Is Rescuing Dogs from Overseas Practical?
Estimates suggest that annually in the UK thousands of rescue dogs from Europe – predominantly Romania – are imported as rescue pets; is this process safe and equitable for the animals involved?
There has been an increased trend of rescuing dogs and cats from foreign countries and transporting them into the UK, USA and Canada for adoption. Many attribute this popularity of adopting immigrant dogs or foreign-bred puppies to strict adoption rules and costly fees charged by UK rehoming charities; recent Government figures reveal this number skyrocketed from 152,075 importations under Pet Reavel scheme to 307,357 by 2018.
Following changes to UK quarantine regulations in 2012, rescue operations have seen an explosion. Fuelled by celebrities on social media and owners wanting a way of showing their humanity by giving homes to Mexican, Romanian or Spanish dogs or cats owners feel it more morally rewarding, honourable and exciting having brought one home; plus they can brag that they saved such animals!
British vets agree that sitting is hazardous. Recently (November 2019), the British Veterinary Association (BVA) made statements suggesting they can act as “trojan dogs”, spreading life-threatening diseases into society and are encouraging the Government to implement mandatory health checks as a result of these declarations.
Lucy’s Law” in the UK, designed to reduce puppy farming by restricting sales of puppies and kittens only to registered breeders and animal rehoming charities, could have unintended repercussions such as increasing import rescue animals trade as well as creating more charitable foundations.
As is often reported, illicit ventures are exploiting our desire to rescue dogs from abroad into a commercial enterprise; importers become pseudo rescue organizations importing and selling imported dogs under the pretext of rescue work while reaping financial gains through import/sale.
Situation is yet another example of animal love gone overboard with too many animal saviours setting up numerous small enterprises and charities in order to save dogs and cats from foreign streets.