Dogsey

With their ears tied to make them stick fashionably upwards, these tiny puppies were driven for miles across Europe to be sold as cute Christmas presents in the UK.

British dog lovers who buy pathetic pets like these will probably be unaware that the animals are victims of an East European puppy farm trade that often cruelly flouts welfare regulations.

Thousands of dogs are trafficked annually – often in cramped conditions, on fake papers and while too young to travel.

Carer Jill Witte said: “More and more puppies are brought to us in a bad state.

“Many are under age and should still be with their mums. They are driven across Europe in dreadful conditions.”

The pups in our photos, part of a consignment of seven French bulldogs, were confiscated as they arrived at Dover because Customs officials feared they were no more than 12 weeks old.

That is the age when travel rules state they must be vaccinated. Travel to the UK is not allowed for another 21 days, by when pups are 15 to 16 weeks old.

Bending that rule means they could be carrying parasites and diseases *including rabies.

The seized animals were on their way to Peterborough, where Istavan Kiss, originally from Hungary, has advertised dogs for sale online for more than £900.

The pups seized at Dover are being nursed to health at the Animal Inn kennels, near Deal, owned by Jill. She added: “These tiny bulldogs arrived weak and ailing after a long journey, apparently without easy access to food or water.

“Even more cruelly, they had their ears bound with insulating tape. We never saw this trafficking like this before the Pet Passport scheme was relaxed.”

Importer Mr Kiss insisted he abides by the rules.

He said: “My brother is a breeder in my country. I’ve been doing this for five months and have applied for a licence. There has not been a problem before.”