The city of Herne is putting a quick end to the illegal puppy trade!

The city of Herne is putting a quick end to the illegal puppy trade!

There is good news in Cologne for all those who campaign for animal protection and the clarification of illegal practices. The city of Herne has achieved a decisive success in the fight against the illegal puppy trade. Only recently, the public order office and the police in the Wanne district seized three young “American Staffordshire” puppies that were brought across the border from Serbia with fake vaccination certificates. This clever scheme was uncovered by a tip from an animal protection organization, which ultimately led to intervention. Even though the trading couple who offered the animals for sale via social media were not arrested - there was an arrest warrant against them, which was canceled after paying a fine - they are now facing criminal proceedings for violations of the Animal Protection Act, the Animal Disease Protection Act and forgery of documents. The puppies themselves were taken to a quarantine facility; their future remains uncertain for the time being, as Radio Herne reports.

But how exactly does this illegal puppy trade work, which often puts both animals and buyers in a tragic situation? These traders often recruit their “goods” from Eastern European countries, where the conditions for the animals are catastrophic. Cute photos are then advertised on various online portals, but they obscure the gruesome reality of the animals' origins. According to Vier Pfoten, buyers cannot even be sure that the prices for supposedly breed-appropriate dogs correspond to the market prices. Instead, it is becoming increasingly common for these innocent animals to be offered at prices that compete with reputable breeders.

The shadow market for puppies

How does this secret market, which unfortunately consists of a network of propagators, drivers and traders, work? Criminal sellers often operate anonymously and under false identities. Classified ad portals have established themselves as the preferred marketplaces for this “puppy mafia”. There you will find advertisements whose information about the dogs is extremely sparse. The crux of it? After the purchase, many of these dealers simply disappear, making prosecution often impossible.

A prime example of the methods used in the illegal puppy trade is a case report about a family of four in the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel who sold over 180 puppies in just six months. Many of these animals later suffered from serious illnesses, even though they were considered healthy when sold. Here too, false ancestry and health certificates were used, and similar incidents were already known to the veterinary authorities. After a court search warrant, twelve dogs were seized and numerous health problems were discovered, as Vetline reports.

The intricacies and human tragedies behind the illegal puppy trade are horrifying. It is estimated that around 50,000 puppies are traded from different European countries every month, although the number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher. These circumstances highlight the challenges that non-governmental organizations and authorities face in the fight against these animal cruel practices.

Customers should therefore pay very close attention to where and from whom they buy their new companion. After all, buying a dog is not only a personal enrichment, but also a responsibility. It is all the more important that animal protection comes into focus and that the success of cities like Herne serves as a role model so that such practices will soon become a thing of the past.