrimental effects.

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Impact of Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe: Health Risks and Market Consequences

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  1. IMPACT ON THE INTERNAL marketAND health RISKS of illegal breed and trade of puppies in EUROPEFOUR PAWS report 2013Lunch debate, European Parliament, 26th, November 2013Mag. Irina FronescuFOUR PAWS International, Vienna

  2. THE INVESTIGATION • Starting point: FOUR PAWS campaign against illegal puppy trade • Goal: Identifying EU trade links and networks with harmful or illegal practices • Method: Visits of approximately 50 locations and interviews with dog traders and retailers • Result: EUwide puppy trade out of control Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  3. euPuppytrade links Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  4. Average sellingprices in selected Member states Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  5. eupuppyproduction (e.G. HU) Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  6. Production IN FIGURES (i) Puppy production countries: Hungary, Slovakia (focus reports), Czech Republic, Poland, Romania > retailer (1) in HU: a) keeping capacity of 300 dogs in a gathering facility b) delivers 400-800 puppies per month to Italian pet shops Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  7. Production IN FIGURES (ii) > retailer (2) in HU: a) collection capacity of 500 dogs per day b) delivery collaboration with pet shops in The Netherlands c) replacement of transponders > presumably collaboration with organised crime Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  8. exportprofit (HU-DE (HH)) Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  9. distributION(NL TO DivERSESELLingpoints) Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  10. Distribution TO OTHER Member States (i) Overview • Hungary, Slovakia et al.: production countries • The Netherlandsand Romania: transit countries • Austria, Belgium, Germany andItaly: mainrecipients Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  11. Distribution TO OTHER Member States (ii) Examples • A distributor in The Netherlands • ownkenneland 60 importeddogs in their personal yard • resellstoBelgium, France and Germany withrenewedpapersandreimplantedtransponders • A distributor in Romania • Romanian veterinarian inquired by Italian police • imports from Hungary for Romanian pet shops and exports to Italy • tax evasion, health risks, no vaccination Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  12. Result MARKET (I) • High market prices in the main distribution countries generate high profits and create a win-win situation for breeders, traders, distributors and involved veterinarians • Puppy trade operations have developed to an industrial level (up to 2.000 dogs per month from Hungary to Italy) Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  13. RESULT MARKET (II) • Faked documents, delivered by veterinarians • Traders try to improve their appearance, what makes it even more difficult to investigate (grey market) • Illegal Puppy Trade is often linked to organised crime Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  14. Animalhealth (I) Transport Only 15% of the animals had valid documents > 52% of the animals were sick > 34% of these sick animals were infected withendoparasites > 23% with parvovirosis > 17% with fungal infections > 10% with distemper (2008 ATA) Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  15. Animalhealth (ii) Online Trade • 20% mortality rate bought via internet under the age of six months • 12% serioushealthproblems while • 94%, boughtdirectlyfromserious breeders are in good health (UK Kennel Club, August 2013) Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  16. Animalhealth (ii) Rabies • Recentlytwo cases of rabies in The Netherlands by a puppy transport fromBulgaria • Veterinarianswarn about the high risk of thiszoonosis of importedEasternEuropeanpuppies (The Times, October 2013) Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  17. consumercomplaints (I) Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  18. consumercomplaints(II)countryoforigin: unknown Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  19. Online TRADE COLLABORATIONS (1) One month action by FOUR PAWS to get data by 12 createdfakepuppyadvertisments • FOUR PAWS and „willhaben.at“ online action (AT) • 14.600 clicks • 530 directrequests • Lowestprice registered mostclicks Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  20. WEAK POINTS FOR THE CONSUMERS • Missing contracts of sale and bills • Missing or incorrect transponders • Fake EU pet passports • High veterinary costs (in case of sickness or death) • Difficulties of tracing dogs and sellers Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  21. LOOPHOLES FOR THE SELLERS • Poor enforcement of national legislation • Low and only financial penalties (mostly only administrative fines) • Easy tax evasion Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  22. FIRST LEGAL CASES • Luxemburg 10 October 2013, next trial expectedearly 2014 • Austria 28 November 2013 charges: commercial seriousfraud, crueltyagainstanimals, causing an epidemicrisk Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  23. CONCLUSION • The marketofPuppytradehasincreasedandprofessionalised • The marketisblackandgrey • The marketis out ofcontrol Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  24. CONCLUSION Needed: > Law enforcementandeffectivepenalties > Informed, alert andresponsibleconsumers > Mandatorylicensedbreeders > Alignmentswith online services Andfirstof all toenableresponsibleownershipweneedcaninetraceability via Identificationand Registration of all dogsin EU Member States Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

  25. Illegal Puppy Trade in Europe, 26th November 2013, Brussels, Irina Fronescu

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