Dog's Trust has urged people not to buy puppies for Christmas as smugglers "flood the market" with illegally imported puppies.

The UK's largest dog welfare charity continues to campaign for tighter restrictions to tackle puppy smuggling as criminal gangs cash in on the peak period for pet purchasing.

More than 2,000 puppies have been seized at the UK border and taken into Dogs Trust's care as part of its Puppy Pilot scheme since it launched in 2015 – an estimated equivalent market value of over £3 million.

The scheme provides quarantine and support for puppies seized at ports until they can go to new homes.

Dogs Trust says it has also seen a 60 per cent increase in the number of pregnant dogs seized at UK borders since 2021, many in the late stages of pregnancy and with some giving birth within days of arriving in the country. 

In a six-week period between late September and early November, 27 pregnant dogs were seized entering the UK, their pups intended for the Christmas puppy market.

The dog welfare charity expects numbers to continue to rise if urgent action is not taken.

Dogs Trust believes the increase and popularity of shopping online, with people able to search and find a puppy advertised for sale at the click of a button, combined with "paltry" penalties for those caught illegally importing dogs relative to the huge profits to be made, is creating a "perfect storm" for the puppy smuggling trade. 

Commenting on the issue Emma-Jane Thomas, rehoming centre manager said: "It's very easy, especially when you're looking for a puppy, to make decisions with your heart. 

"But this is exactly the trap smugglers want you to fall into. Unknowingly buying a smuggled puppy could have very real consequences for the owner too. 

"The puppy might be too young to have been legally imported or have health issues that you don't necessarily notice until too late.

"If we don't crack down on puppy smuggling soon, our fear is that it will continue causing suffering and misery for so many dogs. We are urging the government to progress the Kept Animals Bill through Parliament as a priority, to introduce vital protections for pets and bring an end to this barbaric trade."