Star Comment: Take lead on welfare of puppies

For those engaged in this activity, the welfare of the puppy is as nothing compared to the lure of easy money.

They only mind if the pup dies if this happens too early, before they have been able to sell it and collect their loot. Dead dogs do not sell.

Shropshire vet David Martin presents a depressing and upsetting picture of what is going on. Organised crime gangs in Eastern Europe have latched on to puppy smuggling as an alternative to drug dealing and cigarette imports because they can make just as much money and the risks are considerably less.

What is happening is that there is a growing black market in animals which are often bred in appalling conditions. Organised gangs bring them into the United Kingdom illegally from Ireland or Eastern Europe and the desirable breeds can fetch hundreds of pounds.

An investigation by The Dogs Trust has found that the pups are being trafficked illegally without the required vaccinations. What that means is that unsuspecting new owners buy pups which are highly susceptible to disease, or already have serious problems.

Mr Martin says the penalties available to the courts are laughable.

While animal lovers will feel anger that puppies are being treated in this callous way, the real problem is that when there are lucrative loopholes, there will always be those who take advantage of them.

In fact, The Dogs Trust as part of its investigations managed to smuggle a stuffed toy across the English Channel without anybody bothering to check whether it was a real dog.

What hope can there be for stopping this trade when it is that easy?

The introduction of pet passports and the relaxation of quarantine regulations have paved the way for this flourishing black market. The borders have been opened and the crooks are driving a coach and horses, so to speak, through them. For both humans and animals, the loosening up of European borders is having consequences which are taxing the best of brains.

While the authorities are not getting a grip, ordinary people need to aware that this sad trade is going on. It would be easy to say that if in doubt, do not buy – but when looking into sad, pleading, puppy dog eyes, Britain's dog lovers will find that impossible.