Evaluation of the reporting tool 2024: FOUR PAWS received 190 reports of suspected cases of illegal puppy trade – the leaders are North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Hamburg. In 2024, the global animal protection organization FOUR PAWS received 190 reports of suspected cases of illegal puppy trafficking. Those affected and witnesses can use the tool to report cases of illegal trading in puppies. Around 38 percent of all reported cases affected online trading. A particularly large number of reports came from North Rhine-Westphalia (24.21 percent of all reports), Bavaria (12.11 percent) and Baden-Württemberg (10 percent).
“The numerous emotional stories from those affected who reached us via our reporting tool in 2024, as they do every year, show once again the urgency of finally tackling this animal welfare problem: All online platforms must introduce a reliable verification requirement for animal sellers and only accept chipped and in allow animals registered in a pet registry to be advertised. This is the only way criminal traders can no longer hide behind the cloak of anonymity and continue to cause animal suffering. For this purpose, the introduction of a nationwide labeling and registration requirement for dogs and cats is essential,” says Saskia Dauter from the investigation and research team at FOUR PAWS Germany.
North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are the front runners
As in previous years, a particularly large number of cases were reported to FOUR PAWS in 2024 from North Rhine-Westphalia (46 cases), Bavaria (23 cases) and Baden-Württemberg (19 cases). “Behind every case reported to us there is unimaginable suffering for people and animals. In addition to the 190 reports of illegally traded puppies, there are many other animals that could often only be discovered and seized by chance or through the tireless efforts of animal rights activists. And even these are just the tip of the iceberg. The number of unreported cases is immense,” says Saskia Dauter from FOUR PAWS.
24 illegally traded animals rescued by FOUR PAWS
In collaboration with the relevant authorities, FOUR PAWS was able to save a total of 23 puppies and one mother in 2024. In some cases, reports about the reporting tool contained valuable information that could contribute to a successful rescue. According to animal rights activists' experience, the illegal business with small purebred puppies such as French bulldogs, Pomeranians or Yorkshire terriers appears to be particularly lucrative.
Illegal puppy trade: A problem in Germany and the EU
Not only in Germany, but throughout Europe, the demand for dogs has continued to rise in recent years. A FOUR PAWS report on the illegal puppy trade in Europe published in 2024 shows that almost six million dogs would be needed annually to meet demand in the EU – almost a million of them in Germany. According to FOUR PAWS, no legal or verifiable sources could be identified for an alarming 79 percent of dogs requested annually in the EU. In Germany the situation is even more precarious: no clear origin could be proven for 84 percent (in numbers: 770,000) of the animals.