Where would you buy a puppy? I ask this as there are some strange people and strange places that sell puppies. Sadly, dog breeding can be a money making venture for many people who do not care for the breed or dogs in general. We all know about the puppy farms and yes they do still exist. But visit any town and you will spot advertisements showing puppies for sales. Where? In newsagent's windows.
Since writing, A New Puppy in the Family (How To Books) I've started my own crusade to stop newsagents selling advertisements to puppy breeders. Granted some may well be pet owners who have bred and litter but still it shows little regard for dogs in general if they advertise in such places amongst second hand pushchairs, old cars and massage and escort services.
I'm sure I will visit this subject often in later blogs but for now will stick to one shop window in a typical English town. It happens to be the town where I live, not large town but for some a den for back yard breeders.
Last week I spotted FIVE adverts showing puppies for sale. Not one was well written and some were laughable if it had not been for the fact there were dogs lives at stake. Something I have noticed is that these ignorant puppy sellers use terms such as, 'good with children' and 'good temperaments' as if this is a selling tool. I make a point of always ringing the advertisers and it is upsetting to know that such ignorant people are profiting from breeding pedigree dogs with no knowledge of health testing for the parents of the puppies or indeed registration documents, feeding guides, insurance or back up help in the years to follow.
One advertisement was for Chihuahua puppies selling at £1100 each. The silly woman who spoke to me openly admitted that she had one bitch that her dog had accidentally mated. Then, two other bitches were given to her, both in season and her rampant dog 'got at them' so she was left with lots of puppies. This virile dog had broken out of his cage to managed to service four bitches - four? She suddenly mentioned another bitch but I have no idea where that one come from.
The puppies where five weeks old and she was letting them go now as long as we paid cash as the were, 'driving her up the bloody wall.'
I did ask her a few questions trying hard not to give her a piece of my mind:
Insurance:
No, never heard of it!
Vaccinations:
Too young!
Feeding guide and food samples:
No (she laughed) but when you come to buy the puppy she would 'tell' me what they were eating.
Kennel Club registration:
She hasn't bothered as most of the parents are not registered.
Pedigrees:
Yes, if I wanted one - sigh!
Health inspection:
Yes at two weeks when she almost lost them as she didn't know what she was doing - her words!
Back up help/guarantee:
She'd never heard of such a thing and openly laughed. When they leave her home she didn't want to hear of them again as she'd never wanted the litters to begin with.
Why didn't she terminate then?
You can't do that to a dog - she was shocked I'd even mentioned this!
I asked why the puppies were being sold for £1100 each? It was because she needed the money to have them all 'spaded' (sic) as she reckoned she never wanted any more?
I used the word 'breeder' when speaking to her and she was horrified that I'd called her such a thing. I asked why and it appeared shed's seen a TV documentary about how breeders were horrible people and she wasn't one of them and did want to be called such a name. After all hadn't she stated the mother could be seen and that the puppies had good temperaments?
So, thanks to that awful BBC documentary called, Pedigree Dogs Exposed where blatant lies were told about dog breeders (labelled as show breeders) ignorant people are moving away from advice from the likes of the Kennel Club and reputable breed clubs (this breeder didn't like them either).
I expected to meet ignorance when speaking to people like this woman but I was horrified at her attitude and lack of understanding the needs of a small puppy. Time to stop all puppy sales apart from through the Kennel Club and registered breed clubs.
On, I reported this lady to her local council as she was breeding without a licence. I intend to find out what the RSPCA are doing about such adverts as well.
For any reader who is lookoing for a pupy please visit the Kennel Club website:
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/
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