Illicit dog breeders and criminals are using dogs to line their pockets. Here’s what you can do if you suspect someone is breeding dogs illegally or operating a breeding business that exploits dogs for money.
Know the signs
They don’t have a licence – if someone is breeding dogs for profit, they’ll generally need a licence from the local authority. Anyone breeding and selling multiple litters without a licence should be treated with caution, particularly if they’re selling their pups for eye-watering prices. Find out more about dog breeding and the law here.
They have lots of ‘popular’ adult breeding dogs – puppy farmers still exist, but they’re just as likely to be operating in our towns and cities as they are from soulless sheds in the middle of the countryside. Today’s puppy farmers use networks of residential properties and co-ownership arrangements to churn out their low-welfare pups – and they could even be using this as a front for serious organised crime. Someone with a constant supply of new, young adult dogs – particularly male ‘stud’ dogs – belonging to popular breeds could well be operating an illicit dog breeding business right on your doorstep.
What’s ‘popular’?
Dog breeding trends are constantly changing and popular ‘looks’ are getting more and more extreme. These are some of the low-welfare designer trends we’re most concerned about at the moment:
- Exotic, pocket and XL bullies
- Hairless and fluffy Frenchies
- Big rope English and French Bulldogs
- Overdone English and French Bulldogs
- Dogs with novel coat colours, markings or eye colours
- Cropped and docked dogs
Remember: a breeder who genuinely cares about dogs will always prioritise health, welfare and temperament over looks.
They only care about looks – dodgy breeders and criminals who want to cash in on the latest trends are only concerned about aesthetics. Extreme looks almost always come at a cost for dog welfare, so if that’s all a breeder is bothered about, it’s a sure sign they’re only in it for the money.
They’re using or selling dog ‘fertility’ treatments – canine fertility clinics have boomed in recent years and there’s now at least several hundred across the UK. A lot of the canine fertility sector exists purely to help people breed from dogs who can’t physically mate or whelp because their body shape is so extreme. That’s not ethical and means c-sections – a major operation – are becoming the norm for some breeds. If that weren’t bad enough, some breeders and fertility clinics are performing procedures and treatments that should only be carried out by registered vets and vet nurses, which is putting dogs at considerable risk. Read more about canine fertility clinics here.
Gather information
If you are genuinely concerned that someone is exploiting dogs for money, it’s important to gather some information so the authorities can investigate. You should never put yourself at risk, but it can be useful to collect or write down things like:
● Times, dates and locations;
● Information about those involved, including descriptions of people and dogs;
● An account of what you’ve witnessed or why you’re concerned;
● Car registration numbers and/or vehicle descriptions;
● Any photos or video footage (do not put yourself at risk);
● Screenshots of any concerning adverts and/or links to social media pages or websites.
If in doubt, it’s best to include as much detail as you can.
Report your concerns
You can report concerns about UK dog breeding businesses to Naturewatch Foundation’s Animal Crime hotline. Our investigators look into every report they receive and will send viable information to law enforcement. Thanks to information we’ve received via our hotline from concerned members of the public like you, dogs have been rescued from terrible breeding situations and are now living the happy lives they deserve in loving homes.
You can also report your concerns directly to enforcement bodies. Different agencies are responsible for different things, so here’s a guide to who can help with what:
- Unlicensed dog breeding or selling – local authorities are responsible for issuing dog breeding and pet selling licences. If you think someone is breeding or selling dogs without a licence, you can contact your local council. Visit https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council to find your local authority’s contact details. NB: if you’re in Wales, you can report concerns directly to animallicensing@monmouthshire.gov.uk.
- Animal welfare – local authorities don’t have to enforce the Animal Welfare Acts, but they can and some do have dedicated officers, so your local authority might be able to help. Dog welfare concerns can also be reported to the RSPCA (England & Wales), Scottish SPCA (Scotland) or USPCA (Northern Ireland).
- Illegal veterinary services – if you suspect a canine fertility clinic is providing services they shouldn’t be, report your concerns to your local authority’s Trading Standards department. Visit https://www.gov.uk/find-local-trading-standards-office for details. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) cannot take action against unqualified people who perform acts of veterinary surgery, but you can report serious professional conduct concerns about registered vets and vet nurses involved in fertility clinics to them – find out more here.
- Undeclared income – if you suspect someone who operates a dog breeding business is deliberately avoiding paying their taxes, you can report them anonymously to HMRC at https://www.gov.uk/report-tax-fraud.
And remember…
The most important thing to remember is that the illicit puppy trade will only exist if people fund it. If you’re thinking about getting a dog, please don’t risk giving your money to illicit dog breeders and criminals. Find out more about getting a dog responsibly here. And finally, there’s lots of dogs and puppies in rescue centres waiting for a second chance; if you can, please support your local shelter first. Visit the Association of Dogs and Cats Home website to find your nearest rescue.
Take action against #CanineFertilityCowboys
If you’re concerned about canine fertility clinics, ask your MP to speak out for dogs today by sending them an email – it only takes a minute and could make a world of difference.
