FOUR PAWS
Working towards a world in which animals are treated with respect, empathy and understanding.
What does FOUR PAWS do?
“At FOUR PAWS, we're on the front lines, fighting tirelessly against animal cruelty and neglect.
Through large-scale vaccination campaigns, tireless advocacy against the cruel puppy trade, and critical rescue missions for exploited bears in Vietnam, our work makes a difference for animals worldwide.”
FOUR PAWS take action
- Reveal: We expose unacceptable and life-threatening conditions before developing practical solutions to shift perspectives and drive legal change globally.
- Rescue: Across the globe, we rescue animals suffering under direct human influence, taking action with our teams and campaigns to ease their suffering.
- Protect: We offer safe havens for vulnerable wildlife – big cats, bears, orangutans, elephants, and dogs – providing lifelong sanctuary after rescue from dire circumstances.”
FOUR PAWS and the illegal puppy trade
Up to 1.5 million dogs enter the UK market every year. Since it’s become easier to buy animals online, a place where sellers can stay anonymous, the illegal puppy trade is more profitable than ever.
FOUR PAWS recently completed an investigation (Sept 2023 - June 2024) on the sale of puppies on social media. This investigation uncovered just how big the illegal puppy trade is, often involving breeders who can’t be legitimately verified.
A number of measures considered to be fundamental to managing the online puppy trade came out of the investigation, including a crack-down on puppy smuggling. Sadly, puppies smuggled into the UK have often been identified as underage (they should be at least eight weeks old before being separated from their mother), have significant health issues, or suffered cruel or even illegal cosmetic modifications such as ear cropping.
We believe that every animal deserves the very best start in life, to be loved and cared for from day one. That's why we’re supporting the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill.
This important piece of legislation would crack-down on puppy smuggling by closing loopholes that give the UK the ability to ban the import of:
- Puppies and kittens under six months.
- Dogs and cats who are mutilated.
- Heavily pregnant dogs and cats.
Other ways Animal Friends has helped FOUR PAWS
- Support from Animal Friends has enabled FOUR PAWS to fund their stray dog management programme in Romania – specifically their animal care centre “Speranta”, which means “hope” in Romanian. This allowed the charity to improve and expand the facilities that treat, rehabilitate, and rehome the many (often injured) animals cared for at the centre.
- A £10,000 donation in 2023 allowed FOUR PAWS to continue their collaboration with the Ukrainian Small Animal Veterinary Association (USAVA). Working together in the cities most affected by the Ukraine war, FOUR PAWS and USAVA continued their lifesaving efforts on behalf of pets and strays.
- In 2022, Animal Friends funded £41,895 to cover the welfare and care costs of nine rescued Bile Bears in Vietnam for one year.
Why Animal Friends supports FOUR PAWS
Animal Friends is a long-time, avid supporter of FOUR PAWS, having helped with a variety of different projects in the past. We share a profound dedication to protecting animals from suffering, promoting responsible pet ownership, and advocating for stronger animal protection laws globally. Together, we will continue to fight for animals in need, and work towards a world where all animals are treated with respect and compassion.
As of June 2025, we’ve donated a total of £317,395.00* to the charity since 2017 to help their tireless work in protecting animals around the world.
