The animal charity urged the government to consider implementing stricter regulations in the UK, following concerns that some of the dogs travelling over may not be suitable for adoption.
Thousands of dogs travel to the UK each year, with 44,000 registered as commercial imports in 2023.
"Ticking time bombs"
"The RSPCA's major concern is these dogs are essentially ticking time bombs - coming over, not being health tested," suggested spokesperson David Bowles.
"Diseases are now coming in through these dogs. They're affecting not just the dogs that are being imported, they could also affect the dogs already in this country and their owners. They've almost set up a Deliveroo for dogs and that is a real problem," he continued.
There is currently no licensing requirement for dog rescue organisations in the UK. This may be contributing to poor practices in how animals are imported - something the new Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill will look to address.
The proposed bill would prohibit the import of puppies and kittens under 6 months, and look to reduce non-commercial animal entry.
Choosing the right rescue
While there are unscrupulous rescues out there, many organisations work tirelessly to re-home dogs who would otherwise have no chance of adoption in their home country.
Responsible rescues will have carried out rigorous health testing, in addition to carrying out both pre and post-adoption checks. They will also offer full rescue back up for the lifetime of every dog they give up for adoption.
