In recent years, Hungary has become one of the strongholds of the illegal Central European dog trade. A few years ago, tens of thousands of puppies of unknown origin were being sold. Whether this situation has changed since then is hard to tell — by its very nature, the issue remains largely hidden. According to the NOÉ Animal Shelter, tens of thousands of dogs are still being shipped abroad from illegal breeding farms.
Schneider Kinga, a staff member at the shelter, says this has become an industrial-scale sector. Numerous breeders — or rather, “dog factories” — operate, which are not the same as legitimate animal breeding facilities. In several parts of the country, entire communities depend directly or indirectly on this business. Even an illegal breeding site has its own veterinarian and food supplier. Authorities often turn a blind eye to their activities.
“Authorities have been trying for years to curb illegal breeding, and the laws have changed — yet nothing changes?”
The state has no effective solution to the problem. There are civilian initiatives, but the system is overloaded. It’s questionable how many dogs shelters can take in when breeding sites are shut down. After several major crackdowns late last year, more than 600 animals ended up in the care of NGOs. This overwhelmed the entire sector, and they’re still struggling to recover. These dogs can’t even be adopted yet, as they’re being held as evidence in criminal proceedings.
“This market is obviously driven by profit expectations. How big is the business?”
Some of the dogs “produced” in Hungary are exported, while others find homes domestically. A purebred puppy from a responsible breeder — with contracts, vaccinations, health screening of the parents, and proper socialization — can cost anywhere from 500,000 forints to several million, depending on the breed. Less fashionable dogs can be bought for around 300,000 forints. Dogs from puppy mills, however, are sold for a fraction of that price — but at great risk. Conditions in these mills are appalling: many animals are sick and poorly socialized. The majority of diseased dogs come from such places. In the end, veterinary costs can far exceed the purchase price. These dogs often remain fearful of humans for life — though it’s well known that dogs are supposed to be man’s best friend.
“Why are pedigreed, legally bred dogs so expensive?”
Responsible breeding is an expensive hobby, not necessarily a profitable one. A single genetic test can cost around 100,000 forints. Breeders must take dogs to shows and feed them high-quality food, which costs 60–70 thousand forints per bag. Keeping a pet in Hungary today is a luxury. Many people end up giving up their dogs when they can’t afford the costs. There are simply too many dogs in Hungary — hence the urgent need for a comprehensive spay and neuter program.
“How could illegal breeding be reduced?”
It’s a tough issue. In poorer regions, entire villages make a living from it, but no one knows exactly how many people are involved. If authorities were to eliminate this source of income, the state would have to support these families financially. Moreover, the authorities themselves are not equipped to dismantle breeding sites — it would require billions. These regions are marked by deep poverty.
“How do you assess the work of the authorities?”
The attitude of authorities varies widely across the country. That’s why we try to build connections at the highest levels — for example, with county governors. Lower down, nepotism is widespread, which is problematic when the official veterinarian also serves as the breeder’s private vet. Low wages make it hard to find people for the job; sometimes you have to beg them to take it. The Hungarian Veterinary Chamber does not act effectively enough. In our view, it has formed a misguided alliance with these veterinarians. Still, there are counties where we cooperate well with the authorities.
The Hungarian Veterinary Chamber has no control over illegal dog exports. According to its secretary general, László Horváth, it’s not even clearly defined what counts as illegal dog export — a debate that has dragged on for years. “In any case,” he said, “we don’t want to deal with it — it’s not our jurisdiction. The Chamber has nothing to do with official veterinarians.”
“Is it true that in some areas, the same official veterinarians are responsible for inspecting the breeding sites — creating a conflict of interest?”
A veterinarian essentially acts in three capacities: as the attending vet providing care and vaccinations, as the inspector checking transport documents, and as a private service provider visiting the farms after hours. There have been proceedings over such conflicts of interest.
“Can’t this conflict be resolved?”
Public-sector pay in Hungary is too low, so veterinarians are forced to take on second jobs. Untangling these overlapping roles is difficult in today’s Hungarian society.
“We have no insight into the illegal dog trade — we only know the shocking stories from hearsay,” said Gábor Korózs, president of the Hungarian National Kennel Club. The organization has no legal authority and therefore cannot impose sanctions.
According to a 2021 amendment, only those registered in the FELIR identification system may breed dogs. Thus, legally speaking, only animals born in officially registered facilities may be sold. Yet many breeders have avoided registration to stay off the authorities’ radar, says László Pallós, the national chief inspector for animal welfare at NÉBIH. Before transport, the official veterinarian must check the dogs’ health, fitness for travel, and accompanying documents. Without these, no shipment can be dispatched.
“Estimates suggest that 80–100 thousand dogs are born annually, but only about a quarter are registered. Why?”
In most export shipments, the dogs are not accompanied by pedigrees because the market doesn’t demand them. Without one, the attending veterinarian simply records the breed type in the pet passport, and that usually satisfies buyers. Official oversight in breeding exists only for Hungarian native breeds.
“Do you have any data on the scale of the illegal trade?”
No, because it’s illegal by nature. But one thing is clear: where there’s market demand, someone will supply it. Hungarian puppies are in demand. Dealers buy them for just a few tens of thousands of forints and resell them for thousands of euros — an enormous profit margin. We may have our opinions about profit-driven breeders and the trade itself, but as an authority, all we can do is enforce existing laws to the fullest extent. What’s certain is that it’s a bad sign when buyers only look at price — because the animal’s genetic, health, and social background deeply affects its future relationship with its owner. A poor choice can lead to long-term problems and even damage the bond between humans and dogs.
This article was produced with funding from the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the EU nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Schneider Kinga, a staff member at the shelter, says this has become an industrial-scale sector. Numerous breeders — or rather, “dog factories” — operate, which are not the same as legitimate animal breeding facilities. In several parts of the country, entire communities depend directly or indirectly on this business. Even an illegal breeding site has its own veterinarian and food supplier. Authorities often turn a blind eye to their activities.
“Authorities have been trying for years to curb illegal breeding, and the laws have changed — yet nothing changes?”
The state has no effective solution to the problem. There are civilian initiatives, but the system is overloaded. It’s questionable how many dogs shelters can take in when breeding sites are shut down. After several major crackdowns late last year, more than 600 animals ended up in the care of NGOs. This overwhelmed the entire sector, and they’re still struggling to recover. These dogs can’t even be adopted yet, as they’re being held as evidence in criminal proceedings.
“This market is obviously driven by profit expectations. How big is the business?”
Some of the dogs “produced” in Hungary are exported, while others find homes domestically. A purebred puppy from a responsible breeder — with contracts, vaccinations, health screening of the parents, and proper socialization — can cost anywhere from 500,000 forints to several million, depending on the breed. Less fashionable dogs can be bought for around 300,000 forints. Dogs from puppy mills, however, are sold for a fraction of that price — but at great risk. Conditions in these mills are appalling: many animals are sick and poorly socialized. The majority of diseased dogs come from such places. In the end, veterinary costs can far exceed the purchase price. These dogs often remain fearful of humans for life — though it’s well known that dogs are supposed to be man’s best friend.
“Why are pedigreed, legally bred dogs so expensive?”
Responsible breeding is an expensive hobby, not necessarily a profitable one. A single genetic test can cost around 100,000 forints. Breeders must take dogs to shows and feed them high-quality food, which costs 60–70 thousand forints per bag. Keeping a pet in Hungary today is a luxury. Many people end up giving up their dogs when they can’t afford the costs. There are simply too many dogs in Hungary — hence the urgent need for a comprehensive spay and neuter program.
“How could illegal breeding be reduced?”
It’s a tough issue. In poorer regions, entire villages make a living from it, but no one knows exactly how many people are involved. If authorities were to eliminate this source of income, the state would have to support these families financially. Moreover, the authorities themselves are not equipped to dismantle breeding sites — it would require billions. These regions are marked by deep poverty.
“How do you assess the work of the authorities?”
The attitude of authorities varies widely across the country. That’s why we try to build connections at the highest levels — for example, with county governors. Lower down, nepotism is widespread, which is problematic when the official veterinarian also serves as the breeder’s private vet. Low wages make it hard to find people for the job; sometimes you have to beg them to take it. The Hungarian Veterinary Chamber does not act effectively enough. In our view, it has formed a misguided alliance with these veterinarians. Still, there are counties where we cooperate well with the authorities.
The Hungarian Veterinary Chamber has no control over illegal dog exports. According to its secretary general, László Horváth, it’s not even clearly defined what counts as illegal dog export — a debate that has dragged on for years. “In any case,” he said, “we don’t want to deal with it — it’s not our jurisdiction. The Chamber has nothing to do with official veterinarians.”
“Is it true that in some areas, the same official veterinarians are responsible for inspecting the breeding sites — creating a conflict of interest?”
A veterinarian essentially acts in three capacities: as the attending vet providing care and vaccinations, as the inspector checking transport documents, and as a private service provider visiting the farms after hours. There have been proceedings over such conflicts of interest.
“Can’t this conflict be resolved?”
Public-sector pay in Hungary is too low, so veterinarians are forced to take on second jobs. Untangling these overlapping roles is difficult in today’s Hungarian society.
“We have no insight into the illegal dog trade — we only know the shocking stories from hearsay,” said Gábor Korózs, president of the Hungarian National Kennel Club. The organization has no legal authority and therefore cannot impose sanctions.
According to a 2021 amendment, only those registered in the FELIR identification system may breed dogs. Thus, legally speaking, only animals born in officially registered facilities may be sold. Yet many breeders have avoided registration to stay off the authorities’ radar, says László Pallós, the national chief inspector for animal welfare at NÉBIH. Before transport, the official veterinarian must check the dogs’ health, fitness for travel, and accompanying documents. Without these, no shipment can be dispatched.
“Estimates suggest that 80–100 thousand dogs are born annually, but only about a quarter are registered. Why?”
In most export shipments, the dogs are not accompanied by pedigrees because the market doesn’t demand them. Without one, the attending veterinarian simply records the breed type in the pet passport, and that usually satisfies buyers. Official oversight in breeding exists only for Hungarian native breeds.
“Do you have any data on the scale of the illegal trade?”
No, because it’s illegal by nature. But one thing is clear: where there’s market demand, someone will supply it. Hungarian puppies are in demand. Dealers buy them for just a few tens of thousands of forints and resell them for thousands of euros — an enormous profit margin. We may have our opinions about profit-driven breeders and the trade itself, but as an authority, all we can do is enforce existing laws to the fullest extent. What’s certain is that it’s a bad sign when buyers only look at price — because the animal’s genetic, health, and social background deeply affects its future relationship with its owner. A poor choice can lead to long-term problems and even damage the bond between humans and dogs.
This article was produced with funding from the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the EU nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.
