RSPCA warns certain dogs are 'ticking time bomb' that can carry disease risks
Buying or adopting a dog always comes with risks, namely around the canine's health and/or how likely they are to lash out or not take to training as well as the owner would hope.
There are also circumstances that can exacerbate these risks, and it turned out importing dogs into the UK is one of them, according to an animal charity, which is calling for stricter regulations on animal rescues doing just that.
The RSPCA has cited concerns about disease risks and behavioural issues, just as government statistics show that in 2023, 320,000 pets were brought into the UK under travel pet schemes and 44,000 entered as commercial imports.
RSPCA spokesman David Bowles compared the process to " Deliveroo for dogs" and called on the government to tighten regulations on animal rescues.
He told the BBC: "The RSPCA's major concern is these dogs are essentially ticking time bombs – coming over, not being health tested.
"Diseases are now coming in through these dogs. They're affecting not just the dogs that are being imported - they could also affect the dogs already in this country and their owners.
"They've almost set up a Deliveroo for dogs and that is a real problem."
Currently, rescue organisations in Scotland must be licensed, but there is no such rule for England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Just weeks ago, a bill that aims to stop animal smuggling and cruelty cleared the Commons with cross-party support. Legislation put forward by Liberal Democrat MP Dr Danny Chambers will reduce the number of animals for non-commercial entry into the UK, ban the import of puppies and kittens under six months old or heavily pregnant dogs and cats, and halt the import of dogs and cats who have been "mutilated," including having their ears docked.
The MP for Winchester's Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs , Cats and Ferrets) Bill was supported by the Government, and will now proceed to the House of Lords on its passage to becoming law.
"I've seen the devastating consequences of puppy smuggling," Dr Chambers said. "It's unimaginably cruel to separate puppies and kittens from their mothers at a very young age, and then bring them across borders in substandard conditions where they're then sold for maximum profit by unscrupulous traders who prioritise profit over welfare.
"Careful consideration has been given to setting these limits, balancing the need to disrupt illegal trade with minimising impact on genuine pet owners.
"To underpin this, only an owner, not an authorised person, will be permitted to sign and declare that the movement of a dog or cat is non-commercial."
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Mr Chambers criticised the influence of social media on the increased demand for dogs with docked ears, while a party colleague said one reason for the interest in dogs with cropped ears is "that a lot of influencers on Instagram and other social media platforms pose with these dogs or show they have these new dogs with cropped ears".
"Many people aren't aware that this is a mutilation," he pointed out.
"They think it's how the dogs' ears normally look, and it drives a demand for dogs that look like this."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
Seal pups released at Hastings after weeks of life-saving care
Two injured seal pups have been released back into the wild after eight weeks of life-saving care at an RSPCA wildlife and Hopscotch, both around five months old, were found underweight and suffering from injuries and parasites on the Sussex RSPCA said their condition was so serious they would not have survived without weeks of round-the-clock care, including being fed fish soup then later whole mackerel and herring, the pups were released at Hastings seafront. The seals were initially rescued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue before being transferred to the RSPCA's Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre near Smith, centre manager at Mallydams Wood, said: "Both seal pups required life-saving medical treatment to recover from the injuries to their flippers."They were also hand-fed four times a day to start by staff, until they learned to feed themselves."There was a point during their rehabilitation that we weren't sure if the pups would pull through, so their release was a particularly special moment for our team."
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- South Wales Guardian
Heston Blumenthal warns weight loss drugs will be bad for food industry
Blumenthal, who has been awarded seven Michelin stars over the course of his career, said of the injections: 'You still enjoy food, but it stops appetite. 'So what's going to happen is people are going to want smaller portions. 'Supermarkets are going to be hit massively. I even heard in the news that airplanes are going to save lots of money because of the weight loss,' he told Times Radio. He said he believes the issue is 'going to get much worse in the next six months'. He also told host Jane Mulkerrins he is taking Wegovy to combat the effects of his bipolar medication. 'I've put on so much weight,' he said. He said Wegovy is helping him lose weight, describing it as a 'paradox' given he is a restaurateur. Blumenthal, who presented Channel 4 shows Heston's Fantastical Food and Heston's Feasts, was sectioned following a manic episode and given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in November 2023. He has since spoken widely of learning to live with the condition, and was the subject of BBC documentary Heston: My Life With Bipolar, which was broadcast in June.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Leader Live
Heston Blumenthal warns weight loss drugs will be bad for food industry
Blumenthal, who has been awarded seven Michelin stars over the course of his career, said of the injections: 'You still enjoy food, but it stops appetite. 'So what's going to happen is people are going to want smaller portions. 'Supermarkets are going to be hit massively. I even heard in the news that airplanes are going to save lots of money because of the weight loss,' he told Times Radio. He said he believes the issue is 'going to get much worse in the next six months'. He also told host Jane Mulkerrins he is taking Wegovy to combat the effects of his bipolar medication. 'I've put on so much weight,' he said. He said Wegovy is helping him lose weight, describing it as a 'paradox' given he is a restaurateur. Blumenthal, who presented Channel 4 shows Heston's Fantastical Food and Heston's Feasts, was sectioned following a manic episode and given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in November 2023. He has since spoken widely of learning to live with the condition, and was the subject of BBC documentary Heston: My Life With Bipolar, which was broadcast in June.
