Environmental health officers in central England are trying to track down French bulldog puppies that were allegedly imported into Britain illegally.
“Unfortunately, falsified passports are being used by unscrupulous importers,” commented councillor Darren Cooper of Sandwell, the West Midlands.
The council claims the puppies “may not have been adequately vaccinated against a range of diseases.”
Puppies may only be imported into the UK if they are at least 15 weeks old, providing time for the necessary vaccinations in their country of origin.
The dogs must be microchipped and supplied with a passport that tallies with the microchip, which contains details of the vaccinations given.
It is understood that the puppies have been sold from a private address.
The council has stressed that imported puppies “may only be sold through a licensed pet shop, so imported puppies should never normally be sold from a private address.”
