The Nice criminal court has handed down its decision in a case of international puppy trafficking examined in March 2026. Several convictions were pronounced following an investigation involving more than 7,000 animals imported from Eastern Europe.
Puppies imported from Hungary and Slovakia, resold in pet shops in the Alpes-Maritimes and transported over several hundred kilometers. The Nice criminal court handed down, on May 5, 2026, its decision in a legal case opened around a vast system of animal trafficking.
The investigation had led authorities to look into the conditions for transporting animals as well as the sales methods used with private individuals. Puppies deemed too young to be sold, anomalies in certain documents and questions about the health status of the animals had been raised during the hearing.
Several defendants were ultimately convicted of deceptive business practices and illegal practice of veterinary medicine. Prison sentences and fines were also imposed by the Nice criminal court.
A decision contested by the Stéphane Lamart Association
Party to this case, the Stéphane Lamart Association believes that the judgment falls short of the prosecution’s submissions. The organization explains that it has not yet obtained the detailed reasons for the decision, particularly regarding the acquittals granted to several defendants.
The SPA and the National Order of Veterinarians were also among the civil parties recognized as admissible.
For Stéphane Lamart, “this case demonstrates once again the abuses that can result from intensive animal trading when financial logic takes precedence over strict compliance with animal protection rules. Thousands of puppies were affected by this system. Many families discovered sick animals just a few days after purchase, sometimes with dramatic consequences. The association will remain fully committed to ensuring that this type of trafficking is subject to firmer judicial responses and that the legislator continues to strengthen the regulation of animal trading.”
The association obtained a symbolic one euro in damages for moral harm as well as compensation of 1,400 euros for court costs.
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