Animal welfare and illegal trade investigations in Hungary

Hungarian authorities are investigating an illegal dog trafficking network operating in Pest County. The National Investigation Bureau (NNI) suspects a group of five individuals, including veterinarians and pet dealers, of using fraudulent animal passports to bypass export regulations. By falsifying data to make puppies appear older than 15 weeks, dealers were able to sell small breeds to markets in Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany at significantly inflated prices.

This scheme resulted in animal welfare issues, as many dogs did not receive mandatory vaccinations or microchipping until shortly before travel, leading to illnesses and deaths during transit. Some animals were also found to have musculoskeletal or parasitic issues. Following the discovery of these operations, authorities conducted raids on various breeders, dealers, and veterinary clinics during September and October.

In separate incidents, animal welfare inspectors in Pilis rescued an emaciated dog that had been missing for six months, leading to an investigation into potential cruelty. Additionally, in Kelevíz, a dog attack caused significant economic losses for a local farm after killing several poultry birds and a goose.