To avoid Lucy's law relating to sales of dogs, many puppy farms /sellers from abroad are calling themselves rescues.

This also targets those wishing to feel good about buying a new pet, that they're rescuing a vulnerable animal.

The amount of dogs escaping from foreign rescues on hand over or in the first few days is ridiculously high.

That's a lot of terrified dogs running around the UK , often streetwise which leaves our livestock vulnerable- lamb kills and sheep worrying are high at the moment. 

All rescues from abroad must have in place:

*secure transport, dog crated and clipped in. Leads attached to both collar and harness before clip in car is released (if a dog can't cope with the level of handling required it isn't suitable to travel).

Alternatively, dog not to leave travel crate until inside secure location. 

*secure assessment centre, with fenced and covered run, and a double door policy, for dog to be held a minimum of 2 weeks to assess it's personality and how well it has coped with travel.

*meet and greet with potential owners in this secure environment. All new owners must have adequate outdoor space, or a written agreement with a field for hire, that should the dog never be safe off lead it has room to run daily.

*insured from the moment they step onto UK ground

*continuous help and support for new owners.

Many are ending up, at best, in UK rescues.  A large amount are confused and on lead for life in unsuitable homes. At worse dead - a lot involved in road traffic accidents.

I feel the majority of these rescues are very well meaning, but good intentions don't mean experience and good practice, and aren't in the animals best interests. 

All dogs from abroad are to be treated as sales from someone who isn't the breeder (not avoiding this under the heading rescue), unless they have a council assessed rescue centre in the UK.