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She looks at you expectantly with her big googly eyes.
Milka was lucky and was freed from the clutches of illegal dealers by the Hamburg Animal Welfare Association as part of a fictitious purchase - as were four other puppies, one of which unfortunately did not survive.
Hundreds of conspecifics share Milka's fate.
The German Animal Welfare Association alone is aware of more than 680 illegally traded puppies between January and October this year.
The total number of 2019 was already exceeded in autumn, although not even all animal shelters had reported their cases to the umbrella organization.
And the number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher.
Because:
The lousy business with puppies is booming due to the corona pandemic.
Hope didn't make it, she died as a victim of the illegal puppy trade
Source: Tierschutzverein Henstedt-Ulzburg eV
Because of the contact restrictions, people spend more time at home.
Some feel lonely.
Therefore, this year a particularly large number of people are getting an animal companion.
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“Due to the corona, there was a real domestic boom.
Breeders and also pet shops reported an immense demand.
But also in the animal shelters connected to us, the increased demand was in some cases very noticeable, ”explains press spokeswoman Lea Schmitz from the German Animal Welfare Association.
At Christmas the interest will surely increase again - and thus fuel the illegal puppy trade.
If people cannot find a suitable dog at the breeder or in the animal shelter, they look for a cuddly friend on the Internet.
And there dubious traders smell their business.
They “produce” the puppies abroad, mainly in Eastern Europe.
According to the Animal Welfare Association, the parent animals are kept there under miserable conditions, mostly in pens, without human contact and without medical care.
The mother dogs are abused as production machines.
Lea Schmitz, press spokeswoman for the German Animal Welfare Association
Lulu is completely exhausted, but safe
Source: Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.
V.
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Still as small as possible, so cute and promotional, the puppies are separated from their mother far too early at just a few weeks old.
They are then transported over long distances in small boxes, often without food or water, to Germany and other countries in Western Europe - mostly sick, not vaccinated and with forged papers.
Later on, many of these dogs suffer from behavioral disorders, as the embossing phase is no longer necessary due to the early separation of mother and siblings.
If they survive at all, because many of them suffer from diseases that are often fatal, such as the viral disease parvovirus.
In the past, it was easy to identify the ads of criminal puppy dealers on online portals such as Ebay classifieds or Quoka based on spelling errors or a low purchase price, but today they can hardly be distinguished from serious offers.
In a Facebook post, the Henstedt-Ulzburg animal shelter near Hamburg writes:
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“The puppies are advertised with a loving text, of course they are all vaccinated and the parents are known, often even purebred.
Sometimes they can even be visited.
The selling price is usually over 700 €, so you should think that this is a reputable source, right?
Especially if the provider has a female name. "
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The illegal traders primarily offer small and medium-sized breeds as well as an increasing number of mixed breeds: According to the German Animal Welfare Association, in recent years it was mainly French bulldogs, pugs and Maltese, in 2020 Jack Russel Terriers, Havanese, Chihuahua and Dachshund mixes are extremely popular.
The handover of the puppy to the new owner usually takes place at short notice in a parking lot or on a street corner out of the trunk.
Given flimsy reasons, such as renovation chaos or - currently particularly popular - the corona-related contact restrictions, the animal could not be picked up from the seller's apartment.
If you want to get a dog, you shouldn't act rashly and rashly.
With all the joy with a four-legged friend, it must also be remembered that animals make dirt, take a lot of time and cost money.
The German Animal Welfare Association advises those who have nevertheless opted for a furry family member:
Steer clear of buying online.
Tom and Jerry could also be saved
Source: Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.
V.
Anyone who has come across a suspicious advertisement on the Internet or has already fallen for an illegal puppy dealer should notify the local animal shelter, the responsible veterinary office or the police.
When buying a puppy as well as an older dog and any other animal, one should not blindly accept an offer, but take a close look at the breeder, dealer or animal welfare association beforehand.
You should visit the animal beforehand and get to know the parent animals.
Conversely, reputable breeders and animal welfare associations are also interested in potential buyers and inquire about the new home.
Nobody would give the four-legged friend straight away.
The puppies are separated from the mother and siblings at eight weeks at the earliest.
A written contract is concluded with the purchase and one receives an EU pet passport in which all necessary vaccinations are entered.
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The German Animal Welfare Association advises:
As the umbrella organization for animal shelters, we naturally recommend adopting a dog at the animal shelter.
Many great animals are waiting for a new home here.
Like little Milka.
She is still in the Hamburg animal shelter, but several people want to give her a nice new home.