The EU must close the loopholes for illegal puppy traders now!

Every year, millions of dogs are needed to meet the demand across the EU to go to loving families. However, to meet this demand countless puppies are bred in deplorable conditions, taken from their mothers too early and transported across Europe to be sold online via classified ad sites and social media.

But now we have a once in a generation chance to end this. Right now the EU is developing a law that could end the illegal puppy trade in your country and across the EU, but time is running out to make it as strong as possible.

The new law is in its final stages of development, and courageous EU Parliamentarians have suggested strong amendments to improve the rather weak proposal, but there are some that want to stop the law altogether.

On 14th May the responsible AGRI Committee will vote on which of the hundreds of suggested amendments will go into the proposed law.

This is the last chance to ensure the strongest law possible to end the illegal puppy trade.

For the sake of all the dogs that suffer under the illegal trade, please encourage your Members of the European Parliament to vote in favour of the amendments which strengthen this law, and oppose those that will weaken it. You can truly help stop the illegal pet trade.

Send them your email now!

• To our honourable Members of the European Parliament

  Your voice in the upcoming committee vote on the proposed Regulation on dogs and cats and their traceability will decide if the numerous loopholes that allow illegal trading of dogs and cats will remain, or whether effective EU-wide measures will provide the solutions necessary for ending this cruel business!

  It is clear, that a legal lack of traceability of dogs and cats will continuously be exploited by informal breeders, traffickers and illegal sellers, and hinder the efficient enforcement of existing laws and potentially of this future regulation, if the regulation does not set comprehensive rules right from the start.

  Therefore, please use your power and ensure a legal, fair base across the EU for a safer trade for animals and consumers, built on responsible, traceable and accountable ownership.

  What is needed as a base?

  1. Identification and Registration must be mandatory for all dogs and cats, not only those who are officially intended to be traded. Illegal sellers often pretend to be private people while in fact they breed and trade commercially. This means that all dogs and cats must be microchipped and registered, so that they can all be traced back to those responsible for them. This will also help better address the abandonment and uncontrolled reproduction of animals, and prevent subsequent burden for shelters. The cost of registration in a database of the animal with those responsible for its care is negligeable, also compared to the overall cost related to the keeping and care of a pet.
  2. Verification of an animal's registration onto the advertiser in the online trade, before an ad goes live. Consumers must be able to find those behind the animals they purchase, and it must be ensured that animals offered online, come from known sources.

     Technology is available and can do what the European Commission asks for, plus go one step further: Not only can software help verify that animals are duly registered to those offering them, but it can already do so before the offer even goes live. This way consumers will only see safe offers of registered animals, from traceable advertisers. And of course this will help ensure enforcement of the identification and registration duty.

  Since 2012, the European Parliament has been calling for EU-wide identification and registration, through several Resolutions. Meanwhile, the 2023 Eurobarometer showed that 74% of EU citizens want better protection for dogs and cats. It is now time to put in place the much-awaited measures that can mark the end of the illegal pet trade, and make the EU a better place for dogs and cats. I count on you to do what is right, for animals and consumers alike.

  Thank you very much for your attention.
  Yours sincerely