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Calls to tackle puppy smuggling before Brexit
"With Brexit around the corner this is an opportunity of a lifetime to put robust measures in place that protect dogs and the public."

Latest report confirms widespread abuse of pet travel laws 

The Dogs Trust is calling for urgent action to tackle puppy smuggling before Brexit, after a recent undercover investigation confirmed the scale of the problem.

According to the charity’s latest report, a network of corrupt breeders, dealers and vets openly admit to breaking the law to export puppies.

Sedated puppies were found hidden in their own faeces in cramped conditions, forced to travel over 1,000 miles in 30 hours with little water and no toilet breaks. Heavily pregnant bitches were also caged in ‘sickening’ conditions for gruelling journeys, so that their puppies can be born in the UK.

One dealer said they had 300 bitches producing ‘designer’ puppies such as French bulldogs, some of which were then advertised and sold in the UK. Another dealer who claimed to evade border controls across Europe, said around 400 puppies a week - or 20,000 a year - are exported from his hometown and sold for an average price of £1,400.

The Dogs Trust said corrupt vets were also found to be falsifying passports and providing fake vaccination stamps. This allows puppies to travel when they are younger than the law allows, without rabies and other vaccinations. Some vets were also willing to supply sedatives to bring puppies across the UK border undetected, the report says.

New trade routes from Serbia were discovered. Evidence suggests underage puppies are being sold with EU microchips and pre-filled European passports, to be passed off as EU-bred animals for easier entry into EU countries.

Dogs Trust veterinary director Paula Boyden said: "With Brexit around the corner this is an opportunity of a lifetime to put robust measures in place that protect dogs and the public.

"We urge the government to take forward our clear recommendations to overhaul our pet travel legislation and increase the penalties for those caught fuelling this despicable trade."

The charity is urging people to write to their local MP asking them to take steps to end puppy smuggling.

 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.