Unvaccinated puppies being smuggled into Zimbabwe from South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post hidden in the vehicles are bringing in new strains of diseases, Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Zimbabwe (VAWZ) has said.
BY MUNESU NYAKUDYA
In a statement yesterday, VAWZ said investigations had revealed that the puppies were simply being hidden in vehicles driving a cross the border or carried to waiting vehicles in boxes across the dry river bed.
“The number of puppies advertised for sale on various platforms (classified advertisements, social media and the like) is cause for serious concern,” VAWZ said.
“Many different breeds are available, with some adverts even offering to find you the breed of your choice. In most municipal areas in Zimbabwe, it is illegal to breed dogs without a breeders’ licence and there are, in fact, very few ‘legal’ breeders in this country. There certainly are no registered breeders of many of the more exotic breeds offered for sale.
“Most of the pedigree/purebred puppies advertised for sale are smuggled over the border from South Africa. They are then brought into various towns, Marondera and Harare in particular, from where they are advertised for sale,” the statement added.
VAWZ said that they believed that the puppies’ were being bought through adverts in South African newspapers, where the sellers are met on the side of the road, payment made and the dogs then begin their journey to Zimbabwe.
“Most of the pups have not been vaccinated as claimed and there is a danger of new strains of diseases being brought into Zimbabwe. The director of Veterinary Services has expressed concern at the possibility of disease outbreaks both animal and zoonotic as the real health status of these puppies is unknown,” VAWZ said.
