Written by: Alison Laurie, Senior Consultant, Crown Vets Inverness
The illegal puppy selling trade in the UK is an issue that is worryingly becoming increasingly more common. As Vets sadly we do see first-hand the tragic consequences that can result from irresponsible dog breeding, puppy farming, and from the illegal importation of puppies. Often resulting in unnecessary suffering caused to the Bitches bred and to the puppies and also to the potential owners if things do go wrong.
When considering buying a new puppy it has been proven that purchasing a puppy directly from the original breeder still has the greatest positive impact on the current and future health and wellbeing of the animal and is the best and most reliable way to acquire a healthy and well socialised puppy. A breeder being the person that has the mother of the pup/or puppies and the puppies are being sold from the same location at which they have been bred. The RSPCA recommend that you see the puppy in the place that he was born and that you see the puppy with his mother and with other members of the litter.
It is now a legal requirement that all puppies are microchipped from 8 weeks old and that the first registration of the Microchip has to be with the person who has bred the puppy. This hopefully ensures that the new owner can trace the puppy and be confident that they know exactly where the puppy has come from.
Recent concerns include: an increase in foreign microchips noted when checking puppies at their first visit, a lack of or absent documentation along with new puppies, puppies recorded ages, i.e. their registered dates of birth, noted as not matching the age on their received documentation, and puppies arriving for their first checks already with health and congenital problems noted.
Do be responsible owners and be very careful about where you acquire a puppy from. The British Veterinary Association BVA recommend that anyone considering buying a puppy only does so from a reputable registered breeder such as a breeder who is a member of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme , which promotes advised good dog breeding practices and standards or considers giving a home to a rescue dog from a recognised re -homing charity. Do please exercise extreme caution when looking to buy a puppy via a newspaper or via online adverts and internet sales, these are often not reputable sources and often do involve illegal puppy sales and trafficking.
There is an concerning increase of puppies being imported illegally now from Europe for sale in the UK , these puppies are often being brought in below the statutory 15 weeks of age which is the minimum age that complies with the PETS Travel Scheme and often in poor husbandry conditions.
Also this increase in puppy trafficking from abroad is of real concern as puppies illegally imported from irresponsible breeders may well not have received tapeworm and tick treatments or the advised required vaccinations. Consequently as the illegal imports of puppies rises so then does the risk of introduction of more exotic diseases to the UK that could also pose a risk to both animal and to public health ... such as for example: the Tapeworm Echinococcus, Tick borne diseases: Babesiosis, Vector Borne diseases such as: Leishmaniosis, Ehrilchiosis and Babesiosis, these are all Zoonotic diseases and so pose a real risk to public health here too. Also of real concern is recently reported cases of Brucellosis in puppies rescued from Central and Eastern Europe.
In summary here, to avoid buying a puppy with health problems do think very carefully and responsibly. Make an informed choice, research well and do seek advice.
The illegal puppy selling trade in the UK is an issue that is worryingly becoming increasingly more common. As Vets sadly we do see first-hand the tragic consequences that can result from irresponsible dog breeding, puppy farming, and from the illegal importation of puppies. Often resulting in unnecessary suffering caused to the Bitches bred and to the puppies and also to the potential owners if things do go wrong.
When considering buying a new puppy it has been proven that purchasing a puppy directly from the original breeder still has the greatest positive impact on the current and future health and wellbeing of the animal and is the best and most reliable way to acquire a healthy and well socialised puppy. A breeder being the person that has the mother of the pup/or puppies and the puppies are being sold from the same location at which they have been bred. The RSPCA recommend that you see the puppy in the place that he was born and that you see the puppy with his mother and with other members of the litter.
It is now a legal requirement that all puppies are microchipped from 8 weeks old and that the first registration of the Microchip has to be with the person who has bred the puppy. This hopefully ensures that the new owner can trace the puppy and be confident that they know exactly where the puppy has come from.
Recent concerns include: an increase in foreign microchips noted when checking puppies at their first visit, a lack of or absent documentation along with new puppies, puppies recorded ages, i.e. their registered dates of birth, noted as not matching the age on their received documentation, and puppies arriving for their first checks already with health and congenital problems noted.
Do be responsible owners and be very careful about where you acquire a puppy from. The British Veterinary Association BVA recommend that anyone considering buying a puppy only does so from a reputable registered breeder such as a breeder who is a member of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme , which promotes advised good dog breeding practices and standards or considers giving a home to a rescue dog from a recognised re -homing charity. Do please exercise extreme caution when looking to buy a puppy via a newspaper or via online adverts and internet sales, these are often not reputable sources and often do involve illegal puppy sales and trafficking.
There is an concerning increase of puppies being imported illegally now from Europe for sale in the UK , these puppies are often being brought in below the statutory 15 weeks of age which is the minimum age that complies with the PETS Travel Scheme and often in poor husbandry conditions.
Also this increase in puppy trafficking from abroad is of real concern as puppies illegally imported from irresponsible breeders may well not have received tapeworm and tick treatments or the advised required vaccinations. Consequently as the illegal imports of puppies rises so then does the risk of introduction of more exotic diseases to the UK that could also pose a risk to both animal and to public health ... such as for example: the Tapeworm Echinococcus, Tick borne diseases: Babesiosis, Vector Borne diseases such as: Leishmaniosis, Ehrilchiosis and Babesiosis, these are all Zoonotic diseases and so pose a real risk to public health here too. Also of real concern is recently reported cases of Brucellosis in puppies rescued from Central and Eastern Europe.
In summary here, to avoid buying a puppy with health problems do think very carefully and responsibly. Make an informed choice, research well and do seek advice.
The illegal puppy selling trade in the UK is an issue that is worryingly becoming increasingly more common. As Vets sadly we do see first-hand the tragic consequences that can result from irresponsible dog breeding, puppy farming, and from the illegal importation of puppies. Often resulting in unnecessary suffering caused to the Bitches bred and to the puppies and also to the potential owners if things do go wrong.
When considering buying a new puppy it has been proven that purchasing a puppy directly from the original breeder still has the greatest positive impact on the current and future health and wellbeing of the animal and is the best and most reliable way to acquire a healthy and well socialised puppy. A breeder being the person that has the mother of the pup/or puppies and the puppies are being sold from the same location at which they have been bred. The RSPCA recommend that you see the puppy in the place that he was born and that you see the puppy with his mother and with other members of the litter.
It is now a legal requirement that all puppies are microchipped from 8 weeks old and that the first registration of the Microchip has to be with the person who has bred the puppy. This hopefully ensures that the new owner can trace the puppy and be confident that they know exactly where the puppy has come from.
Recent concerns include: an increase in foreign microchips noted when checking puppies at their first visit, a lack of or absent documentation along with new puppies, puppies recorded ages, i.e. their registered dates of birth, noted as not matching the age on their received documentation, and puppies arriving for their first checks already with health and congenital problems noted.
Do be responsible owners and be very careful about where you acquire a puppy from. The British Veterinary Association BVA recommend that anyone considering buying a puppy only does so from a reputable registered breeder such as a breeder who is a member of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme , which promotes advised good dog breeding practices and standards or considers giving a home to a rescue dog from a recognised re -homing charity. Do please exercise extreme caution when looking to buy a puppy via a newspaper or via online adverts and internet sales, these are often not reputable sources and often do involve illegal puppy sales and trafficking.
There is an concerning increase of puppies being imported illegally now from Europe for sale in the UK , these puppies are often being brought in below the statutory 15 weeks of age which is the minimum age that complies with the PETS Travel Scheme and often in poor husbandry conditions.
Also this increase in puppy trafficking from abroad is of real concern as puppies illegally imported from irresponsible breeders may well not have received tapeworm and tick treatments or the advised required vaccinations. Consequently as the illegal imports of puppies rises so then does the risk of introduction of more exotic diseases to the UK that could also pose a risk to both animal and to public health ... such as for example: the Tapeworm Echinococcus, Tick borne diseases: Babesiosis, Vector Borne diseases such as: Leishmaniosis, Ehrilchiosis and Babesiosis, these are all Zoonotic diseases and so pose a real risk to public health here too. Also of real concern is recently reported cases of Brucellosis in puppies rescued from Central and Eastern Europe.
In summary here, to avoid buying a puppy with health problems do think very carefully and responsibly. Make an informed choice, research well and do seek advice.