During the Covid-19 lockdowns, many Europeans decided to adopt a pet to make the time spent at home more enjoyable. Last year in Germany, 20 percent more #dogs were adopted than in 2019. But professional breeders could not keep up with demand and unscrupulous people stepped in. Breeders who flout the law have cropped up all over the internet, offering puppies for immediate delivery. Every year, tens of thousands of puppies are imported #illegally from Poland and Hungary, often to Germany. It's a murky #business that generates both profits and animal suffering. Our correspondents report.

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