The Scottish SPCA warn many of the dogs bought from illegal farms later suffer severe health problems and either cost their owners huge vet bills or are too ill to survive their first few months.
Parents are being urged to be wary of buying puppies this Christmas amid fears the money could be used as a financial pipeline for organised crime gangs. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said millions of pounds in Scotland are spent each year on trafficked dogs bought at unauthorised puppy farms or online - where some designer breeds can fetch as much as £3,000.
'Consequently, we seriously urge people to rely on authorised breeders.' Read more from Sky News:Woman killed in 'truly shocking' shooting namedClose to 1,000 feared dead after cyclone hits island The Scottish SPCA says it has responded to 3,340 calls connected to puppy farms in the last five years - an average of 668 a year, although this year there have only been 163 calls to date.
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