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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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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.