Brecon and Radnorshire’s MP Fay Jones has “warmly welcomed” the new plans to crack down on puppy smuggling and ban imports of dogs with cropped ears or docked tails.

The new powers from the UK Government, which also include raising the minimum age for importing a puppy from 15 weeks to six months and banning the import of heavily pregnant dogs, are aimed at safeguarding the welfare of thousands of puppies and dogs that come into the UK from overseas each year.

Speaking after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs made the announcement, Ms Jones said: “We have seen a huge rise in puppy smuggling recently – partially due to the increase of new dog owners during lockdown. But, puppy smuggling – and harming puppies for cosmetic reasons – sickens us all. That’s why we as a Government are determined to clamp down on it.

“As a dog owner I welcome the news that the Government are taking to tightening welfare standards as well as the recent recommendation of a new ‘pet abduction offence’ to allow tougher sentences following the rise in dognapping.

“The current law does not take in to account the emotional distress of losing a pet - those caught often only get a small fine. I’m sure we all want to see those who commit these offences subject to harsher sentences.”

According to Animal and Plant Health Agency figures, more than 66,000 dogs were imported into Great Britain last year.

However, evidence shows a recent rise in low-welfare imports and smuggling activity, with border authorities seeing approximately a 260 per cent increase in the number of young puppies being intercepted for not meeting the UK’s pet import rules - from 324 in 2019 to 843 in 2020.

The plans form part of the Conservative Government’s wider plans to reform animal welfare laws across the UK.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) chief executive Chris Sherwood expressed support for the plans.

He said: “In recent years we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of dogs being commercially imported into the UK as well as the number of dogs being reported for having undergone mutilated procedures such as cropped ears.

“These are major dog welfare issues that need addressing as a matter of urgency in order to protect dogs from unnecessary suffering and to protect the public from falling victim to criminals who are trying to cash in on these dogs’ value.”

The rise in smuggled pets falls in line with the figures released from a survey by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association earlier this year that reported 2.1 million people had collected new pets and 1.8 million were planning to add a new pet to their household during lockdown.

It reported that inquiries for pets had increased by more than 253 per cent during lockdown - dogs were the most popular adoption choice making up 57 per cent of newly adopted pets in the UK, closely followed by cats at 38 per cent and other small rodents at eight per cent.

The PFMA also reported that over one third of young adults - 35 per cent - had already embarked on their journies as new pet owners.