Munich: The deadly business of the puppy mafia - Daisy and Goofy were only six weeks old

Created: 03/24/2022, 20:24

By: Claudia Schuri

Victim of the puppy mafia: Daisy came to Germany to Bulgaria when she was only six weeks old and was so ill that she had to be put to sleep.

© Tierschutzverein München

It is an unscrupulous business: the suffering of the animals that fall victim to the illegal puppy trade is great.

Two small dogs have now died in Munich.

Munich – your name sounds like Disney Gaudi – but your short life was a torment. "Goofy and Daisy had a really bad time," says Kristina Berchtold from the Munich Animal Welfare Association*.

When the puppies were around six weeks old, they were separated from their mother - much too young.

But the unscrupulous dealers of the puppy mafia didn't care: they just wanted to make a lucrative business with the animals.

The bitter end of the story: Goofy and Daisy are not even three months old.

Both had to be euthanized after suffering greatly.

Goofy was also seriously ill.

In addition, his ears were cut off.

For him, too, the help came too late.

© Animal Welfare Association

The little Kangal male and the Spitz girl were both unvaccinated and already seriously ill when a Bulgarian drove through Germany with them.

The man probably wanted to smuggle the puppies to Belgium – but only got as far as the Brunnthal motorway junction, where the police stopped him and took the dogs away from him.

Munich: puppy mafia claims numerous victims – Goofy and Daisy died

The puppies came to the rabies quarantine station at the animal shelter Riem* and from there to a clinic.

But help came too late: Goofy died after two days, Daisy some time later.

Both suffered from the animal disease parvovirus.

In contrast, there would actually be a vaccination from the age of five weeks.

According to Berchtold, puppies are usually also protected by their mother: "It can be assumed that the parents are not vaccinated either," she says.

"The virus load was very high." Particularly cruel: Goofy's ears had also been cut off.

Puppy mafia: Animals are regularly confiscated

The fate of the puppies is not unique.

"We regularly have to take care of dogs from illegal traders from abroad," says Berchtold.

Ten affected animals are currently in the shelter.

The municipal veterinary office also regularly follows up on information and, if necessary, initiates the necessary measures, emphasizes a spokesman.

With a flyer campaign, the city is trying to enlighten the citizens so that they can help in the fight against the unscrupulous traders*.

Munich: Puppy buyers should pay attention to this

Kristina Berchtold also calls for caution when buying a puppy.

"With a reputable breeder, the handover never takes place in a public space," she explains.

Buyers can see the dog mom, there is a purchase contract - and the dealer inquires about the living conditions of the animals.

Vaccination should also be an issue.

"You also have the opportunity to get to know the dogs without obligation," she says.

In addition, German puppies would have to stay with their mother for at least eight weeks.

Puppies from other EU countries may only be legally imported when they are at least 15 weeks old and have been vaccinated against rabies.

Perfidious: "Illegal dealers often disguise the purchase as an animal welfare case," warns Berchtold.

The buyer means doing something good.

"It's getting harder and harder to identify dubious breeders," she complains.

A thriving business

The illegal pet trade is booming: the German Animal Welfare Association found 142 cases in Bavaria last year.

Among the 820 animals affected were 749 dogs, 67 cats and four pigeons.

"The number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher," says a spokesman.

Because the majority of cases are not even known.

Nevertheless, in 2021, the figures for 2020 were already exceeded in the first six months.

The Four Paws Foundation is also sounding the alarm.

"Bavaria is at the forefront," says a spokeswoman.

The foundation also keeps statistics on police and press reports on the illegal puppy trade: for Munich, it documented at least 61 confiscated animals in the past.