Kriminellen Welpenhändlern auf der Spur | ARTE Re: Reupload

Experts estimate the profits of the puppy mafia in Europe at around one billion euros per year. Birgitt Thiesmann of the animal welfare foundation "Four Paws" is hot on the heels of the puppy dealers, following their trail across Europe. She maintains contact with animal shelters, the police, veterinarians, and defrauded puppy buyers. "Yes, I've been physically attacked before, and of course, you also get threats," says Birgitt Thiesmann of the animal welfare foundation "Four Paws," "that's just part of the business." Birgitt was a reporter for "Bravo" magazine for over 20 years; after a report on the illegal puppy trade in Europe, she joined "Four Paws." Since then, she has been fighting against the criminal dealers. Experts estimate that around one billion euros are earned annually with these young dogs in Europe. This makes the illegal puppy trade just as lucrative as the criminal trade in drugs, weapons, or women. “The puppies are usually terminally ill. They aren’t vaccinated or dewormed, and many of them die right after being sold,” says Birgitt, who maintains contact with many defrauded and shocked buyers. She regularly follows the routes of criminal puppy traders across the continent. In Prague, she meets a woman who has left the trade. The woman was a so-called “puppy mill”—animal rights activists never refer to these criminal “puppy factories” as “breeding operations.” Birgitt hopes to gain new insider information and isn’t disappointed: She learns of another, previously unknown “puppy mill” near Prague. “This has absolutely nothing to do with responsible breeding,” says Birgitt. She can see the consequences all over Europe: overcrowded animal shelters in Germany and puppies with behavioral problems in the kennels of Belgian dog dealers. At least Birgitt and her fellow activists regularly achieve small victories. She poses as a prospective puppy buyer to shady dealers – and then calls in official veterinarians and the police to seize puppies that were clearly smuggled into Germany. Documentary (Germany 2023, 30 min) #puppytrading #crime #illegaltrading Video available until November 28, 2026 Link to the media library: https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/111752-... Subscribe to ARTE's YouTube channel:    / artede   Follow us on social media: Facebook:   / arte.tv   Twitter:   / artede   Instagram:   / arte.tv