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Scotland cracks down on puppy farmers
puppies
"Unfortunately, the puppy trade is big business in Scotland, with thousands of dogs being brought into the country each year".
Operation Delphin aims to tackle illegal trafficking

The Scottish SPCA is heading up a multi-agency operation to stop puppies being illegally trafficked into Scotland. For the first time, ferry firm Stena Line, Police Scotland, HMRC and several animal welfare charities are working together to tackle the problem.

Operation Delphin was prompted by a BBC investigation, which revealed Stena Line's Belfast to Cairnryan service was being used to traffic puppy farmed dogs into Scotland.

BBC's Panorama team covertly filmed puppies being handed over to Scottish puppy dealers, after being sourced from a puppy farm in Northern Ireland.

The head of the Scottish SPCA's special investigations unit, who cannot be identified due to his undercover work, said: "Unfortunately, the puppy trade is big business in Scotland, with thousands of dogs being brought into the country each year, from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in particular…

"We're acting on the information received to identify those operating in this cruel business."

Since the operation began, many dogs have been seized and a number of people have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal, he added.

Scottish SPCA investigators are working alongside Stena Line at Cairnryan Port, using new powers to stop and search vehicles it suspects of trafficking puppies illegally.

Stena Line says it would like to ban illegal puppy dealers from using its service but this would require a change in the law.

Spokesperson Diana Poole told the BBC: "Stena Line has a close working relationship with both Dard and Defra and is working on a number of collaborative measures with the authorities to eradicate this illegal practice."

Britain's Puppy Dealers Exposed aired on BBC One this week and has prompted wider calls for a crackdown on the illegal puppy trade.

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.