Today is Puppy Farm Awareness Day!
Puppy farming is the mass commercial production of puppies purely for profit. Dogs and pups in puppy farms are often kept in dark conditions, left completely unsocialised and prone to infectious diseases. The puppies bred are then sold en-masse by dealers, with many dying soon after reaching their new home.
If you’re looking to purchase a new puppy, read more about what to watch out for to make sure you’re not supporting this cruel practice!
You should be suspicious of puppy farming if the breeder refuses to allow you to see the mother, or if excuses are given for the mother’s absence; such as being at the vets, being sick or ‘belonging to a friend or relative’. A puppy needs to remain with its mother and litter mates until they are at least 8 weeks of age, therefore if there is no mother present this can be a major warning sign. Pups bred from a puppy farm will likely be taken away from the mother soon after birth in order to sell quickly and maximise profits. Never buy a puppy if you have not seen the puppy interacting with its mother unless you are really sure there is a genuine reason.
The main aim behind Puppy Farming is to produce as much profit as possible; therefore price can be a key indicator as to whether you’re purchasing a Puppy Farm Pup. Red flags include very cheap prices (£100-£350) or very expensive prices (£2000+).
Crucially, you should be allowed to visit the facilities where your puppy is being cared for. If the breeder is reluctant to arrange this, or refuses to allow you to see the rest of the litter, they may have something to hide. Dogs and pups bred in puppy farms are often subject to unhealthy and dangerous living conditions.
Make sure you pay attention to the condition of any facilities you visit, and apply common sense when assessing your surroundings: dogs should be visibly comfortable, and have access to clean water and food. Additionally there should be enough space for pups to exercise and move around – they should not be cooped up in cages – always trust your instincts!
If you are looking for a puppy, an ideal place to start is by looking for a Kennel Club Assured Breeder or from a rescue centre that’s a registered charity. Kennel Club Assured Breeders have to meet set breeding criteria and have their premises inspected. You can find out more about the Assured Breeder scheme on the Kennel Club website. Be extremely wary of purchasing puppies from online sellers, pet shops, garden centres or from free newspaper advertising. Many puppy farmers will transport their puppies to dealers who sell them via these means, as it makes it much more difficult to identify where the puppy came from.
And lastly – do not feel sorry for the puppy and buy it… This only adds fuel to the fire and allows puppy farmers to continue to breed and sell to people, like you! Instead please walk away and report your suspicions to the correct people (details below).
If you suspect you are dealing with a puppy farmer, you can report the incident to your local authority. Alternatively you can call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
Find out more:
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/our-resources/kennel-club-campaigns/puppy-farming/
http://www.pupaid.org/puppy-farming/how-do-we-stop-puppy-farms/