Dalmatian puppies are among 400 animals rescued from illegal pet traffickers in Spain who transported sick animals side by side up to 1,200 miles by road, allowing disease to spread

Thirteen people have been arrested after more than 400 animals, mainly cats and dogs, were rescued from an alleged trafficking network in Spain.

The network is suspected of illegally importing animals into the country from eastern Europe via a trade network that connected Madrid, Barcelona and Andorra, according to Spanish police authorities. 

A joint police operation uncovered the network was transporting the animals over long distances – sometimes covering more than 2000 kilometres (1242 miles) – mainly in small vehicles with scant ventilation, no light and poor hygienic conditions. 

These poor conditions favored the development of infectious diseases in some of the animals and caused contagion among the rest of the transported animals, authorities said on Wednesday.

They added some of the recovered animals, which were often breeds with high commercial value such as Dalmatians, were illegally bought online. 

The recovered animals are receiving specialist veterinarian care

A joint police operation uncovered the network was transporting the animals over long distances – sometimes covering more than 2000 kilometres (1242 miles) – mainly in small vehicles with scant ventilation, no light and poor hygienic conditions

The network is suspected of illegally importing animals into the country from eastern Europe via a trade network that connected Madrid, Barcelona and Andorra, according to Spanish police authorities

Others were bred in centres that the alleged traffickers ran. There female animals were used to produce as many young as possible without consideration for their health.

Authorities added that a veterinarian provided the network with her ‘knowledge and signature to give an image of sufficient reliability to guarantee animals [were] sold in good conditions’.

They said the veterinarian advised the rest of the organisation on how to hide or disguise records and other technical aspects from official controls and inspections.    

Some of the recovered animals, which were often breeds with high commercial value such as Dalmatians, were illegally bought online

Some of the animals were bred in centres that the alleged traffickers ran. There female animals were used to produce as many young as possible without consideration for their health

Pictured: Police conduct a night raid at a premise relating to the alleged trafficking 

The joint police operation to foil the network, which included four Spanish police corps, began at the end of 2020. This was spurred into action after Barcelona City Council’s Department of Animal Welfare and the City Police discovered 33 sick dogs at a Barcelona pet shop. 

They also found evidence of the mistreatment of the animals, which was leading to deaths, and suspected falsification of documents. 

The 13 people have been arrested on charges including animal abuse, workplace intrusion, fraud, document falsification and money laundering. 

The recovered animals are receiving specialist veterinarian care.