4 July 2025 – This week, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS, with support from Animal Friends Insurance, has begun a two-week takeover at Westminster Underground Tube Station as it launches a new campaign to back Danny Chambers MP’s Bill to crackdown on puppy smuggling.

Over the last decade the population of dogs in the UK has grown year after year (a 12.5% increase, equivalent to 1.5 million more dogs  between 2023-2024 alone^[1]). Sadly, unscrupulous breeders have taken advantage of our love of dogs to create a burgeoning puppy smuggling trade.

Bred in appalling conditions, puppies are often subjected to mutilations like ear cropping, which is illegal in the UK, torn away from their mothers far too young and made to endure cross-border journeys up to 33 hours as they travel to unsuspecting new families. Travelling at such a young age poses not only a risk to the individual puppy as they are unlikely to have been vaccinated, but also to the 13.5 million dogs living in the UK^[2] due to the potential spread of illnesses like parvovirus, brucella and giardia. Pregnant dogs are also being made to suffer arduous journeys in order to give birth to their puppies here in the UK and avoid the travel restrictions associated with the movement of young dogs. However, Danny Chambers’ Bill seeks to close these loopholes and crackdown on this appalling exploitation.  

Appearing on escalators, walls and ticket gateways, FOUR PAWS UK’s campaign tells 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.

Sonul Badiani-Hamment, FOUR PAWS UK Country Director says:

“Underage, sedated and exhausted; these are not 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. As a nation of animal lovers, we now have a vital opportunity to effect change and crackdown on puppy smuggling, by moving swiftly to support Danny Chambers MP’s Puppy Smuggling Bill in Parliament. With a crucial vote set for 4 July in the House of Commons, we hope to build the momentum needed to see this vital legislation progress swiftly to help bring an end to the UK’s role in this cruel trade and protect the welfare of thousands of defenceless animals.”

Today, the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill passed its final stages in the House of Commons and will now move on to the House of Lords before hopefully swiftly becoming law. This vital piece of legislation will introduce import restrictions that will significantly enhance welfare protections for animals caught up in the cross-border trade. Animals can’t speak for themselves, so, as a nation of animal lovers, we must be their voice. At FOUR PAWS, we’re campaigning for stronger legislation, rescuing animals from cruelty, and driving long-term change.

Designed by UP, the creative agency for charities, the campaign will run from 30 June – 14 July across escalators, ticket gateways, a digiwall and a megawall. 

Find out more about how you can support the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill by visiting WWW.FOUR-PAWS.ORG.UK/PUPPYSMUGGLING

_{[1] Dog population in the UK 2024| Statista}

_{[2] Dog facts, statistics and data: Dog Ownership in the UK (2025 Edition) | The Good Kennel Guide}