DOG$PIRACY
A documentary following English veterinarian, Dr Marc Abraham OBE (aka Marc the Vet), as he seeks to stop the cruel puppy mills industry, end puppy smuggling and ban US pet stores from selling puppies. His campaign work takes him to Wales, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington DC and Westminster. But in amongst the political elite, he discovers conspiracies in both Britain and America.
Trailer
Marc Abraham
Dr Marc Abraham OBE is a veterinary surgeon, broadcaster, author, and animal welfare campaigner, regularly appearing on shows including BBC Breakfast and Sky News, as well as being a producer of US movie documentary Dog by Dog. Marc has experience across a range of different veterinary work (including small animal, mixed, emergency) as well as his volunteering abroad, allowing him to bring a unique depth and breadth of knowledge to both his broadcast and corporate commitments.
Marc is the author of four books: Vet on Call, Pets in Need, Lucy’s Law, and most recently #BeMoreMosquito, as well as writing blogs and articles to raise awareness of animal welfare across local and national media, including radio stations BBC Sussex and BBC Surrey, plus sharing tips and pet advice on his Twitter and FB channels.
Marc has successfully collaborated with a whole host of household brands and events, and is often invited to speak at public engagements. His passion for animal welfare has also seen Marc volunteer overseas for numerous animal welfare organisations. These include vaccinating dogs against rabies in the Mumbai Slums, rescuing dancing bears in Ukraine, saving cats and dogs in post-tsunami Thailand, rescuing dogs from dogmeat farms in South Korea, neutering pets deep in the Amazon Jungle, working with pit-bulls in a US prison, operating on street dogs in Udaipur, India, as well as dental work on a rescued moonbear in China.
Marc campaigns extensively for animal welfare issues both in the UK and US; including promoting rescue pet adoption and responsible dog and cat breeding, as well as actively advocating to stop the cruel puppy farming industry. In 2009 he set up PupAid, a national puppy farming awareness campaign, featuring an annual celebrity-judged dog show in London's Primrose Hill.
Marc is also responsible for three of the biggest pet welfare government e-petitions of all time and has spent years relentlessly lobbying MPs and Ministers in Westminster. He is also the co-founder and secretariat of the All-party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG) and helped source rescue dog Dilyn for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie.
After a 10+ year campaign, and over 300 visits to Westminster, the Government passed Lucy's Law into English legislation banning the commercial (for-profit/non-rescue) 3rd party trade in puppies and kittens, making all breeders accountable and providing transparency for prospective puppy and kitten buyers. The campaign also changed the law in Wales, Scotland, and hopefully soon Northern Ireland.
Marc regularly visits local schools to chat with pupils about caring for animals and looking out for each other and is also proud ambassador and/or patron of several animal charities including All Dogs Matter, Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home, Humane Society International UK, SPANA, Oldies Club, and Compassion in World Farming.
Marc is currently working at The Mewes Vets in Rottingdean near Brighton, as well as making Dogspiracy, a documentary about illegal trade in puppies, and sale of puppies in U.S. pet stores.
Paul Crompton (Director)
Before making documentaries for festivals and coming up with successful international TV brands Escape to the Chateau and Chateau DIY, Paul worked in nuclear engineering doing sheet metal work. He started at age 16 and lasted 6 years. During that time he made short films and was in a band in the 'Madchester' period.
He took a job in the kitchens at Granada TV washing up, but eventually went on to work with bands being filmed in the TV studios. He also presented a TV report on the repeal of the licensing laws.
In more recent times Paul has won official recognition for his work. Four of his documentaries have picked up awards at film festivals: 'The Limbless Mountaineer', 'The Aviatrix', ‘Ranchers’ and 'Iron Men'. He directed BBC’s hit series, 'Timothy Spall: Somewhere at Sea' which was nominated for a BAFTA and short-listed for a Grierson and he commissioned 'Steven Gerrard - A Year in My Life' for Sky One which picked up an RTS Award.
As well as working for several years as a commissioning editor he has helped to develop start-up production companies. In 2014 he teamed up with Spark Media where he created the ‘chateau’ brand that has now over over 250 episodes is shown in over 80 countries and won a Real Screen Award.
In more recent years he has developed and directed the Alice Roberts popular series ‘Ancient Civilisations by Train’. Which is also an international hit.
He is currently a director and producer for single documentaries, such as ‘Got Lead’ about Baltimore’s lead poisoning epidemic to ‘A Banner Year’ an access doc on Baltimore’s new regional newspaper, that is hark back to traditional local journalism. He’s also making a film about a Pan Am plane that was deliberately buried by bulldozers a day after a crash that killed 101 people and a feature documentary on AFC Wimbledon a football team owned by its fans. Dogspiracy took 5 years to make from lockdown to Spring 2025.
Lucy’s Law
Lucy's Law, enacted in April 2020, prohibits pet shops and other commercial dealers from selling puppies and kittens under six months old unless they bred the animals themselves or are a legitimate rescue centre.
Marc Abraham spearheaded the campaign garnering a group of politicians, campaigners and celebrities like Ricky Gervais and Peter Egan. The law was named after a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescued from a puppy farm in Wales, by Eileen Jones (see cast). Marc fell in love with Lucy who was the main feature in the campaign until she died. The law aims to combat the inhumane practices of puppy farming and ensure better welfare for puppies and kittens.
Key provisions:
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Direct Sales: Buyers must purchase puppies and kittens directly from breeders or adopt from rescue centres.
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Breeder Licensing: Breeders must be licensed and are required to show the puppies interacting with their mothers at the place of birth.
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Transparency: Licensed pet sellers and breeders must share their license number, the name of the issuing authority, the animal's age, country of residence, and country of origin.
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Consequences of Non-Compliance: Breeders who operate without a license or fail to comply with Lucy's Law requirements could face prosecution.
Impact:
Lucy's Law aims to encourage responsible breeding, provide greater transparency for potential owners, and help stamp out the importation of puppies from overseas.
Other relevant information:
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It's illegal to sell a puppy under eight weeks old in England and Wales.
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It's also illegal to sell pets in the street, in pet shops, at markets, or in public places.
Victoria’s Law
Very similar to Lucy’s Law but based in Pennsylvania and starting from a much lower base.Pennsylvania still allows pet stories to sell puppies, and it has one of the most concentratedcollection of puppy mills in the whole USA. If Marc can help to get this law in to the statutebooks in Pennsylvania other states will swiftly follow.In a nutshell, Victoria’s Law aims to drive the pet market in Pennsylvania towards morehumane sources by banning the sale of commercially raised dogs, cats and rabbits in petstores. This will increase transparency by requiring sellers to include identifying information.
Cast
Peter Egan
Much celebrated British actor of stage and screen, from Game of Thrones to Downton Abbey. Peter is Marc’s mentor and they have worked tirelessly for dog welfare for almost 20 years.
Eileen Jones, For Animals Wales Charity, Tonypandy, Wales
Eileen rescues dogs abandoned by Welsh puppy farms. She was part of Marc’s gang who created Lucy’s Law. Eileen rescued Lucy from a brutal life in a puppy far, after she was no longer physically able to producer puppies.
Vanessa Waddon, Hope Rescue Centre, Bridgend, Wales
Vanessa is at the sharp end of dog welfare, as she runs a dog rescue centre. It is always full and there is a huge demand for more space as people abandon their dogs. Vanessa goes to Parliament every month to work with Marc on making new laws.
Jenny Maher, Researcher in puppy smuggling
A brilliant researcher who goes undercover to witness puppy smuggling across international borders. She writes university papers on the subject.
Caroline Lucas, MP
Brighton’s Green Party MP from 2010 to 2024 and a very close friends of Marc’s. She was responsible for Marc’s move from a full-time vet to a political campaigner.
Rosie Duffield, MP
Rosie is the chair of Marc’s All Party Parlimentary Group for Dog Welfare. They work on new bills for animal protection and co-host the monthly meetings.
Sir Roger Gale, MP
A conservative politician who loves dogs and has works with Marc on new bills.
John P Goodwin, HSUS, Washington DC
John is a devoted campaigner to animal welfare and a professional lobbyist based in Washington DC. He goes to war with pet stores in the courtrooms of America trying to ban them from selling dogs.
Senator Ben Kramer, Maryland
Spent 11 years trying to get a bill passed that stops puppies being sold in pet stories un Maryland and succeeded. But still, to this day, does now know why it took so long.
Grace Kelly Herbert, Pennsylvania
Like Eileen Grace rescues dogs that have been cast aside by puppy mills who can no longer breed. She rescued a German shepherd called Victoria who became the focal point of the campaign for a new law in Pennsylvania. Sadly, this has been a long fruitless journey, and Victoria has since died. Marc and Peter Egan worked with Grace and Victoria on a campaign trip for Victoria’s Law in 2017.
Senator Tracey Pennycuick, Pennsylvania
Republican Senator Pennycuick suffers from PTSD from her time as a soldier in Iraq. She got her first dog during her rehab and it is the love of her life. She is part of the Victoria’s Law team. Grace, Marc and the Senator spent a day rescuing abandoned dogs from Amish puppy mills.
Dr Tim Schwab, vet, Pennsylvania
Works at Metro Vets in Norristown, PA and receives Grace’s delivery of abandoned puppy mill dogs every week. He and his team assess their health and give them the required medication before being taken to a rescue centre.
Dr Hagar Hauser, behaviouralist, Pennsylvania
Works with Dr Tim Schwab at metro vets analysing dogs with severe shut down syndrome.
Sheryl Petrillo, animal campaigner
Although Victoria’s Law is not yet on the statut books in Pennsylvania, Sheryl Petrillo single
handedly used a local by-law to ban one pet store from selling puppies.
State Representative Jeanne MacNeill, Pennsylvania
A democrat politician who works closely with Republican senator Pennycuick on trying to pass Victoria’s Law.