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How Do I Report Illegal Dog Breeding? | Naturewatch Foundation
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Report illegal dog breeding?

Do you suspect that someone is involved in illegal pet breeding and selling, or breaching animal welfare standards in the course of dog, cat or rabbit breeding?

Be our eyes and ears and report your concerns to us.

Do you suspect that someone is involved in illegal dog breeding or puppy farming?

Maybe you know about a suspected kitten farm?

Do you think someone is breaching welfare standards in the course of dog, cat or rabbit breeding?

Perhaps youve had a concerning experience in the course of buying a puppy, kitten or rabbit?

Be our eyes and ears and report your concerns to us.

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How do I report illegal dog breeding in the UK?

Natalie explains where to report suspected illegal dog breeding, whether youre in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

If you believe someone is involved in illegal or low-welfare dog breeding or selling, you can also report it to our Hotline 4 Pets (which covers cat and rabbit breeding too). Our investigations team will review your information and pass credible reports to the relevant authorities. Watch the video to find out what we’ll need from you.

Since 2018 weve been carrying out investigations and helping the authorities to bring people to justice for animal crimes.

Puppy farming, kitten farming and illegal pet breeding and selling is a serious business, and some people are making vast sums of money from the systematic exploitation of pets and the public.

We need your help to end it.

What we need you to do

If you know about an illegal puppy or kitten farming operation, or you suspect illegal pet breeding or selling is taking place near you, please dont keep it to yourself.

If you suspect someone of illegal dog breeding, puppy farming, kitten farming or welfare breaches in the course of dog, cat or rabbit breeding, complete our online form and well look into your concerns.

Our investigations can only get results with your help.

Watch our supporters share their comments on our investigations.

Complete our online form
Watch our supporters share therir comments

What happens next?

  • Well keep you safe:

    First, we use strict confidentiality protocols so you can rest assured your identity is safe.

  • Well work anonymously:

    Our staff will investigate and, if its appropriate, theyll put the information into a format thats suitable for use by enforcement personnel.

  • Well get the right people involved:

    Well send viable information to law enforcement agencies, who will use it to make further investigations, gather intelligence, or take enforcement action.

Concerned about an animal welfare emergency or the welfare of other animals?

Contact theRSPCA(England & Wales),SSPCA(Scotland) orNI Direct(Northern Ireland).

Gathering information

If youre concerned about illegal pet breeding or selling, its useful to try to gather some or all of the following:

  • Times, dates and locations
    Information about those involved, including names and descriptions
  • An account of what youve witnessed or why youre concerned
  • Car registration numbers and/or vehicle descriptions
  • Any photos (but do not put yourself at risk)
  • Screenshots of any concerning adverts and/or links to social media pages, websites etc.
    If you’ve purchased an animal, any receipts and/or paperwork received.

Exploitation

How are dogs exploited by illegal dog breeders and puppy traders?

image of puppy behind bars to depict puppy smuggling [image of puppy behind bars to depict puppy smuggling]

Puppy smuggling

Large numbers of puppies are smuggled into the UK each year, particularly from Eastern European puppy farms, where conditions are horrendous.

Pups are often transported long distances without their mum and without their basic needs being met. The risk of disease is high, and sadly some dont make it. Those who do are sold by puppy dealers to unsuspecting members of the public, who often have no idea their new best friend has had such a cruel start in life.

dogs in pen to depict illegal dog breeding [dogs in pen to depict illegal dog breeding]

Illegal breeding

The problems dont just occur on puppy farms. There’re lots of people involved in breeding who should be licensed by the local council.

Licensing exists to ensure breeders are meeting minimum dog welfare standards. Theres no way of knowing if those who evade regulation are doing the right thing. And theres networks out there of illegal backstreet breeders who are helping to supply the illicit puppy trade.

canine fertility clinics [canine fertility clinics]

Canine fertility clinics

Businesses that sell breeding procedures, such as artificial
insemination. They often operate without veterinary involvement and many exist to help people breed from dogs who cannot reproduce naturally, which is unethical.

People who provide veterinary services should be complying with veterinary law and regulation, but many of these businesses are entirely unregulated, posing risks to dog welfare.

Untitled design 6 [Untitled design 6]

Puppy farming

Where large numbers of dogs – often belonging to multiple popular breeds – are kept in intensive conditions to maximise puppy production. Large-scale commercial breeding is not sadly illegal, but failing to meet breeding and animal welfare standards most certainly is.

Puppy farms can be hotbeds for disease, and due to the sheer number of dogs, it can be impossible for their welfare needs to be met, particularly as puppy farms often operate with minimal staff to keep costs down.

What we need you to do

If you suspect someone of illegal dog breeding, puppy farming, kitten farming or welfare breaches in the course of dog, cat or rabbit breeding, complete our online form and well look into your concerns.

Complete our online form

How you can help

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When you take part, you join others to build pressure and help drive real change.

Help end dog toxicity testing

Experiments on dogs in Britain rose by 9% in 2025, despite promises to replace animals in science. Urge your MP to push the Government to end dog toxicity testing and invest in humane, modern alternatives.

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UK wildlife is under threat, yet crimes against it are treated as minor offences. Urgent legal reform is needed.

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Unethical extreme designer pet trends are pushing cats and kittens to the limit.

Join us in calling for extreme cat breeding to be banned across the UK.

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If you’ve had a bad experience with a dodgy breeder or seller, we want to hear from you.
Complete our short survey and share your story.
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