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Illegal puppy selling increased post-pandemic, research reveals
Concerning puppy selling trends have increased post-pandemic.
Research shows more underage puppies being imported.

A study has revealed that, rather than returning to pre-pandemic levels, concerning puppy selling trends have increased post-pandemic.

The research from Royal Veterinary College (RVC) compared puppies bought aged under 16 weeks from private sellers between 23 March 2021- 31 December 2021 with those bought in the same date ranges in 2019 and 2020.

The results showed an increase of puppies sold with a passport beyond peak-pandemic levels, with more than one in ten puppies sold with a passport in 2021. In addition, more puppies sold with a passport were under the age of 13 weeks.

The minimum age of imported puppies is 15 weeks, so this indicates an increase of illegal importations to the UK, or use of loopholes, between 2019-2021.

The findings also revealed that buyers of puppies were less likely to view their puppy in person before purchasing, instead viewing puppies via video calls, recordings or photographs. They were also less likely to collect their puppy from the breeder’s property.

This is despite the introduction of Lucy’s Law into English legislation in 2019, which makes it illegal to sell a puppy away from the place it was born.

The research also identified a new trend, in that buyers were less likely to seek a breed or crossbreed based on them being perceived to have good health compared to 2019 or 2020 buyers. Purchase prices had also not returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, with one in four owners in 2021 paying between £2,000-£2,999 for a puppy compared to one in fifty in 2019.

These purchasing behaviours may leave owners vulnerable to purchases from illegitimate breeders and dealers, including puppies sourced from illegal importation or puppy farms.

Dr Rowena Packer, lecturer in companion animal behaviour and welfare science at the RVC, said: “Measures to improve puppy buying include continuing efforts to raise awareness and change the behaviour of prospective puppy buyers, but also legislative change, including raising the minimum age of dogs at importation, to prevent the greatest harms.”

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.