Spy Dog Update

Important information about the Spy Dog, Spy Cat and Spy Pups series

What has happened?

It has come to our recent attention that in some editions of the Spy Dog, Spy Cat and Spy Pups series there is a reference to the author, Andrew Cope’s, former website for the series, which was owned by him. We understand an unconnected third party has recently taken control of the domain name and is using it to display a different website with inappropriate adult content. This website is not associated with Puffin or Andrew Cope. 

How to identify if a copy is affected?

Depending on the edition of the book, the address for the Spy Dog website was printed in the pages before the story starts and/or in the pages following the end of the story.

What do you advise?

Please ensure children do not visit the website and do not visit it yourself, either.  Copies of the books should be kept out of children’s reach whilst we work on this matter.

What is Puffin doing about this?

We are taking this issue extremely seriously and are acting on it as a matter of urgency. We are working through the appropriate channels to get this website removed. This is an in-depth and complex legal process and will take time. 
In addition, we have immediately paused the sale and distribution of the books whilst we deal with this matter. 
We are working with retail, education and library partners to remove the books from shelves for the time being. We are asking anyone who has copies of these books to temporarily remove them from their shelves. 
If you are a retail, education or library partner, please check your books and if they contain a website address then please remove the books from your shelves for the time being. If you own copies of these books, please temporarily remove them from your shelves.

I am a bookshop, what should I do?

Please check your copies and if you find the website address in the book, please temporarily remove these books from your shelves whilst we work to resolve the issue.

I am an online bookseller, what should I do?

Please temporarily pause the sale of physical copies of these books through your online store whilst we work to resolve the issue.

I am a school/librarian/parent, what should I do?

Please temporarily remove these books from your shelves and children’s collections whilst we work to resolve the issue.

I own an ebook edition of this book, which contains the website address. What should I do?

Please do not click on the link in your ebook. We are working with third party retail partners to ensure updated ebook files that do not contain the link are available for your device as soon as possible. 

The ebook editions of these books are on sale and some still contain the website address.  Why is this?

If you see a website address in your ebook, please do not click on it. We are working with third-party retailers to ensure ebook editions of these books are updated for devices as soon as possible.

I have an audio edition of this book. What should I do?

The audiobooks are unaffected by this issue.

Updates

There are reports the website has now been removed. Is this the case?

We understand the website has been suspended. We continue to recommend following the guidance issued earlier this week to remove books from shelves for the time being, whilst a permanent solution is reached.

We will be updating this page further in due course.

Last updated: 10/10/2025