Dogs are loyal, cuddly and when trained properly the ultimate life-long companions. But many dogs are subjected to a life of cruelty and pain as the demand for puppies and ‘designer’ dogs grows.
Puppy farming still occurs in the UK, and involves mass production of puppies without consideration for the animal’s welfare.
Many dogs living in puppy farms relentlessly give birth to litters until their bodies are spent. At this point they are often destroyed as they are of no use to the puppy farmers.
Puppies are often kept in poor conditions and they are often sold in poor health with many not being immunised or wormed.
According to Pup Aid, litters are separated from their mothers too early going against the dogs’ natural instincts crucial for their healthy development.
PETA told Closer: “Many people are seduced into buying dogs from breeders, without considering the vast amount of time, attention, patience and money that properly caring for a companion animal requires.
“Unfortunately for dogs, after the "puppy love" phase wears off or when the going gets tough, many once-beloved animals find themselves neglected, dropped off at shelters or even worse.”
They added: “On puppy mills, female dogs are kept constantly pregnant. They spend their lives in cages, and they're denied the chance to follow their natural instincts, including raising their own puppies.
“When their bodies are spent and they can no longer reproduce, they're often killed. The puppies born on these farms also commonly suffer from diseases because of poor care. According to an RSPCA study, one person in five who buys a puppy does not have the dog two years later and is unprepared for the commitment and cost of looking after a dog.”
Puppies are often left with terrible health problems when they leave the farms. These aren't only horrible for the dogs but can amount to costly vet bills for new owners
The advice to those wishing to welcome a dog to their family is to adopt a puppy or adult dog from an animal shelter. Without loving families many of these dogs are sadly put down.
What is the law when it comes to puppy farming?
According to the Kennel Club, local authorities must be held responsible for licensing puppy farmers but only if they breed four or more litters a year. Any less than four litters and the puppy farmer does not need a license and is not made subject to statutory regulations.
There is now an accredited breeder scheme (launched in 2004) which has 7,000 accredited breeders on its books.
How can I ensure my dog isn’t from a puppy farm?
Pup Aid and the Kennel Club suggest that prospective dog owners:
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ask to see the puppy’s mother
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ask to see the puppy in it’s breeding environment
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if you want a pedigree dog then ALWAYS look for an accredited breeder
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don’t buy from a pet shop
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don’t collect your dog from a ‘neutral’ location such as a car park
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don’t buy a puppy to ‘rescue’ it. Alert authorities instead if you’re worried about the animal’s welfare. Buying the dog will simply fuel the puppy farming industry and make space for another puppy.
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BUT always consider adopting a rescue dog rather than buying from a breeder
PETA recommended to us: “We strongly urge anyone who is willing to commit to taking care of a dog properly to save a life by adopting from a local animal shelter and refuse to line the pockets of breeders who see dogs as nothing more than money making machines.”
What can I do now?
Write to your local MP about your concerns over puppy farming and sign this petition asking for stricter laws to be put in place over dog breeding and puppy farming.
You can also donate to your local dog and cat rescue centre to help abandoned dogs, many of which have been bred through puppy farms.
(Stock images used)