Five puppies discovered at border control – driver without papers!

Five puppies discovered at border control – driver without papers!

During a check at the Austrian border in the Rottal-Inn district, five young Golden Retriever puppies were discovered that had been transported under questionable circumstances. The driver, a 35-year-old, appeared nervous during the check, which made the border police suspicious. The puppies were found in a transport box in the trunk, but without the necessary documents to enter the country via Simbach am Inn. He is now being investigated for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The animals, about six weeks old, were taken to a veterinary office where they are being cared for. The trade in puppies is booming because high profits can be made, explains the Donaukurier.

Unfortunately, this incident is just a small piece of the puzzle in a much larger problem. The issue of illegal puppy trade has increased dramatically in recent years. According to the Association Office, a total of 369 illegally traded animals were discovered in Germany in the first half of 2025, including 315 dogs and 54 cats. The focus of these activities was mainly in Bavaria, where 80 puppies were confiscated in 16 operations. However, the number of unreported cases of illegal animals is estimated to be significantly higher.

Plans to regulate the dog market

In view of these worrying developments, on June 19, 2025, the European Parliament decided on mandatory identification and registration of all dogs and cats. The aim of this measure is to curb illegal trade and significantly strengthen animal protection. According to the Tagesschau, around 60 percent of dogs are bought online, which makes control difficult. The ongoing demand for dogs in the EU is close to six million per year, indicating insufficient coverage from reputable breeders.

A central part of the new regulations is the introduction of a chip requirement and the registration of all dogs and cats in an EU-compatible database. These measures are intended to close the loopholes available to illegal traders. This is particularly important as many of these traffickers use forged documents and often breed and transport the animals in appalling conditions.

The challenges of animal protection

The animal protection organization PETA Germany points out that many of the puppies come from dubious breeding farms in Eastern Europe and third countries. The links between these breeding farms and large dog dealers are alarming. In addition, Jana Hoger from PETA suggested completely banning online trading by private traders in order to improve the situation.

As part of the planned legislation, a ban on the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops is also being discussed. The trilogue discussions between the EU Commission, member states and the EU Parliament have already begun. However, there are concerns that this could jeopardize animal welfare standards for small breeders.

The current situation surrounding the puppy trade highlights how important it is to take action against this illegal trade through both stricter regulations and better consumer education. Because the little four-legged friends have the right to a loving and safe home.