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The UK dog-owning public is being duped into buying dogs from puppy farms says Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, inadvertently fuelling the cruel trade and potentially landing themselves with huge vet bills.
In a recent survey the charity asked dog owners if they would consider buying a dog from a puppy farm. Although almost 95% said no, when asked where they had got their dog from 15.1% - potentially 900,000 dog owners - admitted they had got them from an advert in the newspaper, the internet, a pet shop or a pet superstore, all outlets often supplied by puppy farms.
In the past six months Dogs Trust has seen a marked increase in calls from concerned members of the public on the subject of puppy farming, many from dog owners whose pets have suffered illness and in some cases died as a result of having been bred at puppy farms.
Dogs Trust is calling for immediate measures to help to stop the puppy farming trade:
1. General publicDogs Trust is introducing the term 'battery farming of dogs' to associate the practice in the minds of the public with that of battery farming of chickens, and wants to educate the public as to where they can safely go to buy a 'cruelty free dog'.
Dogs Trust's message to the public is:
2. Government & Local AuthoritiesDogs Trust is calling for the review of existing breeding licensing legislation.
Clarissa Baldwin, CEO of Dogs Trust, said: "Battery farming of dogs is an appalling practice, abhorrent to all decent members of society. Breeding bitches are kept in unthinkably cruel conditions and bred from continuously until they are too old, then discarded. Puppies often suffer from medical problems and behavioural issues as a result of being inadequately socialised. While most people would never consider buying a dog from such a place, it seems that a large number are inadvertently doing so.
"Most reputable breeders would never sell their dogs through newspaper adverts, pet shops or superstores, garden centres or internet websites. Anyone who sees an animal for sale in any of these places should be suspicious. Newspaper adverts and online websites are of particular concern since unscrupulous breeders or middle men (dealers) are difficult to identify, often posing as members of the public selling 'puppies from unplanned litters'."
What's wrong with battery farms?Breeding bitches at battery farms:
A battery farmed puppy could have genetic or other health problems relating to its poor breeding conditions. It could also have behavioural problems as a result of being taken from its mother at too young an age.
Common problems for a puppy farmed dog are:
Dogs Trust has published a guide for anyone looking to buy a puppy. It can be downloaded from http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/b/buyingadog/default.aspx
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My wife and I consider ourselves to be reputable breeders, and we have always advertised in newspapers and the internet. How else? The problem is to ensure that the dogs go to reputable owners!
I agree with the comments and would add that my personal experience that despite doing all the breed homework before purchasing alaskan malamutes pups - on 2 separate occasions from approved breeders in Manchester UK and in the Netherlands significant health problems became apparent shortly after purchase. When the subjerct is raised with organisations who allegedly "care" about the breed no one wants to know and the whistle blower becomes the problem. Rather than acknowledge health problems and stop breeding, it seems normal practice to swap breeding partners next time round- without advising potential purchasers of the problem- and hope the health issue does not re emerge. It should be mandatory for breeders to clearly state that although the dogs used for a breeding have themselves tested clear of particular health conditions, pup(s) from a mating involving that animal have been affected.
We had a pup in at a practice I worked at, the farm had falsified a vaccination card, said the pup was much older than it clearly was, and it was really ill too....is horrible. I really think the government should step in to try & help close down al these horrible establishments.
I do agree with you Kathryn, except the other problems are more often screened for, and bred out in pedigree dogs.
Certainly parvo and worms is a big issue from puppy farms but the others can be found in pedigree dogs from proper breeders and is often down the the breed of dog itself.