Parents buying puppies as Christmas gifts are being warned against inadvertently funding organised crime.
Senior prosecutors and the Scottish SPCA have raised alarms that illegally bred dogs sold on the black market generate substantial revenue for drug traffickers and money launderers.
Designer dog breeds can sell for as much as £3000 each, with money channelled into Scotland’s criminal underworld through puppy farms.
In response, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is urging prospective puppy buyers to only buy from legitimate breeders to avoid financing crime.
Read more: Pup who survived Scotland's most notorious puppy trade case visits school
Sineidin Corrins, procurator fiscal at COPFS, said: : "It is understandable that many parents may be considering buying a puppy for their children at this time of year as a Christmas present.
"However, we would urge people to carry out proper research and only purchase puppies from legitimate breeders.
"We are aware that organised crime gangs have infiltrated this activity and continue to use the huge profits they accrue from it to inflict widespread harm on communities throughout Scotland.
"Illegal puppy farming has grown significantly among serious organised crime gangs as a way of raising finance.
"It plays a fundamental part in financing crime in Scotland.
"The public should be aware that these gangs are involved in the distribution of illegal drugs and money laundering.
"Therefore, our message is clear.
"It is critically important that anyone considering buying a puppy is aware of the pitfalls in respect of not buying from legitimate dog breeders and unintentionally supporting this cruel and illegal trade which exploits pets and causes them terrible suffering.
"By doing this, you are also helping to choke off a revenue supply to serious organised crime gangs and reducing the harm they inflict on Scottish communities.
"We will always take prosecutorial action in matters involving puppy farms where there is a sufficiency of evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.
The warning follows the Scottish SPCA’s unveiling of 2143 calls over suspected puppy farm and breeding activity in five years, with 220 calls this year to date.
Many animals trafficked by puppy farmers suffer serious health problems, resulting in substantial vet bills, with pets often too ill to survive into adulthood.
Read more: Six tiny kittens found abandoned on roadside as SPCA seeks answers
Hannah Medley, special investigations unit lead at the Scottish SPCA, said: “The low-welfare puppy trade continues to be a serious problem across Scotland.
“Dogs caught up in this trade are kept in appalling conditions — born into filthy, overcrowded environments and denied proper care, leaving many with lasting health and behavioural problems.
“These criminals deliberately target unsuspecting members of the public, and it is the buyer and the puppy who pay the highest price.
“Due to the puppy’s poor start in life and the likelihood of not being vaccinated, these animals are highly vulnerable to infectious diseases.
“Puppies originating from the low-welfare puppy trade frequently suffer from chronic parasitic conditions, which can often be fatal or result in severe illness.
“This industry is profit-driven, prioritising financial gain over the health and welfare of the puppies, leading to significant and preventable suffering.
“We urge the general public not to purchase a puppy online if you cannot verify who the seller is or where the dog has come from.
“Anyone looking to buy a puppy this Christmas should thoroughly research the breeder, insist on seeing the mum, be confident they have the lifestyle and financial means to care for that puppy for its full life, and — importantly — do not purchase and walk away if something doesn’t feel right.”
