Hamburg/Zwickau. On February 24, the Zwickau district court condemned three defendants in seven cases of illegal puppy trade for commercial fraud: Hajnalka G. was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for one year and six months, Lászlóné J.. All three penalties were suspended for probation. In addition, the accused must pay a total of 8,200 euros. According to the court, the three women from Hungary advertised at least seven dog puppies online under false information regarding age or breed and sold them in a Zwickau apartment. The court ruling welcomes four paws.
“Three criminals were held accountable before the district court in Zwickau. Illegal puppy trade is a serious crime and must also be treated and convicted in this way. The judiciary has set a clear sign with the judgment! In particular, the Veterinary Office Zwickau owes that the three women had to answer in court. The authority vehemently investigated information from the population, as well as reports from veterinarians and those affected.
In such cases, there must always be consistent punishments in such cases, but also to protect the unsuspecting buyers. In addition, it would also need better laws at EU level, such as a labeling and registration obligation for dogs and cats. This is the only way to track all breeders, sellers and owners and, if necessary, be held responsible, ”says Saskia Dauter, expert illegal puppy trade at four paws.
Mixed breed 'Balu' is only one of the victims in the illegal puppy trade
Katrin G. is one of the affected people who bought one of the puppies offered by the accused – offered as Chihuahua, 'Balu' turned out to be a mixed breed a short time later. The saleswoman had claimed to be ahead of Ms. G. that she had to give up the puppy due to a professional move. “Mixed feelings come up when I think of my 'Balu'. On the one hand, I am pleased that I can offer my dog a nice life, on the other hand, I have thoughts about where he comes from and what I supported with the purchase. It makes me angry that the accused Diana J. apparently simply continued to have been sold after the sale of 'Balu' and sold the next puppy a short time later, ”says Katrin G. from Zwickau.
Puppies were sold too young and under false facts
In 2021, the accused sold several puppies from an apartment building in Zwickau, which they had previously advertised on classified ad platforms. They called prices for 1,000 euros per puppy. The buyers were partially deceived over the supposed breeds and the age of the puppies. Mixed breed puppies were offered, for example, as a purebred dachshund or chihuahuas – presumably because more money can be earned with popular walkers in the illegal puppy trade. The puppies were sold without an EU petrol card, chip or a valid rabies vaccination. In at least one case, according to the Hungarian passport, the puppy was just four weeks old at the time of sale.
“These acts negotiated in Zwickau are not isolated cases. However, it is not too often that illegal puppy dealers are also adequately punished. It remains to be hoped that many other courts will follow the judgment in Zwickau in the future and that illegal puppy trade is recognized as what it is: a highly criminal business on the back of the animals, ”said Saskia Dauter of four paws.