Do your homework when buying a puppy

Families thinking of buying a puppy during the school holidays are being urged to do their homework and make sure they don’t fall foul of the puppy traffickers.

The important reminder comes as a new RSPCA survey shows a quarter of people questioned admitted they would consider getting a puppy from a pet shop – despite 81 per cent saying it is important to see a puppy with its mother.

It is a significant rise on the 11 per cent who said they would consider getting a puppy from a pet shop when asked the same question just a year ago. However, a conflicting 81 per cent in the recent survey said it is important to know exactly where a puppy has come from.

Tim Wass, the RSPCA’s chief of inspectorate, said: “So many puppies are still supplied by the puppy traffickers, many of whom operate outside of the UK, and produce puppies like a factory production line, with concern only for profit and not for animal welfare. We still regularly hear about people who have found themselves with very sick puppies and hefty vet bills just days after they have taken their pet home.

“The latest survey results are a big concern for us and we urge people thinking about getting a puppy to question everything rather than act on impulse by letting their heart rule their head.”

The RSPCA believes improvements need to be made to the pet shop and breeding establishment licences that are issued in England and Wales as well as the way the licenses are enforced.

One of the main aims the RSPCA hopes to achieve in conjunction with licensing authorities is to reduce the number of instances where puppies fall sick or die shortly after purchase, through diseases such as the potentially fatal canine parvovirus.

In 2008 alone, Consumer Direct, the public watchdog received 4,627 calls on this issue, compared to 2,793 in 20063 and in the last five months alone, the RSPCA has received almost 500 calls relating to the puppy trade.

Puppies imported from other countries, such as Ireland, may not be protected by animal welfare legislation in their own country, and the RSPCA believes this is why so many of these puppies are entering the country carrying these potential fatal diseases. 

Mr Wass said: “We would like to see minor changes and additions to licence conditions for pet traders to address issues such as traceability, vaccinations and disease control to make them more accountable for the welfare of the puppies they sell.

“The RSPCA is committed to tackling problems associated with the trade in puppies and by working with local authorities we hope to make sure anyone buying a puppy will find the healthy and happy pet they deserve.”

To avoid getting caught out by the puppy traffickers the RSPCA’s advice is to:

• Always see a puppy with its mother in the place where it was bred. If the breeder can’t show you the mother, be suspicious. Ideally see the father too. 
• Check vaccination details carefully. Vaccination cards are easy to fake – if the vet’s contact details are not visible or have an address from outside of the UK, the vaccination card my be a fake. 
• Bear in mind that pedigree certificates are never a guarantee for the condition of your puppy and may not even mean you are being sold a pure-bred puppy. 
• Never buy a puppy just because you feel sorry for it. If you are concerned about the health or welfare of a puppy, please contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.