KEIGHLEY MP Robbie Moore has joined forces with the UK’s largest dog welfare charity to call on the Government to stop the illegal importation of puppies into the UK.

With significant changes to pet travel now that we have reached the end of the transition period, Dogs Trust is urging MPs to help stop #PuppySmuggling by joining their new parliamentary Puppy Smuggling Taskforce.

Every year thousands of puppies are illegally imported into Great Britain to then be sold via online adverts to unsuspecting dog lovers, having been transported thousands of miles across Europe with little water, no food, exercise or toilet breaks.

Many suffer significant health problems and/or lifelong behavioural challenges, and some don’t survive, leaving their buyers helpless and heartbroken – as well as out of pocket.

For more than six years the charity has been calling on Government to end puppy smuggling after exposing this abhorrent trade through four undercover investigations.

Current legislation is not fit for purpose – every day of Government delay is causing more preventable suffering for innocent puppies.

Mr Moore said: “I am delighted to join the Puppy Smuggling Taskforce and support Dogs Trust in their efforts to raise awareness of and tackle the abhorrent puppy smuggling trade.

“At a time when demand for dogs in the UK has never been higher, I want to urge my constituents to really do their research before buying a puppy advertised for sale online, as it’s all too easy to be duped into buying a dog that’s been illegally smuggled into the country.

“Dogs Trust has been campaigning on this issue for many years now, and I’m proud to be able to say I’m part of the Puppy Smuggling Taskforce to help put a stop to puppies needlessly suffering at the hands of criminals.”

Dogs Trust is calling on the Government to: 1. Raise the minimum age for puppies to be imported into the UK to six months to help make them less desirable.* 2. Bring in tougher penalties for smuggling pups to deter deceitful sellers.

Only a handful of cases have ever been prosecuted and you can get a longer sentence for smuggling cigarettes than you can for smuggling puppies.

Go to dogstrust.org.uk/news-events/issues-campaigns/puppy-smuggling for more information.