now on bbc news, bbc wales investigates the hidden world of designer dog breeding. good boy. you have been such a good boy! iwant good boy. you have been such a good boy! i want are known as micro bullies. they are bred to be really, really small. these were all seized from a breeder. there were reports of unlicensed breeding. that is a boy! meet chris, lined up to become a stud dog by his owner. he actually has spinal deformity. he is dragging his hind legs, probably every four or five steps. the vet report we got from the specialist about said he should be bred from. the whole purpose of the breed is to try and make them small and stocky as possible. lots of muscle and bone into a very, very small frame. their legs are splayed out, they are so must we. it is cruelty breeding, there is no other word for it. griff and the other pups are being looked after at the south wales rescue centre. casualties of afraid in designer dogs. the centre. casualties of afraid in designer dogs.— designer dogs. the local authority _ designer dogs. the local authority actually - designer dogs. the local authority actually seized i designer dogs. the local - authority actually seized them with a view to prosecuting them. when they went in, they can obviously see they had had their ears crocked as well. there is a demand for dogs with their ears mutilated. they actually cut the floppy bit of that year. this is what he should look like. lovely, lovely floppy ears like this. they are the ears he would have had. it is purely an ascetic to achieve a certain look that some people think is attractive. they go from anything from 3000 up to 10,000,15,000. phenomenal amounts of money. you could have a litter with literally £60,000. it have a litter with literally £60,000.— have a litter with literally £60,000. , ., ., . have a litter with literally £60,000. , ., ., £60,000. it is illegal to cut a douideas £60,000. it is illegal to cut a dogideas like _ £60,000. it is illegal to cut a dogideas like this _ £60,000. it is illegal to cut a dogideas like this the - £60,000. it is illegal to cut a dogideas like this the uk. - £60,000. it is illegal to cut a i dogideas like this the uk. the moment, you can import one with its ears already cropped. tonight we will show what a huge demand for dogs has led to. there are laws in place to protect animals, but we found plenty of backyard breeders who are staying one step ahead of the authorities to make some serious cash. griff was owned by this man. christopher made from cardiff. he has a criminal record and a large online following. griff and his other pups following. griff and his other pups were seized and it will be “p pups were seized and it will be up to a judge to decide if he gets his dogs back. social media is a big marketplace. plenty of legitimate breeders, but also those keen on cropped ears. we found this account with tens of thousands of pounds worth of pups. lots of dogs pictured with cut or cropped ears. it is run by this man. he calls himself sons of adam and posts clips like this. under his brand—name, we found images of puppies for sale with their ears intact. and then what appears to be the same litter but with their ears cut. so, we get in touch, and he agrees to meet. undercover, we pose as buyers. the deal was if we paid £2000, we could jointly own the dog with him. and we would all make money from breeding valuable puppies. and what can he tell us about his dogs cropped ears? we leave without handing over any money. but adam wasn't the only breeder that we came across. many simply both the big as of pups and then waited for a response. deals are then done through direct messages, a kind of marketplace, but hidden from public view. and it is one that we have just entered. this account is called cardiff's finest bulls. again, dog after dog with cropped ears. similar extreme features as we saw at the rescue centre earlier. this man, joshua, seems to be behind the account. he starts to tell us how he runs his business. the asking price is £13,000. we ask to see the puppy for ourselves. the following day, we are sent to an address. we meet ricky, one of the so—called puppy nannies. when we asked ricky about illegal ear cropping, he gives us some advice. so, what ricky has just revealed is that dogs are having their ears cut by a vet in the uk, then being given a foreign pet passport to make it look like it was done abroad. we said we would think about it. and then left. as ricky just told us, cropping is illegal in the uk, but online, you are struck byjust how many dogsin you are struck byjust how many dogs in this country have had the procedure. and how popular it seems to have become. we co nta ct we contact the breeder, joshua, again. he agrees to sell us a pup- again. he agrees to sell us a pup. but what about its ears? but how convincing is the fraudulent paperwork that he is offering us? a pup a pup with cropped ears and paperwork to put the authorities off the scent all for 13 grand. but he says he doesn't tell the tax man everything. today, christopher, griff pocket owner, is due in court, it is illegal dog breeding and cropping their ears. he didn't speak to us outside, although someone who arrived with him dead. it is a public space. don't touch me! i know my rights as well. i know my rights. i will find out what your address is, mate. that was not a threat. i will come around and i will speak to you personally. i will pop around to your address, i will guarantee you, and we will have a nice little chat.— a nice little chat. christopher ma was a nice little chat. christopher may was a — a nice little chat. christopher may was a fairly _ may was a fairly well—established breeder, was producing quite a lot of letters _ producing quite a lot of letters and seemingly had been doing _ letters and seemingly had been doing it — letters and seemingly had been doing it for some time. sarah smith is in charge of prosecuting illegal breeders. the team investigated christopher mae. these are obviously — christopher mae. these are obviously some _ christopher mae. these are obviously some of- christopher mae. these are obviously some of the - christopher mae. these are i obviously some of the cropped ears that were found at the time, and these had recently been done because they were still in the process of healing as well. actually, obviously it causes distress to the animal. it is not being done legitimately anywhere because it is an illegal practice, so this is being done behind closed doors, people's homes or garages. he closed doors, people's homes or ”araes. . ., closed doors, people's homes or ”araes. . . ., garages. he claimed he had bought his _ garages. he claimed he had bought his dogs _ garages. he claimed he had bought his dogs with - garages. he claimed he had bought his dogs with their l garages. he claimed he had i bought his dogs with their ears already cropped. he bought his dogs with their ears already cropped.— already cropped. he never relied already cropped. he never replied for— already cropped. he never replied for a _ already cropped. he never replied for a license, - already cropped. he never replied for a license, so i replied for a license, so therefore he was never inspected, the officers couldn't check on the environment or the welfare. but after a tipoff. i _ environment or the welfare. but after a tipoff, i did find some evidence. after a tipoff, i did find some evidence-— after a tipoff, i did find some evidence. ~ ., ., , ., evidence. we have found photos ofthe evidence. we have found photos of the pups _ evidence. we have found photos of the pups on — evidence. we have found photos of the pups on social— evidence. we have found photos of the pups on social media, - of the pups on social media, like, kind of, you know, very young, ears intact, and subsequent both, their ears were cropped in a very short space of time. it is something we are seeing more and more of. we know from some of the people that we have already investigated that they were previously linked to drugs and drug charges. the money that they are obtaining from those sales �*s acquisition of criminal property. the first breeder we spoke to who called himself adam has now posted another advert for another letter. —— litter. the pups are really healthy. he wants £13,000. he offers us prescription only medicines, vaccinations, and there is another service. next he says we can video call him to see the pup for ourselves. he tells us what he can arrange to happen to her ears. he hasjust shown us how she would be cropped. so who would carry that out? we now have evidence of the links that some breeders will go to to make money. —— lengths. i go to to make money. -- lengths-— lengths. i would say his practices _ lengths. i would say his practices are _ lengths. i would say his| practices are abhorrent. lengths. i would say his - practices are abhorrent. he is advocating an unnecessary and painful operation. share advocating an unnecessary and painful operation.— advocating an unnecessary and painful operation. are any laws bein: painful operation. are any laws being breached _ painful operation. are any laws being breached here? - painful operation. are any laws being breached here? they - painful operation. are any laws being breached here? they arej being breached here? they are breachin: being breached here? they are breaching the _ being breached here? they are breaching the animal _ being breached here? they are breaching the animal welfare l breaching the animal welfare act. it done is for no other reason than for as he says comedic reasons. it is all for status. there is no benefit of the dogs at all. if we look at vaccines for dogs, they are prescription only medications so they have to be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon. he is not license with any of these medications and he is not a veterinary surgeon. that is where the illegal activity is happening. brute where the illegal activity is happening-— happening. we also asked daniela about _ happening. we also asked daniela about the - happening. we also asked daniela about the second | daniela about the second breeder, joshua harting. and his associates.— his associates. this sounds i have read — his associates. this sounds i have read the _ his associates. this sounds i have read the syndicate. - have read the syndicate. multiple people involved multiple different stages with these dogs. at one point they said they are moving the puppies to a certain point because they don't need to mother anymore. that's not true. already, all else aside, this is not a situation that would create well socialised puppies. would create well socialised -u- ies. ~ . would create well socialised .u. ies.. ., ., would create well socialised ---uies.~ . ., would create well socialised ---uies.~ ., ., would create well socialised ---uies. . ., puppies. what do you make of this breed _ puppies. what do you make of this breed and _ puppies. what do you make of this breed and what _ puppies. what do you make of this breed and what are - puppies. what do you make of this breed and what are you i this breed and what are you suggesting? it this breed and what are you suggesting?— suggesting? it is all illegal. the false — suggesting? it is all illegal. the false passports, - suggesting? it is all illegal. - the false passports, everything about this is a dodgy system. i think this whole situation, however, talks to a wider social issue, here. we are harming these dogs purely because we want them to look a certain way. the reason this is happening is because there is a loophole that allows the importation of dogs with cropped ears. and that is acting as a smokescreen, clearly, for it happening in the uk. ., , ., , the uk. the uk government plans to close the _ the uk. the uk government plans to close the loophole _ the uk. the uk government plans to close the loophole and - to close the loophole and banned the importation of dogs with cropped ears from abroad. you can also ban dogs under the age of six months from coming in as well, cutting of a cheap supply of puppies. but dealers have told us that getting hold of a dodgy pet passport can help cover up their illicit activities. so will any new law be enough? 0ur undercover team do a quick search online and find a bully breeder in romania. he is willing to cropped the dog's ears and send the pup to wales. when we asked, the breeder, flavio vargas, says he can also provide fraudulent passports. the price is £250. there is even a discount if we buy five or more. it has all the vaccination stickers, a vet stamp in all the right places, but it is otherwise completely blank. dodgy pet passports are not just useful for covering up ear cropping. they can be used to bring in dogs that are legally too young to travel. we have three puppies _ too young to travel. we have three puppies here _ too young to travel. we have three puppies here that - too young to travel. we have three puppies here that are l three puppies here that are given a passport, sadly the information in the passport is falsified so they are declared to be older than they actually are, and the journeys they undertake are awful. you know, great lengths in excess of 2a hours, offered no food, very little water, no stops. there were four puppies in this group were four puppies in this group we have seen. sadly one passed away. so sometimes we do see that. . . , away. so sometimes we do see that. ., ., , ., ., that. paula is that tougher importation _ that. paula is that tougher importation rules - that. paula is that tougher importation rules will- that. paula is that tougher importation rules will only j importation rules will only work if someone actually looks at the animals at the border. currently there is no requirement to do so. the checks aren't _ requirement to do so. the checks aren't fit _ requirement to do so. the checks aren't fit for - requirement to do so. tue: checks aren't fit for purpose but the penalties out there either. if you are caught illegally importing a puppy, the maximum sentence you would get is 12 months imprisonment. competitive smuggling cigarettes, the maximum sentence of up to seven years. if you're caught smoking cigarettes you can get your cigarettes you can get your cigarettes back but somebody caught illegally importing puppies can potentially pay quarantine fees, collect the puppy' quarantine fees, collect the puppy. and quarantine fees, collect the puppy, and make a profit. —— you can't get your cigarettes back. a few days later the pet passport we bought from you mania arise. this is what people who cut dogs years to is in the uk used to hide their cries. we can put the details of any do we liked inhibitors adjusted was imported and not cropped illegally in this country. if this is how easy it is to get around checks in the system, how effective would any new animal welfare legislation actually be?— new animal welfare legislation actuall be? ., ., , ., actually be? what would be that paul avoided _ actually be? what would be that paul avoided make _ actually be? what would be that paul avoided make of _ actually be? what would be that paul avoided make of it. - actually be? what would be that paul avoided make of it. how. paul avoided make of it. how realistic is _ paul avoided make of it. how realistic is it? _ paul avoided make of it. how realistic is it? i— paul avoided make of it. how realistic is it? i don't - paul avoided make of it. how realistic is it? i don't think i realistic is it? i don't think anyone would raise any concerns at the border.— at the border. what does it say about the _ at the border. what does it say about the efficacy _ at the border. what does it say about the efficacy of _ at the border. what does it say about the efficacy of the - at the border. what does it say about the efficacy of the whole | about the efficacy of the whole passport system? find about the efficacy of the whole passport system? and certainly brinus it passport system? and certainly brings it all _ passport system? and certainly brings it all into _ passport system? and certainly brings it all into question. - brings it all into question. and the man who illegally sold us the passport, what does he have to say? flavio vargas, do you sell american bullies? is in your pictures on the internet. i'm from the bbc in the uk. can you tell us why you sold us a fraudulent pet passport? mr vargas? sold us a fraudulent pet passport? mrvargas? mr sold us a fraudulent pet passport? mr vargas? mr vargas clearly doesn't want to answer questions. in cardiff, bully breeder christopher mae is heading back to court. at this time he would be leaving as fast. �* , ., ' ~ time he would be leaving as fast. fl ., ' ~ time he would be leaving as fast. �*, ., '~ �*, fast. it's got 16 weeks. it's down. fast. it's got 16 weeks. it's down- he _ fast. it's got 16 weeks. it's down. he was _ fast. it's got 16 weeks. it's down. he was sentenced l fast. it's got 16 weeks. it's| down. he was sentenced to fast. it's got 16 weeks. it's - down. he was sentenced to 16 weeks in detailfor breeding dogs without a license and animal cruelty, including cropping. animal cruelty, including cropping-— cropping. --in “ail. but vanessah cropping. --in “ail. but vanessa from h cropping. --injail. but vanessa from hope - cropping. --injail. but- vanessa from hope rescue suspects that other breeders are already following in mae's footsteps. t are already following in mae's footsteps-— are already following in mae's footste s. . p, :: footsteps. i have identified 30 breeders indicated _ footsteps. i have identified 30 breeders indicated area, - footsteps. i have identified 30j breeders indicated area, many with air cropped dogs. we work with air cropped dogs. we work with excellent enforcement officers. they don't have the resources to investigate all the cases that have been reported to them. animal welfare is _ reported to them. animal welfare is the _ reported to them. animal i welfare is the responsibility of the welsh government. the minister declined to do an interview but we were told that interview but we were told that in order to tackle illegal dog breeding, the government was funding a three—year project lead by trading standards officers and it had brought in new regulations and was monitoring developments closely. it's people like sarah smith and her team who will be on the front line, enforcing those regulations. t on the front line, enforcing those regulations.- on the front line, enforcing those regulations. i think it is well documented - those regulations. i think it is well documented the - those regulations. i think it| is well documented the cuts that we have experienced over recent years, and i think this year to date we have had 400 reports into trading standards across wales about illegal dog breeding. authorities can't deal with that. so, you know, we've got now an established team that has a wales wide remit, specifically looking at illegal dog breeding, but still 400 complaints is a significant amount of work. but 400 complaints is a significant amount of work.— 400 complaints is a significant amount of work. but what about the backyard _ amount of work. but what about the backyard breeders _ amount of work. but what about the backyard breeders who - amount of work. but what about the backyard breeders who told | the backyard breeders who told us they could help arrange to have dogs is cut and provide dodgy passports? t have dogs is cut and provide dodgy passports?— have dogs is cut and provide dodgy passports? i have learned that in cardiff— dodgy passports? i have learned that in cardiff that _ dodgy passports? i have learned that in cardiff that does - dodgy passports? i have learned that in cardiff that does it. - that in cardiff that does it. joshua hardy from cardiff's finest bulls, office deserves a £500. and ricky gave us tips on illegal cropping. we repeatedly tried to contact them but they've gone silent on us. and then there is adam, full name mo he is adam. —— moheez adam. we've now discovered he has a conviction for the possession of drugs with intent to supply. so when we pay a visit, what does he have to say about what he had offered to suppliers? mr adam, moheez adam, bbc, can we talk to you about your dogs, please? mr talk to you about your dogs, lease? ~ �* . talk to you about your dogs, lease? ~ ~ ., , ., please? mr adam? give me two minutes, please? mr adam? give me two minutes. l'm — please? mr adam? give me two minutes, i'm on _ please? mr adam? give me two minutes, i'm on the _ please? mr adam? give me two minutes, i'm on the phone. - please? mr adam? give me two minutes, i'm on the phone. 0k,j minutes, i'm on the phone. 0k, two minutes- — minutes, i'm on the phone. 0k, two minutes. he's— minutes, i'm on the phone. 0k, two minutes. he's been refusing to say why he offered to help arrange for a dog's to say why he offered to help arrange for a dogs is to be cut. t arrange for a dog's is to be cut. ., ., ., ., cut. i have never arranged to have it done. _ cut. i have never arranged to have it done. you've - cut. i have never arranged to have it done. you've never . have it done. you've never arranged _ have it done. you've never arranged to _ have it done. you've never arranged to have - have it done. you've never arranged to have it - have it done. you've never arranged to have it done? | have it done. you've never - arranged to have it done? that is correct. _ arranged to have it done? that is correct, yes. _ arranged to have it done? that is correct, yes. there - arranged to have it done? that is correct, yes. there is - is correct, yes. there is nothing wrong with dog cropping. it isjust nothing wrong with dog cropping. it is just illegal in this country. if i wanted to keep or buy a pup and had is i would like to have the removed, but it is not legal in this country. so we no longer do that. you keep repeating you would no longer do it, i've never done it. i've never arranged for it to be done. would you give somebody, what your clients, needles and jabs to inoculate their own dogs? not really. i've never done that. however if had access — if i could get it arranged for them from my vet, then yes, i could administer them, if they wanted, but i wouldn't advise any of my clients to do it. you are a license _ any of my clients to do it. you are a license dog _ any of my clients to do it. you are a license dog better? i - any of my clients to do it. you j are a license dog better? i am are a license dog better? i am a hobby breeder. _ are a license dog better? i am a hobby breeder. i— are a license dog better? i am a hobby breeder. i am - are a license dog better? i am a hobby breeder. i am a - are a license dog better? t —n a hobby breeder. i am a dog whisperer. i understand dogs very well. t whisperer. i understand dogs very well-— very well. i can communicate with dogs- — very well. i can communicate with dogs- a _ very well. i can communicate with dogs. a dog _ very well. i can communicate with dogs. a dog was - very well. i can communicate with dogs. a dog was broke? j with dogs. a dog was broke? some white smoke but i can prove to do it. you are a licensed dog better? i am a hobby breeder. i am a dog whisperer. i understand dogs very well. i can communicate with dogs. a dog whisperer? some white smoke but i can prove you otherwise. ——a dog whisperer. —— some white smoke at this, but i could prove otherwise.— at this, but i could prove otherwise. ., ., , ., otherwise. the authorities now sa the otherwise. the authorities now say they will — otherwise. the authorities now say they will be _ otherwise. the authorities now say they will be looking - otherwise. the authorities now say they will be looking into i say they will be looking into our investigation and the evidence we have uncovered. but things are looking up for grief. he's finally found a new home. —— griff. just in time for christmas. hello. watch out for a fog saturday morning particularly through central and eastern parts of england, dents and places, could be affecting travel and a few spots may see that linger all day long. in terms of frosts parts of that's parts of scotland in northern england to begin the day but here there'll be some sunny spells around put up perhaps towards the far west of wales and the barcelo of england, some brighter breaks. and at times into northern ireland. temperatures mainly around six to 10 celsius but it will be colder where any fog lingers and they will be parts of scotland that are barely above freezing. and it is scotland and again some parts of northern england to most likely see a frost going into sunday morning. there will be and fog patches around and throughout the weekend wherever you're under the thickest cloud you encounter some drizzle though overall it will be mainly dry. perhaps the higher parts of wales, northern england and scotland most favoured to see some sunshine on sunday where is the valleys below could well be stuck underneath cloud. 0verall more cloud first scotland and northern england compared to saturday and it's turning cooler. welcome to bbc news. i'm rich preston. our top stories: concern across europe as extra measures are announced to combat the growing threat of the 0micron variant. as cases jump sharply in the us, the country's top health official warns of the risks of not getting jabbed. clearly, unvaccinated individuals are really at a higher risk of serious involvement, including hospitalisation. hundreds of thousands displaced and at least 12 dead as typhoon rai takes its toll on the philippines. british socialite ghislaine maxwell, who's on trial on sex trafficking charges, tells the us court she won't be giving evidence. more pressure on borisjohnson — the man appointed to investigate whether government