After a Hungarian ‘propagation station’ was discovered near the Austrian border on Wednesday, animal lovers are in action. Because behind the lucrative trade in four-legged friends there often lies a system of exploitation, crime and endless animal suffering.
Not only in the fashion world there are trends that change depending on the season. Because “Lilac/Merle” or “Red Brindle” are currently not bestsellers for handbags, but especially popular coat colors for purebred dogs. The Border Collie and the Australian Shepherd are very popular at the moment – top prices are paid for rare color shades!
“Stinginess is cool” mentality, also when buying a dog
But as usual when shopping, you are also looking for a ‘bargain’ in the sale. To meet this demand, a true proliferation of offers has developed over the years. The time when, after careful consideration, you decide to buy a dog from an experienced and reputable breeder is largely over.
Because these breeders sometimes have long waiting times and you have to indicate whether you meet the correct requirements to keep dogs. This isn’t for everyone.
A big company!
The animal protection organization “Vier Pfoten” calculates: In Austria the annual need is 72,000 dogs. As many as 70 percent of them have an unknown origin. This means that for 50,000 four-legged animals it is not clear where and under what conditions they were bred. The recent case of hoarder breeding in Hungary shows how easy it is to multiply dogs uncontrollably and resell them without any problems.
“According to our calculations, the overall market value to cover the annual demand for dogs in Austria is at least 54 million euros, while in Europe we are talking about billions. We estimate the trade in dogs from unknown sources in Austria at 38 million euros,” says Julia Eppinger, employee of Four Paws, who is intensively involved in this problem.
Mafia-like structures such as drug trafficking
She talks about mafia-like structures and unscrupulous moneylenders who only see the euro symbols shining in their faithful dog eyes. True to the motto: increase profits at all costs, respond immediately to new trends.
Endless breeding stations
There are countless locations like the one in Csönges, Hungary, where female dogs are treated like birthing machines and their offspring are taken away far too early. Animal suffering is included in the calculation of the ‘multiplier’. The possible penalties are mild compared to other ‘business models’, such as drug or arms trafficking.
Finding a solution to this issue seems like an enormous task, which has so far faced a lot of headwind and the highest breeding association in Austria (ÖKV) has also done its best to counter this behind the scenes. The ball may be in the legislature’s court, but it’s in the buyer’s hands!
Rotting dog carcasses, countless dead puppies and the near-impossible task of housing over 500 confiscated animals at the same time. These are the sad impressions that Hungarian animal rights activists tell us about the current situation in Csönge.
The “Puppy Mafia” has once again done a great job and allowed us to look deep into the depths of the human soul. How you can treat living beings so cruelly and enrich yourself at the same time will always remain a mystery to me. The point has now been reached where you as a buyer of a dog from such sources can no longer avoid responsibility.
Anyone who does not conscientiously investigate the origins of his future companion automatically becomes complicit in this great suffering. Papers from well-known breeding associations are no longer a guarantee that the dog comes from a reputable source.
The “Krone” once again calls for more transparency from all parties involved. The puppies and their parents must be fully registered in the pet database so that their origins can be traced. Conscientious buyers should be able to check with breeders or authorities whether the future four-legged friend is of harmless origin. Anyone who does not exercise due care when purchasing animals should be prosecuted in the same way as the illegal traders!
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.
