A CHARITY has uncovered what it describes as a “high level of corruption” and “shocking” animal welfare breaches following an investigation into the trade of puppies from eastern Europe to Britain.

The Dogs Trust released footage yesterday which it says shows criminal breeders, vets and transporters in Hungary and Lithuania abusing the Pet Travel Scheme, which allows pet dogs, cats and ferrets to enter Britain without quarantine.

European vets were caught on camera creating false pet passports and rabies vaccination records.

The charity said that underage puppies slipped through the net undeclared due to a lack of checks at ferry ports and borders.

It also found that some puppies are forced to make journeys of more than 1,000 miles in appalling conditions.