Illegal puppy traffickers target Luxembourg

Luxembourg is being targeted by a puppy mafia, in which dogs are intensely reared in Eastern Europe and sold in the Grand Duchy, a Wort investigation has found.

The traffickers reportedly obtain the young from large-scale farms in Eastern Europe for 50 to 100 euros and then sell them on for up to five times this price.

The animals are taken from their mothers too early, making them more attractive to buyers. They are fed waste to save costs and kept in small cages. Documents, meanwhile, are forged and though the animals are not vaccinated, they are given shots of antibiotics and cortisone before being transported to make them look healthy.

The puppies are transported in vans containing more than 100 animals. According to statistics from animal protection organisation "Vier Pfoten" 40 per cent of the puppies die during the trip.

Those that cannot be sold are killed. Despite these losses, the traffickers make up to 70,000 euros per van-load. And the industry as a whole is believed to be worth around 400 million euros per year in Europe alone.

While the market mainly targets the Netherlands and Belgium, during the last year the trade has grown in Luxembourg and animal lovers are urged to exercise caution when buying a puppy.

Traffickers have been spotted at Aldringen in the City centre, at the Glacis and several supermarket car parks selling puppies.

Anyone planning to buy a dog is urged to consider the following first:

• Do not buy a puppy without seeing its mother;

• Research the normal price of a dog like this. Trafficked dogs usually sell for between 500 and 700 euros;

• Ask the seller about the dog's home environment;

• Never accept the offer from a vendor to deliver to your home or conduct the sale in a car park.

Besides the poor welfare of the animals, many die within days of being purchased, the mass breeding and uncontrolled sale of puppies with falsified papers may result in the return of rabies to Europe as well as other genetic diseases.

Buying such an animal will not stop the trade. Indeed, it will only serve to sustain the cruel methods of puppy traffickers.

Furthermore, the illegal trade is connected with the trafficking of women and girls.