Where did all these puppies come from!?

Covid-19 brought us many things but the main two that come to mind are working from home and puppies. Lots and lots of puppies. I think we all know somebody who got a “pandemic puppy” over lockdown!

Puppy farms or puppy mills have been a big problem for a long time. But the demand for puppies in lockdown has led to a huge increase in puppy farming in the Ireland, the UK and Western Europe over the past year.

Why? Because lock down meant more time. And what better way to fill all that time than with a new puppy!!

The good news is that many animal charities have reported a high number of adoptions and new foster homes this year but unfortunately, many people want a certain breed and want a very young cute puppy which animal charities don’t always have available. This, with the rise of designer breeds such as cockapoo and labradoodle on social media influencer accounts, means that people will go anywhere to get a puppy.

The other problem is, what happens when life goes back to “normal” and the time and attention that dog needs is no longer an option? Animal charities see it every year at Christmas when dogs are abandoned or surrendered after realising they are a lot more work than expected.

A survey in Ireland showed that 72% of people are unaware of the regulations when buying a puppy. Many people who have bought from a puppy farm have sadly done so without even realising it! Puppy farming is illegal in many countries. In Ireland, regulations were officially introduced in February 2020, but these regulations are not being enforced enough and the penalties are so low that is hasn’t really had much of an impact on the puppy farming businesses.

Credit: The Irish TImes

Credit: The Irish Times

Why is it bad to buy from a puppy farm?

Ireland is the puppy farming capital of Europe, breeding approximately 30,000 dogs per year, mostly for export to the UK. Reports from the DSCPA say some of these farms investigated had 500 breeding females in one farm, kept in dire conditions with their only purpose being to churn out litter after litter of puppies. Ireland is a small country, so this number is even bigger in the UK and other countries in Europe. In the UK 400,000 puppies come from the online black market!! As demand grows and puppy farmers can get more bang for their buck with each puppy, people are now turning to online websites where they are buying puppies from Eastern Europe which are bred and shipped over along with fake documents.

The demand for cheap puppies is strong, profit margins are extremely high and the risk of being caught is low. Even if illegal trade is discovered, the fines to be paid by the trader are manageable and the next transportation alone will more than sufficiently cover the losses of the previous.

1) Intensive farming exposes dogs to viral, bacterial, parasitic and genetic disease. Poor hygiene and packed breeding sheds increase dogs’ likelihood of pain or premature death after infection. Often puppies will be sold by experienced dealers to an unsuspecting buyer before symptoms are apparent. Of course sick puppies, with health issues which can last for life or lead to death, need rehabilitation and professional care rather than sale as domestic pets. A quick google search will show stories of thousands of cases where puppies have been taken home by their family, only to get sick and die a few weeks later.

2) Animal behaviour experts agree - to lead a happy life as a family pet, good health isn’t all a dog needs. It is vital that puppies experience everyday domestic life through the formative first weeks from birth to teach them what contact with people is like. Buying a pet puppy that has no familiarity with people and home life can lead to upset for families and tragedy for dogs, if behavioural issues emerge and owners find they can’t cope. To be raised in outbuildings, bred from a bitch that’s exhausted, removed from the litter and mother too early and transported around the country in fear is the worst possible start in life for a puppy.

3) Buying a puppy continues the cycle of demand and means puppies and dogs that need adopting from rescue shelters are often forgotten about!

We dealt with many puppies in Cambodia, but this was due to a lack of population control and a high stray population in the country. In the West, the puppy problem comes from a totally difference place - purposeful and illegal breeding.

We dealt with many puppies in Cambodia, but this was due to a lack of population control and a high stray population in the country. In the West, the puppy problem comes from a totally different place - purposeful and illegal breeding.

How can you spot a puppy farm?

The following advice is from the Irish Pet Advertising Advisory Group (IPAAG) but can be applied to any country!

  • A big red flag is when the person you are buying the puppy from, wants to meet you in a random place like a car park. When buying a puppy, you should see the puppy interacting with its mother and check that the facilities are clean and the litter appears alert and healthy

  • You should be able to handle the puppies freely under supervision

  • Make sure your puppy is old enough to leave its mother – at least 8 weeks old

  • If your chosen dog does not originate from the place of purchase, ask where it came from and try to obtain its previous history

  • Always ask for a copy of its medical records, including vaccination certificate and records of worming and flea treatment

    For pedigree puppies, ensure that the Irish Kennel Club registration papers and the parents’ hereditary disease screening certificates, where appropriate, are in order.

    Other advice:

    A reputable breeder will be happy to partake in a “puppy contract”. Read about this here and find access to a free toolkit: https://puppycontract.org.uk/

    And of course, do not a buy a puppy online!!!

How you can find a healthy puppy legally?

The best thing you can do for animals is not buy at all! Rescues are inundated with animals and by rescuing a puppy or dog (or any animal!) you are saving a life. Rescues have every breed, colour, age of dog at some point during the year and waiting for the right time for your forever freind to come along means you want a puppy or dog for the right reasons.

However if you do really want a certain breed or rescues centres do not currently have puppies, the following steps can point you in the right direction:

  • The safest thing to do is to contact a local vet or in Ireland, contact the Irish Kennel Club for advice. They will direct you to a reputable breeder.

  • Always visit the puppy beforehand and make sure it’s still with its mother, and the mom looks healthy and happy in good living conditions.

  • Check the puppy looks healthy and happy and interact with it to check its temperament.

  • Ensure you get all the correct paper work and microchip.

  • Take the pup to a vet for a full check up to check everything is healthy.

Resources

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