Underage. Sedated. Exhausted.  

These aren’t the words anyone wants to use to describe their companion animal. Yet tragically this is the heartless reality for thousands of animals caught up in the cross-border puppy trade.    

These aren’t the words anyone wants to use to describe their companion animal. Yet tragically, this is the heartless reality for thousands of animals caught up in the cross-border puppy trade.

In the days leading up to a crucial vote in Parliament on 4 July, FOUR PAWS UK took over Westminster Underground Station to drive momentum to support the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill. Excitingly, the Bill successfully passed through the House of Commons and is currently awaiting its Second Reading in the House of Lords, meaning this vital legislation is one step closer to becoming law.  

But what does this Bill mean for animal welfare? The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill will: 

• Tackle the import of underage animals by prohibiting the import of puppies and kittens under six months old, reducing suffering and simplifying enforcement. 
• Ensure unnecessary mutilations are finally a thing of the past by prohibiting the import of mutilated dogs and cats for example those that have been declawed, had their tails docked or ears cropped. Simplifying enforcement of animal welfare standards in the UK. 
• Clamp down on the smuggling of puppies and kittens into the country disguised as family pets by limiting the number of dogs, cats and ferrets imported per vehicle (five) and per person (three) 
• Improve accountability by ensuring that dogs, cats and ferrets must be brought in by the owner or an authorised person.

Appearing on escalators, walls and ticket gateways, our campaign told the story of the horrific conditions puppies are made to endure on their journeys across Europe. Smuggled in the back of cars, like the eight-week-old Yorkshire Terrier puppy featured in the campaign- found with two others, all well below the legal age for transport to their unsuspecting new families - the cross-border puppy trade continues to thrive. 

Featuring a scannable QR code and appearing on our social media channels meant that over 25,000 people saw this unique campaign and hopefully joined our calls to #crackdown on puppy smuggling.  

One of the most striking assets in the campaign was a large billboard that imagined a world where animals had a voice in Parliament and could speak for themselves. Animals cannot speak for themselves, something we know all too well, but with this campaign, we called for the public and MPs to be their voice. 

Check out FOUR PAWS UK on Instagram to see more content or visit www.four-paws.org.uk/puppysmuggling.