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Potential new puppy owners are being asked to think twice before shopping online for a new pet this Christmas.

The Dogs Trust has warned of a growing trend to search online ads for the perfect pooch, which it claims has created a “perfect storm” for puppy smugglers.

The animal welfare charity has blamed surging demand by families seeking a furry friend during the pandemic, combined with weak penalties for criminals.

It has reported a 60% increase in the number of pregnant dogs and puppies seized at UK borders since 2021

Paula Boyden, veterinary director at the Dogs Trust, said: “It’s very easy, especially when you’re looking for a puppy, to make decisions with your heart. But this is exactly the trap smugglers want you to fall into.”

“Unknowingly buying a smuggled puppy could have very real consequences for the owner too. The puppy might be too young to have been legally imported or have health issues that you don’t necessarily notice until too late.”

Dogs can travel thousands of miles in cramped, dirty conditions, with little food and water, and then sold online, according to the charity.

More on Dogs

The most smuggled breeds seized in the UK include: Dachshunds, French Bull Dogs, Pomeranians, and English Bulldogs.

Related stories:
Record high calls from owners who cannot afford their dogs
Animals seized in animal smuggling operation in Northern Ireland
Dog homes struggle with unwanted pets as the cost-of-living crisis bites

Undated handout photo issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI ) of puppies that were seized by police, investigating the suspected illegal importation, of animals into Northern Ireland. A 44-year-old man has been arrested following the operation at the Belfast harbour estate. Detectives believe the animals may have been brought to Northern Ireland from the Republic and were destined for sale in England or Scotland. Issue date: Wednesday August 3, 2022.
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Police in Northern Ireland seized puppies in August as part of an operation targeting animal smuggling

More than 2,000 puppies have been seized at the UK border since 2015 with an estimated equivalent market value of £3m.

And over 130 pregnant dogs have been seized since 2017, bearing around 600 puppies.

Meanwhile the cost of living crisis is putting pressure on animal welfare charities.

The Dogs Trust says pet owners are increasingly unable to afford their animals. Recently it announced owners had been asking about the process of giving up their dogs to be rehomed.

The charity does not advise people buy a puppy for Christmas, but has offered these Do’s and Don’ts:

• Do ask to see mum and pup together
• Do visit your new pup more than once
• Do get all your pup’s paperwork before going home
• Do check that the pup is at a legal age to be separated from their mum (over eight weeks old)
• Do walk away if you’re at all unsure
• Do report all suspicious sellers or breeders to Trading Standards
• Don’t meet anywhere that isn’t the pup’s home
• Don’t buy a pup from anyone who can supply various breeds on demand
• Don’t pay anything until you have met the pup in person
• Don’t feel pressure to buy a puppy

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Protesters throw powder on Tower Bridge during London Marathon

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Protesters throw powder on Tower Bridge during London Marathon

Two pro-Palestinian demonstrators have thrown red powder on Tower Bridge – just moments before leading runners in the London Marathon went past.

The protesters were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and remain in custody, said the Metropolitan Police.

A video shared by Youth Demand, which is calling for a trade embargo on Israel, shows two people jumping over a barrier that separates spectators from the race course.

The pair, wearing t-shirts that say “Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel”, are then seen standing in the middle of the road on the bridge.

Pic: LNP
Image:
Pic: LNP

They throw red powder in the air as an official marathon car goes past displaying the race time.

A motorbike with a cameraman on board continues along the route, while a second motorbike stops and one of the riders gets off and pushes the pair out of the way, just before the men’s elite runners pass.

Several police officers then jump over the barrier and detain the pair, the footage shows.

More on London Marathon 2025

There appeared to be no impact on the marathon.

More than 56,000 participants were expected to take part in the 26.2-mile race through the capital.

Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s elite race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds, while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s-only world record in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.

Assefa beat the previous best of two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir.

Read more:
Sky’s Beth Rigby running marathon in honour of ‘dearest friend’
Badenoch does not rule out local coalitions with Reform

Pic: LNP
Image:
Pic: LNP

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “At around 10.38am, two protesters from Youth Demand jumped over barriers at Tower Bridge and threw red paint on to the road.

“Marathon event staff intervened to remove the protesters from the path of the men’s elite race which was able to pass unobstructed.”

The force added that they were “quickly supported by police officers who arrested the protesters on suspicion of causing a public nuisance”.

The Met said the paint “appeared to be chalk-based” and was not expected to “present a hazard to runners yet to pass this point”.

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Kemi Badenoch does not rule out local coalitions with Reform after next week’s council elections

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Kemi Badenoch does not rule out local coalitions with Reform after next week's council elections

Kemi Badenoch has not ruled out forming coalitions at a local level with Reform after the council elections next week.

Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, the Conservative leader did however categorically rule out a pact with Nigel Farage’s party on a national level.

“I am not going into any coalition with Nigel Farage… read my lips,” she said.

However, she did not deny that deals could be struck with Reform at a local level, arguing that some councils might be under no overall control and in that case, “you have to do what is right for your local area”.

“You look at the moment, we are in coalition with Liberal Democrats, with independents,” she said. “We’ve been in coalition with Labour before at local government level.

“They [councillors] have to look at who the people are that they’re going into coalition with and see how they can deliver for local people.”

She added: “What I don’t want to hear is talks of stitch-ups or people planning things before the results are out. They have to do what is right for their communities.”

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A total of 23 councils are up for grabs when voters go to the polls on Thursday 1 May – mostly in places that were once deemed Tory shires, until last year’s general election.

It includes 14 county councils, all but two of which have been Conservative-controlled, as well as eight unitary authorities, all but one of which are Tory.

Ms Badenoch has set expectations low for the Tories, suggesting they could lose all the councils they are contesting.

The last time this set of councils were up for election was in 2021, when the Conservative Party was led by Boris Johnson who was riding high from the COVID vaccine bounce.

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Counter-terrorism police investigating after two women injured in Leeds

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Counter-terrorism police investigating after two women injured in Leeds

Counter-terrorism police are investigating after an incident involving a crossbow and a firearm left two women injured in Leeds.

Police were called to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a “serious incident involving a man seen with weapons”, West Yorkshire Police said.

Officers arrived at the scene to find two women injured – and a 38-year-old man with a self-inflicted injury. All three were taken to hospital, with the man held under arrest, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm,” Counter Terrorism Policing North East said in a statement.

The incident happened on the ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl, with one venue saying it was closed for the evening due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

Officers guard one of the crime scenes in Leeds
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Officers guard one of the crime scenes

Officers inside the cordon in Leeds
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Officers inside the cordon in Leeds

Counter Terrorism Policing’s statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police.

“Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a “serious violent incident” and said she was being kept updated by police.

“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response,” she said. “My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”

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