Warning to people in Northamptonshire about risk of buying illegally imported puppies

People in Northamptonshire are being warned to make sure they make the appropriate check when buying a dog after the county Trading Standard's team recovered an illegally imported puppy.
Beagle puppy Chloe who was recovered by Trading Standards officers in NorthamptonshireBeagle puppy Chloe who was recovered by Trading Standards officers in Northamptonshire
Beagle puppy Chloe who was recovered by Trading Standards officers in Northamptonshire

The beagle puppy called Chloe was bought by a family from Brackley for £600 after they saw her on an advert online and viewed her in Birmingham

However, a vet discovered, unbeknown to her owners, she had been brought into the UK illegally puppy and was vaccinated for rabies at nine-weeks-old, not the required 12 weeks, so the vaccine could be ineffective.

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Chloe had to be quarantined for 21 days at the cost of the owner.

Beagle puppy Chloe who was recovered by Trading Standards officers in NorthamptonshireBeagle puppy Chloe who was recovered by Trading Standards officers in Northamptonshire
Beagle puppy Chloe who was recovered by Trading Standards officers in Northamptonshire

This case follows two previous reports in Northamptonshire of puppies being brought into the UK illegally since October, the first a Slovakian puppy and the second a dog from Moldova.

The main concern around illegally-imported puppies is that the dogs may not be properly vaccinated and rabies-free.

Trading Standards is now advising people once again to make sure they know where their new puppy has come from and has had a health check by a vet.

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County council cabinet member for public protection, strategic infrastructure and economic growth Councillor André Gonzalez de Savage said: “The main issue around illegally imported puppies is that we can’t guarantee that the dogs are properly vaccinated and rabies-free.

Beagle puppy Chloe who was recovered by Trading Standards officers in NorthamptonshireBeagle puppy Chloe who was recovered by Trading Standards officers in Northamptonshire
Beagle puppy Chloe who was recovered by Trading Standards officers in Northamptonshire

“These puppies are usually sold via adverts on the internet and in newspaper small ads. The dogs are accompanied by incomplete, false and forged documentation which lead buyers to believe they have been imported legally or bred in the UK.

“I would encourage anyone who is thinking of buying a puppy to read our advice carefully before adding a pet to your family.”