An investigation in seven European countries, conducted by ‘Four Paws’, has revealed Austria’s involvement in the questionable puppy trade via Instagram and Facebook. Fifteen Facebook groups and seven Instagram profiles were identified that offered, among other things, advertisements from unregistered dealers and puppies under the legal minimum age. Despite the Meta Group’s guidelines, the providers found loopholes in the law, the NGO criticized on Monday.
The investigation from September 2023 to June 2024 found 15 Facebook groups in Austria with a total of 15,600 followers in which puppies were for sale. In six of these groups, offers were made by unregistered dealers, while in four groups, puppies under the legal minimum age were even advertised. In addition, seven Instagram profiles with 13,000 followers were discovered that were also involved in the puppy trade.
Dubious providers use tricks
Although Meta officially prohibits the sale of pets on Facebook Marketplace, dubious providers use tricks to circumvent the rules, according to ‘Four Paws’: ‘They avoid clear terms of sale, disguise their offers with emojis and hashtags, fake locations and direct ‘Transfer interested parties to private chats’, according to the broadcast. Meta also often responds only half-heartedly to violations, allowing dealers to quickly continue selling after a report.
“Four Paws” campaign leader Veronika Weissenböck stressed: “We are once again seeing that the puppy trade has gotten out of hand. Unscrupulous traders operate in secret and without fear of consequences. We call on Meta to finally put an end to the puppy trade on Facebook and Instagram until the traceability of both traders and animals can be guaranteed.”
Be careful with “designer dogs”
When buying a puppy, potential buyers should be particularly wary if an inspection of the puppy and its mother is refused. Offers such as home delivery or refusal of a video call “should therefore set off alarm bells.” Advertisements with terms such as “designer dogs” and luxurious photos are also signs of questionable offers.
According to Four Paws, puppies from dubious sales often suffer from health problems because they are separated from their mothers too early and are not vaccinated. For buyers, this not only means emotional stress, but often also high veterinary costs – because dubious dealers usually go underground after the sale.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
