French bulldogs and pugs top the list of dog breeds vets most commonly suspected of being imported illegally into the UK, according to statistics released by the British Veterinary Association one year on from the launch of its #BreedtoBreathe campaign reveal.
BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey shows that three in 10 (29%) of companion animal vets surveyed last year had seen puppies that they were concerned had been brought into the country illegally. By far the most commonly mentioned breed was the French bulldog (54%) alongside pugs (24%) and designer crossbreeds (18%). Dachshunds, Chihuahuas, shih tzus and poodle crosses were other breeds mentioned by vets.
The statistics mirror findings from Dogs Trust’s latest puppy smuggling investigation, which reported that 63% of puppies intercepted at the British border as part of the Puppy Pilot scheme between December 2015 and July 2018 were French bulldogs, pugs, bulldogs and dachshunds.
