The illegal puppy trade is growing on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta, according to investigations by the animal welfare organization Four Paws.
Meta fails to enforce its own terms and policies, which allows the illicit trade of puppies to continue, Four Paws said.
Thousands of puppies are being advertised by unchecked, often corrupt sellers.
The investigation of puppies being sold on social media was done between September 2023 and June 2024. It revealed that social media is a growing marketplace for the illegal puppy trade.
Despite rules against selling animals on Facebook Marketplace and Instagram, sellers pretend to be legitimate businesses and bypass regulations.
Investigators analyzed hundreds of posts across multiple European countries, including Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK. In the UK, many sales broke local laws like Lucy’s Law, which prohibits third parties from making puppy sales.
These posts often included underage puppies, illegally imported animals, and dogs subjected to cruel practices like ear cutting.
Sellers pose as licensed breeders or rehoming animal charities without providing necessary documentation or proof of registration.
Despite the clear violations of Meta’s terms and policies, the investigation showed that Meta’s response was inadequate. Only two of the 64 suspicious posts, groups, and ads reported to Meta by Four Paws were removed.
This demonstrates a significant failure in Meta’s content moderation processe, Four Paws said.
The platforms’ algorithms and moderation teams fail to detect coded language, vague posts, and deceptive tactics used by sellers, contributing to the unchecked growth of the illegal puppy trade.
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