for the first time, our world unveils a criminal underworld of puppy traders trafficking dogs across europe. they came here to resell those dogs in england. those englishmen, they also dealt in drugs. the criminals are breeding dogs in unlicensed puppy mills in hungary. these dogs suffer abuse and neglect. the dogs are sold into a vast pet trade network in western europe that handles 8 million puppies a year. many are illegally passed off as the offspring of a much loved family pet.
edina now cares for some dogs she s rescued from the puppy mills across hungary. the recent discoveries of the farm s conditions has led to international pressure for hungary to tighten their laws. convicted puppy mill owners now face jail.
every year, belgium legally imports around 19,000 puppies from eastern europe. thousands of puppies arrive at wholesale pet shops, like this one, where clients can order through click and collect. in belgium, it s legal to sell puppies in pet shops but it s illegal to source them from puppy mills. vet kirsten visited some wholesale puppy traders where she spotted illnesses commonly found in puppy mills. the director is showing her footage filmed at one of the traders she visited.
they get water. but not all dogs understand that or some dogs, like chihuahuas, are too small to get to them, so they didn t drink. anyone can buy as many puppies as they want here, no questions asked. british gangs have bought puppies here looking to cash in on this lucrative trade. they came here to resell those dogs in england. those englishmen, they also dealt in drugs. they bought about 20 dogs when they visited. they showed me the car and i saw that it was already full of dogs. theyjust threw ours in there. i once saw a picture of their boss. he lived in a mega huge house with three or four bentleys in the driveway. they really do have plenty of money. anthony godfroid has won civil cases against belgium shops selling sick puppies from puppy mills.
in order to travel legally outside the country, puppies need a pet passport with valid vaccinations and these can only be issued by a vet. corrupt vets sell pet passports to puppy mills owners without vaccinating or even seeing the puppies. this puppy is lucky. edina will give him up for adoption to a good home. those puppies left might face a gruelling journey to markets in the west where they can be sold for anything up to 3,000 euros each. the most lucrative markets are in belgium and the uk, a journey of over 1,000 miles. thousands of puppies are smuggled through borders hidden in vehicles. most pass through germany on their route west.