A Major Step Forward for Animal Welfare Across Europe

New rules being introduced across the European Union could mark an important turning point in the fight against the illegal puppy and kitten trade.

FOUR PAWS International has welcomed the changes, which aim to improve the traceability of dogs and cats, introduce stronger welfare standards for breeders and make it more difficult for animals to be sold anonymously online.

For years, illegal breeders and traders have been able to take advantage of weak regulations, poor identification systems and the ease of advertising animals online. Dogs and cats can be bred in unsuitable conditions, moved across borders and sold with little reliable information about where they came from.

The Scale of the Problem

The European market for puppies is estimated to be worth around €4.6 billion each year, with approximately six million puppies needed to meet annual demand.

According to figures shared by FOUR PAWS, nearly 79% of puppies cannot be traced back to a known source.

This lack of traceability makes it easier for irresponsible breeders and illegal traders to operate without accountability. Buyers may believe they are purchasing a healthy puppy or kitten from a genuine home, without realising that the animal may have come from a large-scale breeding operation or travelled across several countries before reaching them.

Behind a cheap advert or a quick online sale, there may be a mother dog being repeatedly bred in poor conditions. Puppies and kittens may be removed from their mothers too early, transported over long distances and sold without the veterinary checks, socialisation or care they need.

What Will Change?

The new EU-wide rules will make identification and registration mandatory for dogs and cats.

They will also introduce minimum welfare standards for breeders and tighter controls around online sales. These measures should make it easier to identify where an animal came from and hold breeders, sellers and traders accountable.

Online platforms will also have a greater role to play in preventing sellers from hiding behind anonymous adverts or false information.

These changes will not remove every risk, but they could close some of the gaps that have allowed the illegal trade to grow.

The Responsibility of Buyers

At Power of One, we believe stronger laws are essential, but buyers also have an important role to play.

Anyone considering buying a puppy or kitten should take time to verify where the animal came from. They should ask to see the environment in which the animal was born, meet the mother where possible and confirm the identity and records of the breeder.

Walking away from a suspicious seller can be difficult, particularly when an animal appears vulnerable. However, purchasing that animal may reward the breeder and help fund the next litter.

Asking better questions and avoiding unverified sellers can help reduce the demand that keeps irresponsible breeding and illegal trading profitable.

Progress Must Be Properly Enforced

The illegal puppy and kitten trade will not disappear overnight.

New rules will only protect animals if they are properly enforced. Local authorities, veterinary professionals, border agencies and online platforms will all need to play their part.

Illegal traders will continue looking for gaps in the system, which means identification records must be reliable and those breaking the rules must face meaningful consequences.

Even with those challenges, these changes represent genuine progress.

Our Thoughts

Dogs and cats should never be treated as anonymous products that can be bred, transported and sold without accountability.

Every animal should be identifiable, properly cared for and protected throughout the process of breeding, sale and ownership.

Greater traceability will help expose where animals have come from, while stronger welfare standards could prevent more dogs and cats from being born into systems built around profit rather than care.

The new rules are not the end of the fight against illegal trading, but they are an important step towards making the industry more transparent and protecting the animals hidden behind online adverts.

One informed decision can help prevent a lifetime of suffering.

Source: FOUR PAWS International