Imported dogs ‘posing risk to UK’, RSPCA warns

Kath Stanczyszyn, Victoria Archer & Alan HaslamEngland Longform InvestigationsGetty ImagesThousands of overseas rescue canine are offered by way of social media each yearA main animal charity has referred to as for all canine rescue organisations to be licensed amid rising issues of behavioural points and illness dangers in imported pets.1000’s of canine are introduced into the UK every year, lots of that are being offered to house owners by way of web sites and social media posts with none important matching course of or evaluation.The BBC has spoken to quite a few house owners who’ve confronted severe difficulties with canine delivered to their door from international locations resembling Romania, Ukraine and North Macedonia, together with infectious ailments and aggressive behaviour.David Bowles, spokesman for the RSPCA, described the method as like a “Deliveroo for canine” and urged the federal government to think about stronger regulation for the sector.Presently, rescue organisations in Scotland have to be licensed, however there isn’t any such rule for England, Wales or Northern Eire.’Ticking time bomb’Secret recording as a part of a BBC investigation confirmed a number of rescues working by social media had been completely satisfied to offer a canine following a brief telephone name, completion of an utility type and a video verify of their property.Evaluation of 150 adverts on Fb and a serious on-line pet market confirmed the bulk had been providing rescue canine from Jap European international locations, with half suggesting canine could be delivered to an proprietor’s residence within the UK.Most are run by well-meaning canine lovers, following guidelines round transportation and importation paperwork.However the lack of preparation and vetting for house owners receiving beforehand unseen canine straight to their door is inflicting concern amongst consultants who say there isn’t any approach individuals can know the temperament of the animals.Getty ImagesThere are issues lengthy flights can have an effect on the temperament of imported canine”The RSPCA’s main concern is these canine are primarily ticking time bombs – coming over, not being well being examined,” Mr Bowles mentioned.”Ailments at the moment are coming in by these canine. They’re affecting not simply the canine which might be being imported, they may additionally have an effect on the canine already on this nation and their house owners.”They’ve virtually arrange a Deliveroo for canine and that could be a actual downside.”Rising instances of diseaseScientists have been monitoring Brucella canis, a uncommon illness that may be handed to people.Transmitted by a canine’s reproductive fluids, it could possibly current in people as a short-term fever with flu-like signs resembling aching muscle tissues however some might endure longer-term problems resembling bone and joint illness.Earlier than 2020 there have been three identified optimistic instances in canine within the UK, however testing has elevated and in 2024, 333 instances had been being investigated, with at the least one occasion of it being contracted by a canine proprietor.Trudy Cain from Alfreton, Derbyshire, found rescue canine Nola was Brucella-positive 4 months after she arrived from Romania.She now faces rising vet and insurance coverage payments and is nervous about Nola’s and her household’s well being, though she refused a vet’s provide to place her to sleep.Trudy Cain’s canine from Romania examined optimistic for the illness Brucella canis”My mind doesn’t compute having a canine that appears wholesome put to sleep,” she mentioned.”It simply breaks my coronary heart, it has been so onerous.”I needed to do a very good factor and now I really feel like I’ve executed a nasty factor.”Dr Stephen Woolley, a marketing consultant in tropical drugs and medical microbiology on the Royal Liverpool College Hospital, mentioned the danger of transmission from canine to individuals was “very low”, however described the illness as “under-studied and uncared for”.Many vets advocate {that a} canine that checks optimistic for the sickness must be put down, however there are additionally those that say it may be managed by taking precautions round disinfection.Buying and selling requirements raidSian Eager agreed to take a pregnant rescue canine from Ukraine and inside days of arriving Narla gave start to 11 puppies.However a number of weeks later, buying and selling requirements officers swooped on Sian’s Somerset residence and eliminated all 12 canine over issues they could have been imported with solid blood check paperwork.As a precaution towards rabies, Narla, her puppies and 19 canine belonging to different individuals had been quarantined in kennels.Sian was left in extreme ache after her rescue canine Narla attacked her After three weeks of investigations the canine had been freed, however when Narla returned residence her behaviour had modified dramatically and he or she attacked Sian and her 12-year-old son.”She was simply reactive in a approach she had by no means been earlier than, like she was an aggressive canine,” mentioned Sian.”I might been bitten down my arm, I used to be in a lot ache. The chunk went proper by to the muscle.”Sian KeenNarla was not the identical canine after popping out of quarantine, her proprietor saidThey felt that they had no alternative however to place Narla to sleep.”There was simply nothing we might do,” mentioned Sian. “Our intentions had been fully and completely for the proper causes. If I used to be in search of a canine now, I actually would not go to a rescue on-line.”The organisation that Sian had used, Paw Assist UK, based mostly in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, mentioned it deeply regretted the stress induced and added animal welfare and public security had been its highest priorities.It mentioned it had not been conscious paperwork had been solid and that they originated from a laboratory used on an emergency foundation following the outbreak of the warfare in Ukraine. Just one consignment arrived with false paperwork in 2022, it added, and that every one canine introduced in earlier than and since had had absolutely reputable paperwork.Calls made by the BBC’s Kath Stanczyszyn revealed a number of rescue organisations had been completely satisfied to instantly provide canine from abroad to her homeGovernment figures obtained by a Freedom Of Data request present 32,391 canine entered the UK in 2024 as business imports, which incorporates many rescue canine.Some UK-based rescue organisations mentioned the prevalence of canine coming into the UK and being positioned with house owners who couldn’t cope was placing further strain on the sector.Emma Shaffery, of Forest Canine Rescue in Worcestershire, mentioned: “We’re mainly having to mop up after rescues that are not stepping up and taking duty for his or her canine.”The charity takes in canine from the UK and overseas, however insists each new adopter meets the canine first. There’s then a cooling-off interval earlier than the brand new proprietor can take their canine residence.”It does blow my thoughts somewhat bit – you’ve got seen a video and some footage and actually you undertake the canine, the canine’s despatched over and it might be dropped in to you at three o’clock within the morning,” Emma mentioned.’Russian routlette’Dr Rowena Packer, a canine behaviour specialist on the Royal Veterinary School, mentioned she was nervous many house owners had been being paired with unsuitable canine.Ms Packer mentioned overseas rescue canine is perhaps traumatised from an extended journey to the UK and will additionally endure with adolescence trauma.”The scenario proper now’s we’ve got loads of actually well-meaning individuals within the UK participating in both adopting these canine or being a part of organisations that import them that basically need to assist,” she mentioned.”I feel it is a actually huge gamble as to what you are going to find yourself with as a result of with out clear details about a lot of the weather of that canine’s life and historical past, it should be troublesome to match you with that canine. So it’s a little bit Russian roulette right here.”Emma Shaffery mentioned the web canine ordering system “blows her thoughts”When requested by the BBC if there have been plans to introduce licensing for rescue organisations, the federal government didn’t remark particularly.A spokesperson for the Division for Atmosphere, Meals and Rural Affairs (Defra) mentioned animal rescue organisations “should meet statutory welfare necessities”.The spokesperson mentioned members of the general public might verify if a rescue was a member of the Affiliation of Canine and Cats Houses, which had “set clear requirements”.”The federal government is creating an overarching strategy to animal welfare,” they added.Rescue Roulette: Canine from Overseas is on iPlayer now and BBC One within the West and East Midlands at 20:30 BST on 28 July