Submitted by Steve on 22:50, 16th Mar, 2016 | 0

Last August 25 Slovakian puppies were stopped at Guernsey Customs in an awful state on route to the UK.

Then in September the two people transporting them were in Guernsey Magistrate Court for animal cruelty and fraud to hear their verdicts.

A 59-year-old man from the Slovak Republic was found guilty of animal cruelty and fraud and fined a total of £2,500.  He was told that the fine must be paid from custody or he would serve the alternative of 14 days in prison, which he quickly paid.

To see the details please click here.

After their detention the 25 puppies were under the care of the GSPCA on instruction from the Guernsey States Vet Mr David Chamberlain.

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7 of the puppies under section 70 of the Animal Welfare Ordnance no longer belonged to the man from the Slovak Republic.

The other 18 were being detained at the GSPCA due to the fraudulent passports and their age being younger than stated.  That meant they had to have a period of isolation until they were vaccinated against rabies and held valid pet passports which for some due to their young age took over 2 months.

Many required a variety of treatments due to health problems from worms to eye problems, an infected ingrowing nail to dehydration on arrival.

Shortly after the court hearing the Slovak man left Guernsey and did not respond to any communication or try to make contact to find out about the puppies.  This meant after a period in detention at the GSPCA the 18 puppies were classed as abandoned and after nearly 3 months of care all of the 25 puppies were able to be rehomed.

With hundreds or enquiries and applications of offering the pups good homes it was no easy task for the team at the Animal Shelter.  Working chronologically through files of forms families were contacted and home visited whilst having the chance to meet the puppies and during the weeks in and around November all 25 found wonderful new homes.

During November and up until recently the puppies have been attending dog training classes at the GSPCA but since leaving the GSPCA in November it wasn't until last Saturday that most had the chance of a mass reunion.

Organised by GSPCA Welfare Manager Lorna Prince only a few of the puppies weren't able to attend Vazon on Saturday morning for a family get together.

From French Bulldogs to Dachshunds, Pugs to Cocker Spaniels the owners and the now young dogs had a fantastic morning playing on the beach.

Five of the GSPCA team went down to see them all, three of which had adopted puppies themselves.

Lorna Prince Welfare Manager said "We had more homes offered than we had dogs, some had applied for puppies before these guys came, so it was only fair they got them too."

"Taking care of them stretched us to our limits and staff cancelled days off because of the care they needed."

"Because they were at a critical learning stage, we had to bring trainers into the quarantine facilities, otherwise they would not have come out sociable."

Sarah Ozanne GSPCA staff member and adopter of puppy Frank said "It was such a lovely morning and all the puppies seemed to have so much fun."

"We have a Boxer at home too, and Frank is now part of the family although he has needed a major operation on his eyes."

"It was hard work when they first arrived and many of us that work night shifts were cleaning them past 10pm at night every night."

"It was certainly worth all the hard work to see them all hear today."

Sarah Creasey GSPCA Welfare and Education Officer and dog trainer said "It was lovely after they had all been rehomed seeing them come back to the GSPCA dog training classes and getting to know the owners."

"They all seemed to have a great time on the beach and it was so lovely to see them all."

Slovakian puppy reunion - there can be a happy ever after - please help support banning the illegal puppy...

Posted by GSPCA on Wednesday, 16 March 2016

Sheryl Carre GSPCA Animal Care Assistant and dog trainer said "It was wonderful to see so many of the puppies again."

"Having 25 puppies at the GSPCA really gave us a lot of extra cleaning in the kennels especially when they were in isolation but it is lovely to see them all so happy now."

Anna Paint Senior Animal Care Assistant said "When I met one of the French Bulldogs I fell in love with him."

"I've called him Baloo and he is a great member of the family."

"When the puppies first arrived they were cared for in our new building which certainly helped get use to the facilities."

"We all had a really nice time on the beach with over 20 of the puppies which was so lovely to see and we all hope they will come along to our fun dog show on the 15th May at our Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday."

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager "I couldn't make it to Vazon on Saturday but having talked to those that went and seeing the pictures it really warms the heart that we were instrumental in helping these 25 puppies from Slovakia which were headed to the UK."

"The story of these puppies has been talked about from Brussels to the Houses of Parliament and this case is just the tip of an iceberg of thousands being trafficked into the UK on a monthly basis."

"It is rare for us to have puppies for rehoming at the GSPCA so to have 25 really did test the team and it is so amazing that we have such a fantastic group of staff and volunteers at the Shelter."

"From 7am until 10pm at night during the first few weeks we were having to continually clean, feed and treat the pups and it was fantastic when we got the news that they could all be rehomed here in Guernsey."

 

 

 

"For anyone looking to adopt a dog from the GSPCA you need to complete an adoption questionnaire which can be seen on our website or picked up at the front desk, but we already have a long list of names of families and homes looking for dogs."

"A great way to support the work we do at the GSPCA is by becoming an Angel Pen Pal sponsor which is a way to donate each month to help the many animals in our care."

"There are many concerns about dogs and puppies being transported across Europe and further afield."

"The GSPCA is a member of the EU Dog and Cat Alliance and this case has been discussed with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Brussels as well as the concerns and challenges that face dogs and cats across the EU including Puppy Smuggling across Europe."

"The Dogs Trust have written a report about the Puppy Smuggling Trade and only a few months ago the Express reported on Eastern European gangs smuggling dogs into the UK."

"Our Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday is on the 15th May this year and we are hoping to see many of the puppies come along and take part in the fun dog show."

"We have had an amazing response for donations towards the puppies care and offer of homes and a huge thank you to every single person that helped in every way."

To see the Express article please click here. 

The RSPCA have also been doing a lot to help stop the illegal puppy trade and to find out more please click here. 

Here is a summary of the key actions from the Dogs Trust on-the-ground investigation work -

• Successfully smuggled a fake dog without a visual check at British borders in three out of four attempts

• Filmed three breeders in Lithuania, all of whom sold us puppies under the age of 12 weeks and arranged for passports to be issued via their own vet contacts

• Obtained eight passports from seven vets in Lithuania who falsified data on the passports in order to enable puppies under the age of 15 weeks to travel to Great Britain

• Filmed a vet in Lithuania who suggested giving a sedative to a puppy before travelling, implying that this is a way to smuggle a puppy through border controls unnoticed • Filmed seven vets in Romania,two of whom stated that they could falsify passport information for us (including one for a nine week old puppy)

• Filmed five breeders in Romania who had sold puppies to the UK in the past, all of whom said they could arrange fake passports for underage dogs

• Contacted one further breeder in Romania by phone who said he could arrange passports for eight week old puppies

• Visited nine sellers/breeders from Lithuania, Hungary and the Czech Republic selling puppies (via advertisement on UK classified websites) that had recently come over from Eastern Europe under PETS to be sold in the UK

To see the full Dogs Trust report and more details visit their site by going to - https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/puppysmuggling/

To donate to the turtle or Bonnie the grey seal pup please call 01481 257261, pop along to the Animal Shelter in St Andrews, by post or by clicking the link below.

To become an Angel Pen Pal sponsor please click here.

 

If you find a sick our injured wild animal please call 257261 or click here for advice.

EXCITING NEWS - Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday this year on the 15th May 2016http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/exciting-news-animal-welfare-seafront-sunday-year-15th-may-2016

Posted by GSPCA on Monday, 7 March 2016

Bonnie The Seal from karldorfner on Vimeo.

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Posted by GSPCA on Tuesday, 30 June 2015

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