UNSUSPECTING dog lovers are being conned into buying puppies which have been illegally imported into the UK.

The Dogs Trust has carried out research to find out how many buyers believe they have fallen victim to the illegal puppy-smuggling trade.

The study revealed that almost a quarter of puppy-buyers in Brighton have purchased dogs who developed serious health problems and behavioural issues in their first year.

Problems such as diarrhoea and anxiety were common in these puppies, and in the worst cases, some puppies even died or had to be put down due to the severity of their condition.

Sarah is a 30-year-old from Chichester who bought a border collie puppy just before Christmas.

Sarah, who works in restaurant operation, said she had her doubts about the sellers when she met them, but she still wanted to give the little dog a better life.

She said: “My boyfriend and I had been thinking about getting a dog and we found a puppy in Oxford.

“When we went to meet her it was a bit strange as the sellers were late and they had to go and get the key from another house.

“We also noticed the mother of the puppies was not there, and they told us it was because she was a working dog.

“The sellers told us the puppies had had flea and worming treatment and the vets had said they were healthy.

“We felt uneasy about the situation but we decided we could correct what was wrong – plus we had just fallen in love with this little black and white fluff ball.”

Sarah paid £425 for the eight-week-old puppy, named Eve, but the next day she realised something was wrong.

She said: “On Christmas Day she had not really eaten anything, and then she started to throw up.

“We took her to the vet and they said there was a chance she had a virus because she had not been vaccinated yet.

“They kept her in overnight and it turned out she did have the parvovirus.”

Although it seemed like Eve was on the mend, Sarah was shocked to get a call from the vet to say she was unlikely to make it.

She said: “They asked us for consent for her to be put down.

“It was heartbreaking.”

Sarah spent the next couple of days speaking to the RSPCA and Trading Standards.

She said: “We went back on to the website and reported the seller’s advert.

“It’s impossible to know where Eve had come from.

“My biggest regret from the whole thing is giving money to those people.

“We did it wrong, but the only consolation I have is that we gave that puppy the best chance she would have had.”

Yesterday the Dogs Trust launched their campaign to help prevent prospective owners from being misled into buying dogs who may have been smuggled.

Dogs Trust volunteers are touring the country in a fake puppy van to highlight how easy it is to be duped by a seller, and the dreadful conditions many smuggled dogs are forced to travel in.

The Don’t Be Dogfished campaign advises potential new owners to always go and see puppies with their mother together at their home, and to always visit more than once.

Puppy-buyers should ask lots of questions and make sure to see all vital paperwork, such as a puppy contract, which should gives lots of information about the dog’s parents and its breed, health and diet.

Adam Levy, regional manager at the Dogs Trust, said: “We’re launching a campaign warning people ‘Don’t be dogfished’ – to help stop people being duped into buying puppies that have been illegally imported into the country by devious dealers.

“People think they are getting a healthy, happy puppy but behind the curtain lurks the dark depths of the puppy smuggling trade.

“Many of these poor puppies suffer significant health conditions or lifelong behavioural challenges, and sadly some don’t survive, leaving their buyers helpless and heartbroken – as well as out of pocket.

“This is why we are touring the country in a van like those used by puppy smugglers to educate the public on the shocking realities of the puppy smuggling trade, and advising them how they can take action to avoid being ‘dogfished’.

“If it seems too good to be true, as hard as it is – walk away and report it.”

For more information, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/dogfished.