LEIGH MP’s is getting behind a campaign to take end puppy smuggling.

Jo Platt attended an event hosted by charity Dogs Trust at the House of Commons which gave people a virtual reality experience of the terrible transportation journey smuggled puppies endure.

The technology presentation showed the puppies being transported across Europe before arriving in the UK before being sold to unsuspecting buyers.

Ms Platt was one of 64 MPs and peers that took part in the event which included the routes used by puppy smugglers across the continent.

She said: “Dogs Trust has unveiled a horrendous trade that has been growing over the past few years and we now have the opportunity to make a positive change to stop this practice.

“I’ve been shocked by the findings of all four of its reports and am proud to support the case to bring an end to puppy smuggling with the introduction of tighter controls and the need for much stronger penalties to deter this horrific crime.”

Dogs Trust has been investigating puppy smuggling since 2014 with reports revealing the Pet Transport Scheme has been exploited.

The latest report shows evidence of corrupt vets operating in central and eastern Europe and falsifying documents for underage puppies to be brought into the UK.

It also found pregnant dogs have been smuggled into Great Britain so the puppies can be born in the UK and that border controls are not tight enough.

Dogs Trust veterinary director Paula Boyden added: "The findings of our fourth report into the puppy smuggling trade have revealed undeniable evidence that illegal importers remain undeterred.

"We believe this has only scratched the surface of the full extent of the problem.

"The lack of visual checks at ports and paltry penalties for those caught smuggling puppies are simply no deterrent and highlight an urgent need for our pet travel legislation to be redrawn.

"We hope our virtual reality experience has brought to life the terrifying experience a puppy faces when it falls victim to this trade.

"We thank Jo Platt MP for her part in highlighting the urgency of this issue.

"We want to see the government acting on our recommendations now to stop this horrifying trade.”