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Rescue Roulette: Dogs from Abroad looked at whether the current system for overseeing foreign dog rescue organisations, which is currently unlicensed in England, is fit for purpose and if more should be done to better protect owners and the dogs themselves.

It investigated the trend for direct delivery of foreign dogs and the potential pitfalls of what’s been dubbed a ‘Deliveroo for dogs’. 

As part of our research, we consulted multiple leading animal charities. We were also in contact with several charities importing dogs from abroad who provided guidance on best practise for importing from abroad, as well as the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). 

All of the Brucella canis statistics and facts came directly from APHA and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). We explained that the disease remains rare in dogs in the UK and that testing has increased in recent years. The programme included a contributor who did not euthanise her dog with Brucella canis – and reflected the difficulties of what it is like to take ownership of an animal that has the disease.

We included the right of reply responses from the rescue operators featured in the cases highlighted in the programme.

We heard from a reputable UK based charity who import dogs from overseas, Forest Dog Rescue, on how overseas dog rescue can be carried out properly and successfully, with correct matching and decompression time for dogs without being directly delivered. 

The programme also included a government statement advising those seeking to adopt a rescue dog to first check if a rescue organisation is a member of the Association of Dogs and Cats ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½s (ADCH) that has set clear standards.

We believe it was legitimate and in the public interest to highlight the concerns about a need for greater transparency and better legislation raised in Rescue Roulette: Dogs from Abroad.