Heavily pregnant bitches are being illegally shipped into the UK as well as puppies that have had their tails and ears docked using vodka and scissors.

Underage puppies are being smuggled at only four weeks old, while other dogs have endured horrendous urine burns and skin infections after travelling in shocking conditions.

The level of suffering to meet the demand of gifting festive puppies is being highlighted by the Dogs Trust today after nearly 100 animals were seized during a covert operation at the UK border.

Yet animal welfare campaigners warn the seizures are the tip of the iceberg as devious importers try to profit from the Christmas trade.

The Dogs Trust – which famously coined the slogan, “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas” – is today calling on the Government to improve “failing legislation” with Brexit providing a “crucial opportunity” to carry out a long overdue review.

In 2016, 275,876 dogs came into Great Britain, more than treble the recorded number in 2011.

After exposing the horrors faced by dogs for the British market, especially among high profile, fashionable breeds, earlier this summer, the charity is issuing urgent advice to stop people being tricked into buying puppies which have been illegally imported from Central and Eastern Europe.

What worries animal welfare campaigners is the lack of public awareness over the levels of a suffering, with only 48 per cent admitting they would be concerned if their puppy was illegally imported, while up to a third confessing they would buy a young dog online.

Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director for Dogs Trust, said: “While many people’s purchases may be well intended, unbeknown to them the internet has become a thriving marketplace for advertising illegally imported puppies.

“Buying an illegally imported puppy could potentially cost well-meaning but unsuspecting families thousands of pounds in quarantine and vet bills and emotional heartache for the family if the puppy falls ill or worse, dies.

“We continue to be astounded at the lengths these deceptive breeders and dealers will go to in order to illegally import puppies to make huge profits with complete disregard for their wellbeing. 

“The cases we are seeing on a weekly basis are horrific and need to stop.”

Among the cases uncovered recently by the charity have been:

• Three pregnant French Bulldogs seized as importers find sinister new ways to get them through the border undetected

• Three English bulldogs suffering with urine burns and severe skin infections after travelling in poor conditions

• Three French bulldogs transported so young that they could fit in a small dog bowl

• A litter of chow chows illegally imported through the border at just four weeks old – 11 weeks under the minimum age

• Seven dogs with open infected wounds after having their ears and tails illegally cropped and docked

The Dogs Trust veterinary director added: “Illegally importing puppies needs to end now. 

“We urge the Government to improve this failing legislation. 

“This includes increasing penalties for those illegally importing puppies and a significant overhaul of the pet checking system at ports.

“Members of the public have a crucial role to play too. 

“We’re seeing a huge spike in online advertising and ‘trend buying’ of fashionable breeds with pugs, dachshunds, English and French bulldogs making up 82 per cent of those admitted to Dogs Trust through our Puppy Pilot.

“We urge anyone who is considering getting a puppy this Christmas or beyond, to make sure a dog is for life not just for Christmas. 

“Please do think about the breed and your lifestyle as well as following buyer advice to help limit the chances your puppy is a smuggled one.”

Earlier this year, the Dogs Trust carried out the third of its investigations since the 2012 Pet Travel Scheme came into force and discovered barely-weaned puppies travelling 1,000-miles across Europe; a Lithuanian vet selling sedatives to allow puppies to be smuggled into the UK and Eastern European vets being filmed falsifying pet passports and rabies vaccination records.

Dogs Trust ‘Buyer advice’

Do

• Ask to see the mother dog and pup together

• Visit your new pup more than once

• Get all your pup’s paperwork before going home

• Walk away if you are at all unsure

• Report suspicious sellers or breeder

• Take your puppy to your own vet for a health check immediately

Don’t

• Meet anywhere that is not the puppy’s home

• Buy a puppy from anyone who can supply various breeds on demands

• Buy a puppy that looks too young/small or underweight

• Feel pressure to buy a puppy

• Buy a pup that you suspect has been illegally imported