The dog trade is particularly flourishing in the Corona crisis.
Melanie Schmidt has made it her business to uncover black sheep among the sellers.
And now she succeeded again.
Munich - The three cute fur balls look at Melanie Schmidt's (27) arm.
No wonder: shortly before, the baby dogs were still the goods of an unscrupulous trader.
But then Melanie came!
The rescuer should be known to
tz
readers: It was only in February that the police * took up illegal dog dealers with her help.
And again on Monday evening.
The Munich resident's success rate is extremely good: in six years she was able to save 500 puppies!
This time again she discovered a suspicious advertisement on the Quoka advertisement page: three Labrador puppies, each 1400 euros.
Melanie is interested and makes an appointment with the dealers at the shopping center in Neuperlach.
The three nine-week-old dogs lie unsecured in the back seat, no rabies vaccination, no chip.
Then the trap snaps shut: the police take the traders with them to the station.
You have to pay, the offense costs around 600 euros.
The puppies have to be quarantined, vaccinated and taken to the animal shelter.
Video: These dog breeds are the perfect family companions
Beat because of puppy dealer: "I have probably already saved 500"
Schmidt puppy crooks have been laying down their craft since 2015 - with a 100 percent success rate.
A life's work for them.
“I don't even remember how many puppies I saved.
But certainly 500. ”With an average of around 1000 euros per dog, this means: The rescuer has already cost the puppy dealers more than half a million euros.
Since Corona, the animal rights activist has not been able to keep up with her detective work.
“So many people buy puppies that the advertisements are often only online for a short time.” She scours portals for dubious offers for at least two hours a day.
And that in addition to a 40-hour working week.
She recognizes suspicious advertisements by their brevity: Neither photos nor information about the dog's mother, telephone number or address can be found.
And: Serious breeders advertise on their own websites.
+
Caught in the act: The police follow Melanie Schmidt after her tip on the location of the puppy delivery.
© Sigi Jantz
Schmidt estimates that two thirds of all puppy ads on Quoka & Co. are dubious.
So for them a work of Sisyphus.
But: she wants to continue.
Your goal?
“Illegal puppy trafficking must become a criminal offense.
Currently it is just an administrative offense.
And the dealers often get the dogs back in the end.
(Leoni Billina) * tz.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA