Nearly 100 puppies rescued from illegal pet trade

  • Animals

Dozens of puppies being transported in filthy conditions and without proper food and water have been rescued from unscrupulous dealers trying to smuggle them into the UK to be sold illegally.

Two separate shipments totalling nearly 100 dogs including beagles, basset hounds, labradoodles and pomeranians were intercepted by border officials from lorries arriving on ferries into Holyhead port in Wales.

The puppies - aged around six or seven weeks old - were left in "deeply inappropriate" conditions in trucks that were not properly ventilated.

A baby labradoodle is rescued from one of the trucks. Credit: PA
The RSPCA said the puppies could have brought in tens of thousands of pounds for 'unscrupulous' traders. Credit: PA

In the second vehicle, an attempt had been made to conceal the transported puppies behind bales of wood shavings.

RSPCA officials called into the scene carried out veterinary inspections and decided that the puppies were well enough to travel onwards to Ireland, where they are being cared for.

A puppy gets a check-up. Credit: PA

Ian Briggs, of the RSPCA's special operations unit said that the illegal trade was fuelled by thousands of people who unknowingly buy farmed puppies each year.