Trading Standards warning after second illegally imported puppy is quarantined in Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire Council warns residents to be aware of illegal imports
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Buying or rehoming a cute puppy may seem a good idea and a welcome addition to a family, but Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team is warning residents to be aware of illegal imports.

Last week, officers had to quarantine an illegally imported puppy because it had not received a rabies vaccination before coming to the UK. The second time in four months they have had to take such action.

The puppy came from a country where rabies is a high risk of being present and therefore officers could not rule out the puppy being a carrier.

Central Bedfordshire Council warns residents to be aware of illegal importsCentral Bedfordshire Council warns residents to be aware of illegal imports
Central Bedfordshire Council warns residents to be aware of illegal imports

The new owners are liable for the unexpected additional costs to cover the quarantine fees.

Illegally imported puppies may not be properly vaccinated and rabies-free.

Puppies like this are regularly sold via online advert listings or social media platforms and may come accompanied with incomplete or false documentation which leads any buyers into believing they have been imported correctly or bred within the UK.

Trading Standards are urging anyone thinking of buying or rehoming a puppy to consider the advice on gov.uk before making any decision to buy. In addition, prospective buyers should also:

> Be cautious when looking to buy an imported dog. It is difficult for a buyer to know if the rabies vaccination information contained within the Pet Passport has been forged.

> View the puppy where it was bred and with its mother

> Never agree to have the puppy delivered to your home address or meet the seller in a car park for collection

> Ask to see all the documentation. This must clearly state the veterinary practice where the puppy injections were given.

Central Bedfordshire Council Executive Member for Community Services, Cllr Ian Dalgarno, said: “The UK has been a rabies free country for over a hundred years and every effort should be made to keep it that way, unfortunately puppies or other pets smuggled into the country may not have received an effective vaccination.

“Rabies is a fatal disease that can affect all mammals, including humans, cats, dogs, livestock and wildlife.

"It is important to quarantine any animal which hasn’t been vaccinated to monitor whether rabies is present or not and also prevent the risk of it spreading.”

“We would urge anyone who is looking to buy a puppy to follow the advice above to ensure you and your puppy get off to the very best start.”