OUR PROJECT TO BAN THE ILLEGAL TRADING OF PUPPIES

The purchase of purebred dogs: a myth to be debunked.

Eight million puppies are estimated to be trafficked every year in Europe to respond to the demand for purebred dogs. Italy, together with Spain and Germany, are the countries where this illegal trade is most prevalent, whereas the breeders are mostly located in eastern European countries. The desire to own a purebred dog is associated with a massive breeding activity with a view to making this “commodity” available in the market. The purchase of a dog is comparable to the purchase of any consumer good, which requires constant and immediate production and supply. A study conducted in 12 EU Member States in 2015 revealed that this trade generates revenues of €13 billion per year. Online transactions are responsible for the increased number of purchases of puppies made with a single click on websites and social media.

TO SUPPORT OUR PROJECT, PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION THAT WE HAVE ORGANISED WITH OUR PARTNER

• Banning the sale of puppies in shops.
•  Implementing a single national canine registry, instead of the inefficient system of regional registries potentially facilitating the trade.
• Introducing a national registry of dog breeders, in order to keep track of the breeding or importing of each animal for sale, and make it subject to taxation and traceable at all times.
• Increasing the age of puppies allowed to be sold from three to five months, in order to prevent the sale of infant puppies.
• Working with e-commerce portals in order to prevent the online sale of animals.

Our partner, FONDAZIONE CAVE CANEM, also: 

• develops behavioural rehabilitation protocols for dogs rescued from the illegal trade, so as to help them overcome their traumas and offer them the opportunity of a new life;
• provides support to the relevant authorities, so that dogs seized from the illegal trade can rapidly find homes for them without waiting for the outcome of any criminal proceedings.

OUR PROJECT
HAS BEEN DEVELOPED JOINTLY WITH

Watch the contribution by Claudio Marrucci, lieutenant colonel – CUFA Carabinieri (Italian enforcement police) on the illegal trading of puppies

GREEN IMPACT IS SUPPORTING
“PEDIGREE DREAM”,

The first docufilm investigating puppy trading in Europe,
directed by Jon Erik West – Coming Soon.

Italian legislation:

Under article 4 of Law no. 201 of 4 November 2010 on the trafficking of companion animals, those who introduce pet animals listed in Annex I, Part A, of Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 of the European Parliament and Council of 26 May 2003 into the national territory, without providing them with individual identification systems, the necessary health certificates, and any individual passport required, with a view to making profits for themselves or for others, on a repeated basis or through organised activities, will be punished with imprisonment for a period of between three months and one year, and with a €3,000 to €15,000 fine.