A new study published in Animal Welfare, the journal of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW), highlights how weak and poorly enforced regulation of the UK puppy trade has created systemic risks for animal welfare, public health, and the environment, while also enabling links to organised crime. The review offers the most comprehensive overview to date of the trade’s scale and impact, concluding that existing legislation has failed to keep pace with the rapid growth of online puppy sales and that enforcement remains severely under-resourced.
The study, “The canine welfare, public health and environmental impact of systemic under-regulation within the UK puppy trade: a scoping review”, draws on a decade of evidence showing that the largely online puppy trade has outstripped the scope of current laws. It finds that legislative gaps, weak enforcement, and minimal penalties have fostered a high-volume, profit-driven market with severe consequences for animal welfare, public health, and the environment.
Despite measures such as Lucy’s Law and the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals Regulations, the authors note that enforcement remains fragmented and inconsistent. Only 15 to 20 percent of dogs entering UK households each year come from licensed breeders, leaving most traded through unregulated or poorly monitored channels.
The paper identifies major welfare and enforcement concerns, including:
- Unethical breeding practices causing chronic health and behavioural problems in dogs
- Online anonymity allowing fraudulent and illegal sellers to evade detection
- Criminal involvement linked to smuggling, tax evasion, and organised crime networks
- Public health risks from unvaccinated imported puppies and the potential for transmission of diseases such as rabies and Leishmania
- Environmental harm from waste pollution and overpopulation of dogs in urban areas
- Antibiotic resistance and zoonotic threats linked to poor biosecurity and misuse of veterinary drugs
The study calls for urgent legislative reform to strengthen traceability and accountability throughout the puppy supply chain. It recommends establishing a centralised licensing and enforcement system, introducing stronger traceability requirements for all dogs, similar to those used for livestock, and a tightening of regulations of online pet sales platforms. Coordinated public awareness campaigns are also needed to discourage impulsive or unethical purchases and promote responsible sourcing. Without significant reform, the authors warn, current laws will continue to fail in protecting dogs, consumers, and the wider public, while allowing unethical and criminal practices to persist.
Lead author, Katharine Ross, said: “The puppy trade in the UK is inflicting severe and legacy harm on canine welfare, and many animal welfare researchers, advocates, non-profit organisations, and policymakers are working tirelessly to assess and mitigate this. These issues reflect challenges seen in various novel online marketplaces, where current legislation, effective two decades ago, now struggles to keep pace with the rapid evolution of digital commerce and the effects of an equally under-regulated social media landscape that heavily influences consumer culture and behaviour.
From a One Health perspective, the consequences of poor online regulation are complex and widespread, demonstrating the urgent need for a multi-agency, interdisciplinary response.”
The full paper is available open access in Animal Welfare here.
