On July 16th, 2012, Mr Andrea Zanoni, MEP (ALDE) addressed the following written parlamentary question to the European Commission:

In Italy the importation of puppy dogs and kittens from Eastern Europe has long been documented by several Italian animal rights organisations(1).

Despite the tightening of sanctions, the trafficking continues, at the expense of many puppies which, due to their young age, die because of inappropriate transport conditions or from viral diseases, which are lethal at that age.

In recent months alone the Italian police forces have intervened on several occasions, seizing hundreds of puppies that had been smuggled into Italy(2).

For example, in February 2012 as many as 479 puppies were seized in Palmanova (UD), in addition to 72 in Piacenza d'Adige (PD). All were from Hungary and of the breeds Saint Bernard, Great Dane, Labrador, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Pincher, Yorkshire Terrier, Spitz, Akita Inu, Husky, Shar Pei, amongst others.

The crimes most frequently committed were the forgery of documents (fake signatures of alleged veterinarians from other countries were found on EU passports), in addition to counterfeit vaccine certificates and obvious discrepancies between the animals' declared age and the real age of the puppies seized.

This business is an extremely lucrative one, the value of which is estimated in Italy to be around EUR 300 million a year. This illegal trade is therefore also having a negative impact on taxes, given that it is undeclared.

Given that the above illegal trafficking is mainly from countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, can the Commission answer the following questions:

Is it aware of this phenomenon in Italy?

What steps will it take to ensure that Member States enforce compliance with Regulation (EC) No 998/2003, paying more attention to the mandatory rabies vaccination?

Would it not be useful to set up a European database in order to register breeding farms — with a particular focus on the Member States mentioned above — with the specific role of verifying not only animal welfare but also animal traceability from a fiscal point of view, in accordance with the ‘EU Strategy for the Protection and Welfare of Animals

Source

Illegal puppy traffickers target Luxembourg

An article published 5th of July, 2013, by the Luxembourgian newspaper "Luxemburger Wort" (Wort.lu) states:

Luxembourg is being targeted by a puppy mafia, in which dogs are intensely reared in Eastern Europe and sold in the Grand Duchy, a Wort investigation has found.

The traffickers reportedly obtain the young from large-scale farms in Eastern Europe for 50 to 100 euros and then sell them on for up to five times this price.

The animals are taken from their mothers too early, making them more attractive to buyers. They are fed waste to save costs and kept in small cages. Documents, meanwhile, are forged and though the animals are not vaccinated, they are given shots of antibiotics and cortisone before being transported to make them look healthy.

Heavy illegal trafficking of puppies from Eastern Europe to Italy, with particular reference to Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Those that cannot be sold are killed. Despite these losses, the traffickers make up to 70,000 euros per van-load. And the industry as a whole is believed to be worth around 400 million euros per year in Europe alone.

While the market mainly targets the Netherlands and Belgium, during the last year the trade has grown in Luxembourg and animal lovers are urged to exercise caution when buying a puppy.

Traffickers have been spotted at Aldringen in the City centre, at the Glacis and several supermarket car parks selling puppies.

Anyone planning to buy a dog is urged to consider the following first:

Do not buy a puppy without seeing its mother;

Research the normal price of a dog like this. Trafficked dogs usually sell for between 500 and 700 euros;

Ask the seller about the dog's home environment;

Never accept the offer from a vendor to deliver to your home or conduct the sale in a car park.

Besides the poor welfare of the animals, many die within days of being purchased, the mass breeding and uncontrolled sale of puppies with falsified papers may result in the return of rabies to Europe as well as other genetic diseases.

Buying such an animal will not stop the trade. Indeed, it will only serve to sustain the cruel methods of puppy traffickers.

Furthermore, the illegal trade is connected with the trafficking of women and girls.