Hamburg. In the first half of 2024, the animal welfare foundation FOUR PAWS has already registered more than 500 animals that were confiscated in Germany from the illegal puppy trade in dogs and cats. Looking at the past year, it is becoming apparent that the figures for 2023 will probably be exceeded this year. At the same time, the federal government is failing to create framework conditions with the amendment to the Animal Welfare Act that will really curb the illegal puppy trade.
In last year's FOUR PAWS report on the illegal puppy trade, the international animal welfare organisation counted 848 confiscated animals for the entire year (including 803 dogs and 45 cats). By the end of June 2024, 521 confiscated animals had already been (375 dogs and 146 cats) from the illegal trade. For comparison: In July 2023 there were “only” 362 dogs and 9 cats.
“The current figures are considerably higher than the comparable figures from last year and it can be assumed that the number will increase more sharply towards autumn and winter, as we have already observed in previous years,” says Karina Omelyanovskaya, campaigner at FOUR PAWS.
The closer Christmas comes, the more puppies are produced in breeding stations, mostly in Eastern Europe. This is because buying and giving away illegally traded animals further increases demand and results in the suffering of many animals. The puppies are often separated from their mothers, who are abused as breeding machines, far too early, carted across Europe, advertised on online platforms such as Quoka and, not infrequently, sold anonymously to interested parties, unvaccinated and terminally ill.
Deficient draft animal protection law
“Unfortunately, a turnaround is not in sight as long as the legal situation does not change. The current draft animal protection law has numerous shortcomings and loopholes, meaning that millions of animals – including puppies and kittens – will continue to be unprotected. We call on the members of the Bundestag to use the further political process to push for far-reaching improvements in the interests of animals,” stresses Omelyanovskaya.
For years, FOUR PAWS has been calling for mandatory identification and registration of dogs and cats, which also involves checking the data of the owners. In order to combat the anonymity of online trading and to ensure the traceability of traders, the registration of the animals must also be verified before an ad is published. At the same time, the identity of the sellers should be known and traceable. These would be the first important steps so that the illegal puppy trade can be severely restricted in the future. There must also be a comprehensive ban on offering animals for sale in public places.
Germany sadly bottom of the EU
Along with Poland and Estonia, Germany is one of the last countries in the EU where there is still no obligation to mark and register dogs and cats. That is why FOUR PAWS is calling on politicians to significantly tighten up the amendment to the Animal Welfare Act. This is the only way the police and authorities can really combat the illegal puppy trade and finally put an end to the suffering of animals.