I too was shocked to see Carole`s "link"
However, I agree with John that it is important not to class all the Spanish with the people who have mistreated these poor dogs.
I have had contact with one of these gentlemen who race over here and I cannot imagine him being anything but disgusted over this.
My contact came about when I was trying to find out about a dog I bred which, according to GD, was now in Spain. I sold him to a trainer (an Englishman) in Ireland and he obviously sold him on.
My fears were allayed somewhat by hearing that greyhounds were now bought to race over a straight course by enthusiasts for much larger sums than the giveaway prices previously paid at the sales to supply the now defunct stadiums.
I hope my dog is ok and will be well treated on his retirement but have no way of finding out.

Carole, anyone can get a rabies vac/microchip/frontline for their dog and then apply for a pet passport. Hundreds of pet owners do it.
Some years ago it came to my notice that the very nice gentleman living in Oxfordshire who had booked a Borzoi puppy bitch from me on the phone to replace his previous girl who had sadly died was in fact a "dealer" who had already arranged her sale in Japan.
Obviously when he rang to arrange to collect her, he was told in no uncertain terms that she was no longer for sale to him and why.
Things may have changed now but then almost no one would sell to that country.
Later I received enough written "evidence" to notify the weekly paper, Dog World, which printed the story on the front page under the heading "UK Borzoi offered for sale in Japan" as a warning to anyone else. The man was named in the article and during the next weeks a great many people wrote in to say they had sold him a puppy believing it to be for a family pet. This went back over many years and though it stopped him for then I expect he carried on with a name change.
I could not understand how the dogs were re registered in Japan (a requirement for showing there) without an export pedigree being issued by the UK Kennel Club, which would always appear in the monthly Kennel Gazette and would alert people.
Then I realised the puppies were re registered with the Irish KC, no export pedigree needed, and from there an export pedigree issued for Japan.
I tried to ask people on the Irish KC stand at Crufts how this could be allowed to happen, when it was obvious that the same man was exporting masses of English bred puppies through their system but suddenly no one would speak to me!!
Sorry this is very long (it is the short version I promise) but it goes to show what lengths some bastards will go to in order to get what they want.

What to do? Work toward eliminating animal cruelty in whatever form, wherever it happens. Support humane sporting standards and the humane treatment of the animal participants and those not fit to participate. It's not too much to ask, and perhaps it's common ground on which we all can stand.

You are right Wayne
There are too many breed specific rescue centres and campaigns.
One campaign for all animals to be treated with the respect they deserve is what is needed .

I do not believe that dogs going to Continental Europe actually need passports etc., some countries do require a rabies certificate but not all.

I don't like PETA because they're out on the lunatic fringe most of the time, but your RSPCA and our ASPCA are generally founded on sound principles. Those groups get stuck with a lot of the dirty work that irresponsible people have created.

The dumb things that people do to animals certainly are not limited to dogs. Would you believe, two three-foot-long alligators were pulled out of the North Branch of the Chicago River within the last month, abandoned by owners when they grew too large to be kept as pets. One was discovered just four blocks away from my grandkids' home. Now an alligator is not exactly a lovable beast, but it's cruelty to condemn it to certain death in winter's cold. We're having a beautiful early fall right now, but we're also only two months away from when the temperature starts to drop below freezing. At least these alligators will be transported to the South and released in the wild.

Hi Mark,

I have just sent 2 puppies to a friend of mine in Germany and they do have to have pet passports, that was not the case a few years ago but is now.

There is no reason why the legitimate transporters should not have a movement book detailing the dogs in their care , with details of the owner and the start and finish point of the dogs journey in the way that livestock transporters do . That way they could carry out their perfectly legal business and those who care nothing for the welfare of the animals in their care or where they end up could at least have their activities disrupted .