RSPCA

Comments

• puppylove February 25, 2010 at 7:47 a.m.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfhg2yF6YNA

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• Thumper February 16, 2010 at 2:02 p.m.

  I'm not a dog owner myself, although it is something I'm interested in. But I'm certainly not interested in buying a purebred. How they're treated before being adopted wasn't initially what put me off, as I've never been sure what to believe. One thing I do know for a fact though is that inbred animals of any species are much weaker than others. They're at higher risk of dying due to anesthetic if they ever need an operation, and many are born with disabilities. The unhealthy side of inbreeding is an act of cruelty in itself.

  My pets are my companions; they're members of the household, not prized possessions. There are certain breeds of certain species I particularly love, but if they're a little bit of another breed too then I don't see any problem with that. I do actually think that crossbreeds are more interesting!

  I would think most purebred owners would be aware of the health dangers that come with an inbred creature, or I'd at least hope so. It concerns me that they may only want a purebred for show or snobbery, and that they may not be dedicated to keeping it happy and healthy. That may not be the case at all, but it does worry me.

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• animalrspca February 10, 2010 at 1:24 p.m.

  Its unfair to put the dog through such cruelty the buyers dont know what life the animal has been through. they could have been breeded incorrectly or illgally and that should be stopped. it puts the animal through stress and maybe even the lives of its new owners

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• puppylove January 11, 2010 at 8:37 p.m.

  The RSPCA's campaign against puppy trafficking seems to be fizzling out ?

  The Dogs Trust seem to be leading the way now,come on RSPCA lets see some solid work from you against this cruelty.

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• Sue January 8, 2010 at 10:26 a.m.

  Hi Dobbin - Have to confess I know little about the KC and don't need to since I would never pay out hundreds of pounds for a pedigree pet. People who will pay this sort of money feed the trade, whether it is bona fide dog breeders who are reputable, or their irreputable and cruel counterparts. The bottom line for me is that as long as people are prepared to pay hundreds of pounds for a dog of a certain breed, there will be people, scrupulous or unscrupulous willing to supply them. If you look at it logically from my point of view, there are millions of purebred dogs in recue centres all over the country of all ages and temperaments - if fashion dictates that it must be a particular breed of pet. If not, then what feeds the demand for puppies? If there was no demand, there would be no supply. I find that some people are very fickle in their choices of pet. Those with money to spend will spend hundreds on a puppy in the same way as they would spend hundreds on a Louis Vuitton handbag. I have two dogs and seven cats which are all rescues. I would only pay out money to a rescue centre as a matter of personal principle. That way I know I am making space there for another animal to be helped, and contributing to the cost of running the centre in addition to giving the animal I have adopted a good home for life. For me, helping the animal and supporting others in the field of animal rescue and welfare is the only motivation for acquiring a pet. I wish it was the same for everyone else, but sadly it isn't. Like other fashion items, a dog bought for the wrong reasons can quickly lose its appeal once fads change. I am sure that there are many who initially buy their dog for fashion reasons and then fall in love with it and treat it very well. But the motivation for getting the pet initially can very often be an indicator of a disposable attitude to pet ownership, and sadly this is often the attitude of the very puppy farmers who feed the demand. For me, the golden rule has to be, if you want a pet, go first to as many rescue and breed welfare organisations as you can find, in your locality, online, wherever. If you have to travel because the dog is based miles away in another area, so what? People who want a particular breed of dog can usually find one in a rescue centre at a fraction of the cost of going to a breeder or dealer. It may not (or may) be a puppy, but whatever it is you want, there are other alternatives out there. I am not trying to put breeders out of business, I have nothing against the good ones who care very much about the welfare of the animals, but all the stories on this site are evidence that not everyone knows the difference and animals suffer as a result.

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• dobbin December 23, 2009 at 4:15 p.m.

  The Real Puppy Farmers Puppy farming is Rife in the UK, now how about the truth The Truth About Who is Puppy Farming Who IS Puppy Farming ? What is a puppy farmer ? This is something that requires a full explanation and will upset the very people who like to hide behind the truth. Everyone who is asked about puppy farming gets the wrong impression that its just the Welsh, factually more puppy breeding occurs in England and in the county of Lincolnshire, strangely enough so do a great many exhibitors that breed, now we are clearly not saying that all breeders living in either Wales or Lincs are puppy farmers, but by the reality of its definition there are a few. A "Puppy farm" is a derogative term generally used for somebody who is breeding dogs solely for money. They are unemployed and That has to include most of the UK’s top exhibition kennels and the way to check the amount these people are breeding is to get a copy of the breed record supplement from the Kennel Club, they are organised in quarterly issues by breed and you will be sickened and amazed at how much these people are breeding. Most will tell you that testing in their breed is not necessary as it’s a very healthy breed, isn’t that what the Cav breeders told us before PDE. Some of those involved deeply within the KC have had many health problems within their breeds, yet they will still blame the owners who returned the dogs… Why cant these people be truthful, Show breeders don’t necessarily breed happy healthy dogs they breed to have money to attend shows so their dogs will be awarded excellent results because its just their turn. Crufts does not give an honest picture of health in any breed, dogs qualify because they can and do, The KC have made some improvements but even they know they have a long way to go before happy healthy dogs are once again foremost in everybodies minds. So before buying a dog from ANY breeder check how many litters they have had in 25 years and how much money THEY have made that was untaxed. It is fine to harp on about puppy-farmers, but then those doing it should open up their books for public scrutiny. Maybe we would all see a VERY DIFFERENT picture . Many KC breeders don’t health or temperament test because they don’t have to, they are never scrutinised because they attend stuffy doggy social events and they don’t pay taxes. They will however tell you how much they don’t make …… Do the math yourself, they are either rather uneducated in mathematics or they lie , BEFORE buying any dog buy a copy of the Breed record supplement for the last 6 quarters, in the breed you are interested in. You would be surprised at how many affixes are owned by family members of the main breeder so they can effectively have a puppy farm with KC approval. Sadly most people who exhibit dogs do it for themselves, they do nothing for dogs as such.

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• Crunchie December 11, 2009 at 4:01 p.m.

  I think its disgusting what humans will do just for a bit money. How can they sit and let a puppy suffer and feel nothing? And who in their right mind would go to one of these places see a starving dog and not think to report it??

  I have a shih tzu he is my pride an joy, my first dog and my best friend! He lived on a farm until he was 3 months old and this is when I got him. At first if i'm being honest when i got him home and read about breeding farms i thought he may have come from one of these. I looked into and now know that it was a perfectably suitable place for him to be born and raised for a few weeks. Although he probably didn't get as much tlc as what hes used to from me!

  The thought of him going through any of it though, especially being born into it! It makes me feel sick to my stomach. And the poor mothers who are malnoutrishoned themselves and then basically forced to carry pups and give birth. Its disgusting and should be stopped asap!!!!

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• Puppy28 December 10, 2009 at 6:55 p.m.

  I used to have a lovley dog who was born in the RSPCA, she was called Puppy 28 before we renamed her Gemma. Luckily she didn't go through any Cruelty but her parents did and that makes me really sad.

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• londiniumgaia November 27, 2009 at 6:56 p.m.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlJ5kYIl82Q

  may the higher powers if there is one forgive us for not doing more....

  to help our fellow creatures .....

  and a big thanks to the RSPCA for their help in looking after my two heartbeats
  Benji the wonder dog and Lucy the litlle lion...
  ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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• pawzdannii November 20, 2009 at 11:23 p.m.

  i have got a gorgeous little dog now she is a jack russel cross i luv her so much i have had 4 dogs 2 jack russels, a black lab and now my dog gypsy but i think it is so wrong. all my dogs me and my family have rescued from places from abused homes to been kicked out and left on the streets i cant even think about how i would feel if my dog would have to go through such a thing...

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• daisychain1 October 26, 2009 at 6:05 p.m.

  Personally I think the puppy trade is disgusting and the conditions those poor animals have to go through is appalling! I myself have a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and to think she could be in that situation makes me feel furious! No dog should have to endure the suffering they are going through - starvation, no clean water or toys or a comfy bed to sleep in, and forced to stay between two concrete walls! It’s very disturbing and shocking to here about this and see it on the news, at the end of the day we all need to be doing as much as we can to help the rspca and spread the word to avoid these vile inhumane puppy breeders!

  Daisychain1

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• susan_wilson September 6, 2009 at 9:13 a.m.

  I to have also fallen victim to a puppy breeder called (name removed) based near Newport, Wales. After replying to her advert on the internet, my husband and I bought a Cavalier king charles. The health of the dog did seem fine at the time but later we found out from our vets that the puppy had the parvo virus. Our puppy had to be put to sleep some days later leaving us very very upset.. We contacted the breeder, who blamed us for the puppy contracting Parvo, so we contacted the police. The police where very much not interested and told us to contact the RSPCA or trading standards.. The rspca said they couldnt look into the case further as the animal didnt suffer??? and trading standards advised us to take up a private prosecution, which we could not afford. We where left very upset and very powerless and feel that people should be extremely careful when buying puppys and other live animals...

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• susan_wilson September 6, 2009 at 8:08 a.m.

  I to have also fallen victim to a puppy breeder called (name removed) based near Newport, Wales. After replying to her advert on the internet, my husband and I bought a Cavalier king charles. The health of the dog did seem fine at the time but later we found out from our vets that the puppy had the parvo virus. Our puppy had to be put to sleep leaving us very very upset.. We contacted the breeder who blamed us for the puppy contracting Parvo virus, so we contacted the police. The police where very much not interested and told us to contact the RSPCA or trading standards.. The rspca they couldnt look into the case as the didnt suffer??? and trading standards advised us to take up a private prosecution, which we could not afford. We where left very upset and very powerless and feel that people should be extremely careful when buying puppys and other live animals...

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• ricknbex September 5, 2009 at 2:42 a.m.

  BEWARE OF PUPPY FARMER (name removed) , (name removed) , (name removed) HE SELLS PUPPYS THAT ARE VERY ILL I.E (((PARVO, TAPE WORM, MALNOURISHED ETC))) ALSO SOLD WITH FAKE KC REG PAPERS DONT FALL FOR HIS SMOOTH TALK HE WILL SAY HE CAN DELIVER OR MEET ON PUBLIC CAR PARKS ALSO STATES HIS WIFE IS A VET ((((BEWARE OF THIS PERSON!!))) HE HAS MANY ADVERTS OF DIFFERENT BREEDS, LATEST PUPPY HE IS SELLING YORKSHIRE TERRIER PUPPIES ON OODLE NATIONWIDE... ADVERTS STATE >>> Home bred KC reg, 2 boys and 2 girls vet checked every 2 weeks since birth, flead with frontline and wormed with drontal, first vaccinations, reared around small children and other pets, excellent temperaments, very healthy pups, ready now to living homes...
  (((((((((((BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE)))))))))))

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• beth1357 September 1, 2009 at 12:21 p.m.

  Do you know what they do to those poor puppies?
  They breed them in one country and put them in a bag and smuggle them across to another country while the whole time they're in the bag, they have little food, water and oxygen! I think it is apalling and wrong, the people must have no feelings or be desperate for money!

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• beth1357 September 1, 2009 at 11:22 a.m.

  they deserve better than that!!!!! its soooo wrong!

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• x..Animal luver..x August 30, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.

  i know someone who got a rotwiler dog from birmingham. it was xmas and he really wanted one and the only place he could get it from was a breeder in birmingham. basically he went up to birmingham and the house were the dogs were was really untidy and dirty, dog poo everywhere and a council estate type house and in the middle of the living room was a rug and a whole load of puppies, so the person i know bought one and they were only £20 which is very cheap for a dog. he took it to the vet and they said it was no good and he had to go to a much higher up vet place and they checked it over and said he had something wrong with his heart and wouldnt live that long. they said he had to take the dog back up to birmingham and change it for another one bt the man didnt want to because he had already fallen in love with the little puppy, but he went up north and said to the breeder tht the dog was ill. the breeder said ok thats fine you can have another one, but the person i knoww said no because he's ill and if u sell him then you will be selling an ill puppy. the man said its alright i'll give him to my mum bt the man i know said no he is seriously ill so the breeder let the man i know have another puppy for free as well as the ill one so he had two rotwiler puppys. he gave the ill one to his dad who looked after the dog really well whilst the man i know had the healthy dog, and he couldnt have both of them together otherwise they'd fight. so the man i know's dad looked after the ill dog, but sadly when it was only 9 weeks old it passed away. the man i know still has his healthy puppy and has had it for 11 months and it is so friendly and he is taking care of it really well but the man in birmingham has been selling ill puppies which is illigal and i think rspca should do something about it. the man i know has saved 2 of the puppies if you think about it. thank you for everything you do rspca and i luv animals xx

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• ricknbex August 28, 2009 at 1:27 p.m.

  beware of (name removed) advertising oodle the sun, loot, gumtree and pre-loved.

  he is a puppy farmer and sells his dogs with fake papers.

  josh baxter is his latest name, previously tim hartwell, SEE LAST POST BELOW. he is also selling labrador puppies with a new set of mobile numbers for each breed of puppy.

  beware of sellers advertising multiple breeds

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• ricknbex August 27, 2009 at 12:50 a.m.

  beware of (name removed) advertising on the loot, oodle, the sun. user name is (name removed) on k9puppy.com and (name removed) is another name used on gumtree.
  this guy is a puppy farmer all his adverts state
  "Full 5th generation pedigree, 8 weeks old, vet checked every 2 weeks since birth ,first vaccinations, wormed and frontlined"
  he has for sale
  Bichon Frise, West Highland Terrier, English springer spaniels, German shepherds, cavalier king charles spaniels & possibly more that i have not yet found.
  he advertises nationwide every advert has a different mobile number (which are all off) but they all share the same description.
  he is very well spoken and dressed, claiming his wife is a vet, he is a property manager and he was driving a vauxhall insignia.

  i had the misfortune to meet him on the 19th august 2009, when i bought a bitch cavalier king charles spaniel puppy which turned out to be a male king charles, my vet suspected he was younger than 8 weeks old. also that he had been dragged away from his mum too early and not weaned. also she suspected he had a 'bug'

  marley died 4 days later after we did everything possible for him.
  
  he bought the dog round to my house wet saying he had just been bathed, so i was more concerned with getting the dog dry and warm than checking it as i should have done. he flashed some certificates and had me fill out an official looking registration card, which he then took with him leaving me with no paper work, receipt or idea what the dog ate.
  
  i now feel foolish that i was tricked but i hope that other people can learn by my experience and stamp out/on these puppy farmers!

  i cannot be the first person to buy a puppy from this man if anyone else has had any dealings with him or would like any more infomation please let me know summ3r22@hotmail.co.uk
  the rspca have been fully informed but all evidence helps!

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• Truman August 12, 2009 at 1:49 p.m.

  Puppy Love have drafted a petition to ban puppy farming.

  http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/24732.html

  On a similar note, please also consider supporting the petition to ban the sale of kittens in pet shops:

  http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/petshopkittens/

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• playdo July 17, 2009 at 11:42 p.m.

  This is just plain evil. makes my blood boil

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• anna1234 May 29, 2009 at 5:11 p.m.

  i think it is so cruel and a horrid way to make money! some puppies die from this and the people must be so horrid, also they have no right to do this!

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• love April 25, 2009 at 8:19 a.m.

  i think people who do not look after animals properly should be put in to jail for animal abuse, it is horrible just as bad as child abuse i think, i am going to give an animal a voice and say start look after animals properly......

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• Jess_loves_animals April 22, 2009 at 6:32 p.m.

  Puppy trafficking is evil! anyone who is involved in it, how could you do such things to these lovely sweet dogs???

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• ArcheyTheGreat April 20, 2009 at 8:18 p.m.

  It makes you question how humane people are today.

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• Crackers_about_Crackers April 19, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.

  My dog Crackers had been a victom of Puppy Trafficking. His mum and uncle bred and he had growth problems and was born a Hermaphrodite! Before he had his/her opperation he was in a lot of pain. Oh my poor little pup!

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• Naturegirl April 8, 2009 at 7:03 p.m.

  I just saw a film about it and it was horrible,I couldn't watch the whole thing because I knew I would cry.
  IT IS HORRIBLE AND CRUEL THEY SHOULD BE ARRESTED FOR THIS!!It so sad to see puppys and dogs being sick and tortured.I do not expect people to be doing this its horrible.
  If anybody near me does they be getting a slap and an argument coming their way.I will not stand for this somthing has gotta be done.
  I HATE PEOPLE WHO ARE CRUEL!
  Take this warning seriously to any one who is doing this. This is everyones last warning once more and I will be taking serious action.
  THIS SHOULDENT BE HAPPNING!
  I am disgusted and VERY ANGRY.
  anyone coming my way BE WARNED!

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• gengandkub April 6, 2009 at 11:55 a.m.

  I agree puppy trafficking is pure evil and people that can harm helpless animals like that need to be locked up and treated like they treat animals and see how they like it!!! I am a big big animal lover and when I had my 2 dogs they were part of the family and treated with love, thats what they need! Dogs are the only ones that listen to your problems, dont talk back and love you no matter what so how the HELLLLLLLLLLLL can someone treat them so badly!!! I think there should be a prison/cage made for people like this because they can not even be classed as HUMAN!!

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• sw179518 April 2, 2009 at 1:29 p.m.

  I had actually never thought about puppy trafficking, but its SO CRUEL! I could never ever think of doing such a thing. Its a terrible thing to carry out. Some people can be so cruel.

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• tigerbear March 22, 2009 at 12:46 a.m.

  how can you not by a puppy because you feel sorry for it? This video not only made me cry, I had the impulse to run and grab my dogs (Charlie & Sweetie) and hug them forever! I love my dogs so insanely much, they sleep on my bed with me every night, that if any thing were to happen to them, I would be broken beyond repair forever. I LOVE MY PUPPIES! :(

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• perrycourtney March 19, 2009 at 9:41 p.m.

  I can't watch the video because I know it will to be too distressing - but don't despair. An acquaintance bought an internet-Staff at 9 weeks old and said they were going to put her down because she was unmanageable. I took her on and soon noticed the cabin fever symptoms and severe behavioural problems, BUT I've never given up on her. She has attachment problems (with me) - so I haven't been able to leave her for 6 years, and she has aggression problems so I have to adopt special procedures to ensure she never gets outside unmuzzled, but I don't care. I love her dearly, and it has never occured to me for a second to give up on her. We need to get educational videos on this obscene trade into the wider public domain - NO MARKET THEN NO TRADE, but it's never too late to help these poor and trusting puppies.

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• xxmojoxx March 7, 2009 at 5:38 p.m.

  I was shocked by the video of those puppies, it is unthinkable that we humans are supposed to be so advanced yet people can still do things like this. It is absolutely disgusting that man can treat animals like this and then dupe people into paying for these ill and mentally damaged animals. Personally I think that we should lock them in a cage and leave them to rot, but of course that would be an infringement of human rights, but what about animals rights!! They deserve to be treated just as humanely as we do, the people who do this are evil. That is the only way to describe them. I hope that people will unite together and stamp out all the cruelty and sick trades that cause so much suffering and harm on these poor defenceless animals. Let us all hope for a future in which animals and humans can live side-by-side happily.

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• runmypretties February 28, 2009 at 11 p.m.

  There are two issues here.
  1) We HAVE to make the public who are buying a new dog much more aware of where and how to source a happy, healthy puppy. Unfortunately, it is due to uneducated people that decide to get a dog, that this puppy trade continues to thrive.
  2) Unscrupulous breeders, whether on a small or large scale are exploiting these dogs as puppy machines and the ONLY people that benefit are the breeders.

  We need to tighten up on laws and on the policing of these laws. I say bring on dog lisences, you have to be assessed and given a license before you can buy/rehome a dog. Entrance exam and all!

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• #1 Doggy Lover February 28, 2009 at 2:15 p.m.

  How could anyone do such a thing!!!
  That video made me cry.
  Its sooo horrible and the should be stopped.

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• Sue February 27, 2009 at 12:27 p.m.

  Indie - you are so right! But this is the real world where the ideal doesn't happen. I think what the RSPCA are suggesting is basically a good idea, raising standards in the trade generally. It would raise the expectations of the paying public, and educate them as to what they should be looking for when buying a pup. Any pup offered for sale without a cast iron reliable guarantee of good health and proper vaccination history will not attract a discerning buyer. Of course, there will always be people trying to make a fast buck out of the suffering of innocent young animals, and you will always get some people who for a bargain will be willing to deal with them. Hopefully though the profit margins will be low, and if stiff enough penalties are imposed on those "rogue traders" who are left, the practice with any luck will eventually become too much of a risk and will die out. I would imagine that like anything, implementation of these arrangements will take some time, but I hope it will prove to be a worthwhile exercise in the longer term. All we can do for now is to keep this issue in the public eye so that more and more people are aware of the risks of buying from a puppy farm, or a source supplied by a puppy farm, and without being able to see a pup with the parents.

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• indie February 25, 2009 at 6:06 p.m.

  I love dogs!!!!
  puppy trafficing is horridible, that film made my eyes water!
  Anyone that sells puppy`s like that has something wrong with them!
  If anyone knows anyone that is getting a puppy, make sure they get it from a proper breeder that is happy to talk about the dog!
  I`m sooooooooooooooooooooo angry that people can do such a horrible thing that ruins the dogs life!!!
  Anyone that does puppy trafficking should be put in jail and treated how they treated the puppy`s, and see how they like it!!! It`s only fair!
  If you buy a dog from one of the horridible breeders they just get another dog for everyone that they sell. So if no-one buys puppy`s from a place like that then they won`t get anymore puppy`s to sell!
  i think that dshould be everyones plan!

  EVERYONE NICE PLEASE POST A NOTE BECAUSE YOU MIGHT SAVE THOUSANDS OF PUPPY`S LIVES! YES, DO IT NOW!
  PLEASE DO!
  Good luck puppy`s!!!!!!!!
  i love you
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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• RSPCA February 24, 2009 at 3:40 p.m.

  Thanks to everyone who has commented on the puppy trafficking blog.

  The issue of puppy trafficking is one of the RSPCA’s key campaigns for 2009 and we hope that with more programmes like Rogue Traders along with other PR activities to raise awareness, it will help to bring this trade to a halt - puppy trafficking will only stop if we can encourage people to stop buying puppies from disreputable sources, particularly in relation to puppies imported from Ireland.

  The RSPCA is also looking at the issue of licensing of breeding establishments and pet traders in England and Wales. This year we are working with local authorities and Trading Standards to raise the standards for licensing and therefore improve animal welfare. As there is currently no opportunity for legislative change in relation to the trade in puppies – certainly for the next few years – we believe that this is the best way forward to encourage and achieve best practice. We are already starting to see some positive results.

  Thanks to everyone for your support - please spread the word to your friends and family and help put an end to this trade.

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• Sue February 23, 2009 at 3:11 p.m.

  Mags53 - yes, I know the farmer I got my Collie from wasn't a puppy farmer. He was a sheep farmer. As far as I am aware he didn't keep any of the pups, he sold them all, except the last two. The male got out and had a great time playing with the sheep (though he didn't hurt any of them). Farmer got his gun and bang - the games stopped. My girl was a tiny little scrap, although she was 6 months old, she was possibly the runt of the litter. Everyone had overlooked her in favour of her more robust looking siblings. She was no use, she was a potential sheep worrying risk. It seemed her fate was sealed. Lucky I had a bit of inside info and was willing to shell out the cash, or she would be long dead now. What a waste that would have been. My girl doesn't like fireworks, the ones that go bang particularly, she doesn't seem to mind the ones that make other noises. I often wonder if her brother was shot in front of her when on bonfire night she climbs up beside me and buries her face in my neck or under my arm. She is one of the lucky ones. Animals, and companion animals in particular are not commodities to be traded, they are sentient beings. It seems to me that once we as a society see them as goods to be bought and sold, the money often means that compassion goes out of the window. Obviously, this is not always so. Dog breeders I am sure care about the dogs, and animal shelters who charge for pets also care, but there are many others out there, such as puppy farmers, some private individuals out to make a fast buck, some pet shops and some farmers for whom the welfare of the animal is of very little consequence, particularly where there is a profit to be made.

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• Gary February 22, 2009 at 9:17 p.m.

  In reply to Mags 53, "...Does that not encourage people to be irresposnible and just allow their dogs to have litters because they can't be bothered to keep them from roaming?..."
  ... well of course it doesn't! Any responsible pet dog owner wouldn't allow their dog to have a litter in the first place.

  There are plenty of Dogs that need a good home in Rescue Centres... so why not get one from there?

  The basic point is that that there should be no trading for profit in these animals in the manner it's conducted today.
  I also suggested going forward approved, controlled centres (that probably should be closely linked to Rescue Centres) that are regulated and checked.
  I'm not suggesting that people shouldn't have such pets just a reshaping of this little industry into something that shows them some respect.

  On your latter point which is entirely unconnected with the above, you mentioned "...sorry all of you veggies out there but that is a fact of life and has been since we came into being...".
  Well, whilst I'm not going to debate that one here, I can assure you that Homo Sapiens evolution isn't quite as simple as you might think and it's probably true that we have never been entirely carnivorous.
  The largest change, that happened probably (just) a few thousand years ago is the switch to increasingly intensive methods of farming animals. Man has certainly become far crueler to the animals it eats and has also adapted them for commercials reasons. It's for that reason that many people choose to become vegetarians, vegans and the like.
  Again, we all make our choices and some have Animal Rights higher up the agenda than others... clearly you don't, and it takes a puppy being maltreated before you show any real respect for animals.

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• Mags53 February 22, 2009 at 6:29 p.m.

  Well said Deejay50! Where exactly does Mark Evans want us to get a puppy from? From a rescue centre? Does that not encourage people to be irresposnible and just allow their dogs to have litters because they can't be bothered to keep them from roaming? Surely not from a puppy farm! But, then of course not from a breeder of pedigree dogs! Or, does Mark Evans not want us to have a dogs at all? By the way, during the 1980's (or so) as part of EU farming policy for farmers to diversify one of the accepted diversifications was breeding dogs on a commercial scale, and Welsh farmers, who no longer got government subsidies, took to it with gusto, so the government encouraged it and the RSPCA did nothing to try to stop it. And, Sue, the sheep farmer who bred your lovely dog wasn't a puppy farmer, just a farmer breeding dogs for him to work his sheep with. I don't agree with shooting unwanted dogs but would ask what needs to be done with puppies for which no home can be found? I have no answer, that is a serious question because I have very mixed feelings about that whole issue. Rescue centres are bursting at the seams, large litters from your bitch is a sign of a healthy line and good husbandry - if you have homes for half of the litter what should be done with the other half? We eat excess in other animals so it's not such an issue for sheep, pigs, cows, etc. (sorry all of you veggies out there but that is a fact of life and has been since we came into being) AND NO I AM NOT SUGGESTING WE EAT DOGS, I cannot magine ever being hungry enough to eat my boys. What is the solution? Or do you all object to people breeding dogs for themselves to have a puppy that is from their girl?

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• pupmadteen February 21, 2009 at 3:51 p.m.

  I saw the Rougue Traders programme and thought about how cruel it all seems! That footage was gentle!!!!! I have seen horrible footage where I basically started tearing up!
  Friends of mine do not get why I am so worked up by puppy farms, they do not realise how bad it really is! One of them hadn't even heard of such a thing! AND she wants to work at the RSPCA! (Makes no snese to me.)
  The only thing that keeps these heartless money-grabbers going is that they keep getting "customers" that are impatient and unable to wait! For both of my dogs we waited 2/3 months, receiving updates, etc which made it more exciting and worth the wait!
  IF YOU TRUELY WANT A DOG THEN YOU WILL WAIT UNTIL THE RIGHT ONE COMES ALONG.

  One last little note... on Rougue Traders, I loved the little Border Terrier and her "doggles"

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• Horse Love February 21, 2009 at 10:24 a.m.

  I really enjoyed the rogue traders programme. I've watched several programmes about puppy farming particuarly recently but this one was a bit different. I'm pleased it's been in the media so much recently as surely the best way to combat this evil trade is to educate the public about it. Then they won't buy puppies from those places and the traders will go out of buiseness.
  I thought the bloke who sold them the caviler king charles who died and then trapped them in his yard was revolting though. It's amazing how people who are so cruel to animals are so often nasty to people too. It's sad to think there are so many horrible people in the world.

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• dorothy20 February 20, 2009 at 11:05 p.m.

  I quite agree with Gary.This disgraceful "dog traffickiing" has been going on for decade's.But it's about time it was ended. They are not animal lover's who run these places, they are only in it for the money!!I was so angry when I saw the programme, it made my blood boil!! I also have a rescue dog,a staffie x who had been wandering the street's for about a month,and was brought to the d/c shelter, he had a large dog bite on his shoulder and lot's of bite marks on the back of both legs. Which makes me think he had bee n used to fight. But he has such a lovely nature, and possibly kicked out because he wouldn't fight.I wish more people would give a home to the rescue dog's, who would love a nice family to live with.They are so grateful!!

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• animallover57 February 20, 2009 at 9:36 p.m.

  When I watched the program I was shocked to find out that breeders think they can get away with this - these animals don't deserve to be treated like this - if it were up to me the breeders would feel the pain and suffering of the animals they so cruelly sell to people thinking they're going to get a cute bundle of fluff that will always be there by their side - only to find that the puppy dies a week later! This is not acceptable and should be stopped as soon as possible - if the breeders were in the dogs shoes, they'd feel the pain and suffering of these innocent creatures and would stop - wouldn't they????

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• torie February 20, 2009 at 7:43 p.m.

  i brought a puppy from a group of people in Hassocks in brighton, we were told he was 9 weeks old, due for his second jab a week later and on dried puppy food which we had brought for him, after a few days of him not eating we took him to the vets who agreed with us that he may have been only 3-4 weeks old and should of still been with his mother,our vet gave us some puppy milk to try him on, when his nx jab was due we were having him pout down instead, the vet then told us that he thought the puppy may have not been fed for about 3 days before we brought him.
  we conacted the RSPCA and they responded striaght away but after an investigation told us there was nothing they could do as its not illegal to sell a puppy at any age, and as there was no evidence there, there was nothing further that could happen, i think that the RSPCA should have the right to take the mothers away if the puppys are being mistreated and sold in unfit states and there should be a law about selling puppies at a certain age (when ready to be taken from mothers), people aren't allowed to be treated this way why should animals. i am still hurt by losing our puppy even after only having him for a week and i was extremly moved by yesterdays rouge traders.

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• Sue February 20, 2009 at 5:49 p.m.

  I saw the programme last night, and was a bit disappointed that even though all circumstantial evidence screamed "guilty" at the individuals involved, nobody actually ended up either accepting any responsibility or being punished for what they did. I was amazed to hear that the RSPCA had carried out an inspection later which did not uncover any evidence of parvovirus, particularly as puppies from his farm had died of it. He must have been given time to dispose of the
  "evidence". The vaccinations record for some of the puppies featured was bogus. I got my Border Collie from a sheep farmer for £70 because I had heard through the grapevine that she was the last of litter and was going to be shot. I knew she wouldn't be vaccinated even though she was already 6 months old, Within 10 minutes of collection she was at the vet's surgery being given a health check, her first inoculations, flea and worming treatment, and microchipping. Thinking back, I don't think anything would have stopped me buying her. I didn't know if she was a dog or a bitch, or anything. I suppose you might say that was irresponsible, but if you love dogs, your emotions play a big part in the process. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone shooting an innocent dog, and I acted with the sole objective of saving her life. I couldn't see past that. She is now 6 years old, and is the most beautiful looking, intelligent, affectionate, gentle and obedient dog I have ever known. But puppy farmers prey on the emotions of dog lovers, and that is part of what makes their trade so abhorrent. I plead guilty as charged to buying with my heart and not with my head. My situation turned out well, but it could just as easily have been a nightmare. Often it is love at first sight with an animal, and then you are lost! In my case, I would not have slept for weeks if I had not stepped in when I did.
  Deejay1950 - I can well understand your skepticism, although I would mention that most rescue centres these days do work closely with local vets. If they say their puppies are vaccinated, they ARE, and they will happily tell you which vet they used. I accept that there will often not be much choice of puppies in a rescue because most of the residents do tend to be older dogs, but my local rescue has had several litters of pups to my knowledge over the course of a year, some mongrel varieties and some not. I think they are always worth considering because when you buy one from a rescue, you help the centre in the furtherance of the work they do for all dogs, so you do get that feeling that you have done something to help. My second dog is a rescue dog who came as an adult dog with a lot of problems, but we dealt with them and she is now happy and very much loved.

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• Deejay1950 February 19, 2009 at 7:58 p.m.

  Oops over enthusiastic spell checker

  >run to health testing schemes

  should read run no health testing schemes

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• Deejay1950 February 19, 2009 at 7:56 p.m.

  "The RSPCA wants the public to destroy the puppy trafficking business by only buying from responsible and caring breeders."so writes Mark Evans, RSPCA Chief Vet.

  As KC registered pedigree dogs are in his words"mutants"were does the puppy purchaser turn to ?

  Rescue societies ? Er who health tests their dogs ? Answer no one.

  So come on RSPCA if I want a Border Collie or GSD from parents who have had all the available health tests done where do I look ? Not the Kennel Club their dogs are mutants so where ? Answers on a post card please.

  Most Puppy Farmed dogs are not KC registered they are registered with people like the Dog Lovers Registration club-who hold no health test database & run to health testing schemes.

  Anyone who is not aware of Puppy Farmers & Puppy Dealers & their evil trade must have been living on a different planet

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• Chrissie February 19, 2009 at 5:53 p.m.

  I have been aware of this for some time and like many others do what I can to let people know about it and donate money when I can. Whilst the RSPCA can go so far in stopping this trade the only way to really stop it is to stop people buying them. I have never seen any at car boot sales but I know some do end up there and people feel sorry for them and buy them. This only perpetuates the trade and on and on it goes. Having said all that I doubt if I could leave any animal suffering and walk on by. We need to prosecute these people, close down their premises and cease all their assets. Personally, I think they should be publically flogged but no doubt that is against Human Rights. Well what about animal rights???? People will be very upset when they watch the programme tonight but I ask you all to not just cry and switch over to Coronation Street but to do something positive to stop it. There are lots of organisations working to stop this and they need all the help and support they can get, no matter how little.

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• Sue February 19, 2009 at 5:45 p.m.

  Sorry, I just realised, getting carried away in my enthusiasm that I didn't link my post to the trade in puppy farming. There is always going to be a trade in puppies, and there are always going to be underground breeders. If all owners are to be legally responsible for microchipping, this means that nobody should pay for a puppy which is not microchipped. When a puppy is microchipped, it should be part of the process that the vet has to examine the animal and include on the microchip record a summary of his findings. If the puppy is not healthy, the vet must say so. The seller should have to produce a certificate from a vet certifying that the puppy is in good health and has had been vaccinated, and giving the microchip details, together with date of examination and contact details of the vet. The prospective buyer can then check directly with the vet to verify the information. If the pup is not healthy, the vet will refuse to issue the certificate. We would have an immediate welfare issue there, because an unscrupulous puppy farmer faced with a pup he can't sell on is likely to dispose of it. There would need to be something to cover that situation. There will be some puppies who need to be euthanised for their own good but it should be done by a qualified vet, not a puppy farmer. By putting all these restrictions on the purchase of puppies, it is unlikely that puppy farmers will survive, because they will not want to spend money having all their puppies microchipped. In addition, buyers of puppies will have every reason to be wary if they are offered a puppy which is not microchipped, because they will immediately conclude that it must be ill and that a vet must have refused to issue a health certificate. To kill off puppy farms, you have to kill off the demand that feeds them. I accept that some puppies will fall through the net, but we need to set standards and expectations as a society for the welfare of our companion animals, and once people get used to them, back door puppy traders will be marginalised.

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• Sue February 19, 2009 at 5:24 p.m.

  I believe that the programme is on TV tonight and I am going to watch it. I do not think any pet shop should be allowed to sell puppies. I think neutering and microchipping should be compulsory by law with a fixed penalty fine for non compliance. I think every vet who treats an animal in surgery should routinely check and update the microchip. This will give any treating vet important information about the dog's medical history - a bit like our hospital and GP notes. Enforcement officers should have free access to a microchipping database and from this, they immediately see when a dog has not been neutered, a bit like checking the DVLA database for cars which are not MOT'd. As with cars, there should be power to officers to confiscate dogs which are not neutered or microchipped, and if the owners want them back, then they should have to pay for microchipping and neutering. If they are not prepared to do this, then they should be fined, and the dog taken to a rescue who would microchip it routinely prior to rehoming. So basically, those who love and care for their dogs would by ignoring their legal obligations face the possibility of losing their pet. What genuine pet lover wants to do that? Obviously, veterinary clinics would have to be encouraged to make neutering and microchipping affordable if everyone is going to have to do it. My 2 dogs and 7 cats are all neutered/spayed and microchipped. I think that all people who really care for their pets will be more than willing to do it. Recognised dog breeders would have to be exempt from the neutering, until the dog is a certain age, after which neutering should be mandatory. This would help prevent over-breeding. It would also encourage responsible ownership because theoretically, every dog should be traceable to an owner. If a dog strays or is killed on the road, the microchip will enable the owner to be made aware of what has happened. Many stray dogs end up in rescues simply because they are strays. With a system to identify them, the burden on rescues would be reduced. There should be inbuilt security systems to prevent someone passing themselves off as the owner. This would help tackle dog theft. If a log of all veterinary treatment is included on the microchip, anyone getting a dog from a rescue, should have access to a full service history (so to speak). I think a system like this would reduce indiscriminate breeding and strays, and would make people see their pet more as a responsibility than a throwaway commodity.

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• Booshishea February 19, 2009 at 10:14 a.m.

  I am exceedingly horrified and shocked at what puppy traffickers are doing to these beautiful, intelligent creatures. It is terrible how they suffer and then get sold on to other places such as pet shops, which are not much better! The film made me cry- these harmless, poor little creatures locked up in the dark and the dirt. This shouldn't be allowed to happen! If anybody is thinking about getting a dog or a puppy, take my advice and GET IT FROM A REHOMING SHELTER!!!! It will have lived in a comfortable environment, and will be much healthier and more interactive with you, not to mention it will be much kinder to the dog! I hope people are aware of what terrible suffering goes on behind the scenes of your local pet shop...

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• Gary February 18, 2009 at 9:49 p.m.

  I'm surprised that most people weren't aware of this trade as it's been with us for decades. It hasn't altered at all except there may be more trading happening as the population has increased.

  My view is that Pets (Dogs or any other creature) shouldn't be sold in Pet Shops at all as they are frequently not looked after and many of the animals are clearly traumatised.

  So how should people get Pets?
  I would suggest only through licensed, regulated and controlled Farms where regular checks are made; this doesn't happen today - the regulation and the reality of checks is a joke.
  Equally, there's little to stop people allowing their Pets to have offspring and to sell these privately. This is so open to abuse of the animals that it should be made illegal.

  However, first people should look in their local Cat and Dog Kennels for a Rescue. i wonder how many so called Dog and Cat lovers on this site cared enough to get a Rescue rather than proliferate the peddling of creatures in this disgraceful industry? Clearly some did but I wonder why not most?

  I have two Rescue dogs both of which were severely abused for the first 1/2 of their lives; one of them we know was kept in disgraceful conditions and suffered horrendous abuse by a Collie Breeder.

  We need proper regulation, proper checking by relevant authorities on the licensed breeders, proper laws and for people to STOP purchasing animals in this manner. They aren't commodities to be traded.

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• paul2v February 18, 2009 at 10:25 a.m.

  I nearly cried after watching that clip about the puppy trade.
  I have always had dogs/puppies in my family and I love them to bits. after learning there is "a trade" i feel like i want to cry forever.

  this is CRUEL AND MUST BE STOPPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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• dorothy20 February 18, 2009 at 12:31 a.m.

  This terrible cruelty of "puppy trafficking" has got to be stopped!! My heart felt like it would burst, when l watched the film of those dear little puppies in distress, and the sad face of that sweet little King Charles. How can these damn people sleep at nights!!! They are 'NO BETTER' than murderers. May they "ROT IN HELL"

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• kevin the collie February 17, 2009 at 12:58 p.m.

  I recently met two dog owners who had lost Rottweiler puppies aged less than six months due to heart attacks. The mania for pedigree dogs perpetuates weaknesses that would be bred out in humans through natural selection. There are so many wonderful dogs in animal rescue centres, that is the place to go if you want a pet. The only way puppy farms will stop is if they can no longer make money out of over-breeding.

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• Fionaufo February 3, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.

  http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/24732.html
  Lets take a positive action, please sign this petition, it may help to stop this dreadful trade, at least in Wales. It is a start.

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• winnie January 26, 2009 at 12:50 p.m.

  This link may be easier to read than in the last post.

  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4331467/Fat-dogs-seized-by-RSPCA.html

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• winnie January 26, 2009 at 12:31 p.m.

  I last posted on Dec 19th and my question was –

  Could someone from the RSPCA please show any evidence of their work? Have there been any inspections or prosecutions?

  Very disappointing I know but I am still waiting for that reply! Do the RSPCA read the comments posted on their site?

  I have now just read this news report – its contents being that the RSPCA decided to take from their home two very well loved and cared for but extremely overweight Labradors. They were taken to a vet to be weighed and because they were overweight were not allowed back to their family. Do the RSPCA think these dogs will be happy locked in a kennel pining in a pound rather then living with their family? Did the RSPCA offer practical advice - maybe a weekly weigh-in and diet advice?

  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4331467/Fat-dogs-seized-by-RSPCA.html

  I would like to ask the RSPCA how many sires and dames in Breeding Establishments around the country they have removed and taken to a vet to be weighed – and if they are found to be an unhealthy weight have they removed them from that Establishment ?.

  Ellie my beautiful rescue Labrador is an ex-breeding bitch and when she first came to me a year ago her undercarriage was so heavy from giving birth and nursing so many litters that it dragged on the ground and I had no alterative but to give her the added humiliation of wearing a t-shirt so she didn’t damage herself. Is that healthy?

  RSPCA is that acceptable?

  Why didn’t you go and why aren’t you going into her Puppy farm and others like it to remove the overweight, underweight, sick, dying and dead dogs????

  I would appreciate some answers please!!!!!!

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• Horse Love January 16, 2009 at 11:13 a.m.

  In our local Inside Out on Wednesday there was a feature about a Essex puppy trader called Laura or something. It was horrible, she'd been selling sick puppies for at least 13 years, she'd first appeared on the programme then. They had interveiws with some of the people she had sold puppies to which were terrible. I've never had a dog so although I knew about Puppy farms I'd never realised just how dreadful they were. I can't beleive she was still trading. She'd been given a warning from the trading authority but hadn't really taken any notice. Has anyone else seen this programme or know this person?

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• puppylove January 8, 2009 at 8:14 p.m.

  http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/1661/the-dark-side-of-dog-breeding-uncovered/

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• Genie January 5, 2009 at 8:12 p.m.

  OO Yay people are cumin up with ideas 2 actually do something!! I'm so excited!!

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• puppylove January 3, 2009 at 2:50 p.m.

  If anyone would like to watch this programme on puppy farming its now available here

  http://www.dogs-r-us.org/puppyfarms.shtml

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• puppylove January 3, 2009 at 2:49 p.m.

  If anyone would like to watch this on puppy farming its now available here

  http://www.dogs-r-us.org/puppyfarms.shtml

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• puppylove December 31, 2008 at 3:23 p.m.

  As we go into the new year we can look back over the past year to see what if anything has changed with puppy farming in the UK...

  Sadly we can tell you it is not any better at all in fact maybe worse as more and more breeders and dealers jump on the bandwagon to try and make an easy living. People are allowed to apply for a pet shop license from private dwellings and it seems he LA's are only too happy to grant a license to anyone no matter how unsuitable premises maybe . So now we have the puppy farms not only trying to keep up the supply for the large pet shops but also numerous private houses across the land.

  Just recently Puppy Love http://www.dogs-r-us.org/ went Undercover with a Welsh TV company to help make a documentary about licensed breeding establishments in Wales. What we discovered was no surprise to us at all, dogs ill and needing veterinary care, no water available , little food, no bedding even for new born pups, overcrowding, filthy disgusting conditions. The premises were all operating quite legally with little regard for the animal welfare act.

  So where do we go from here ? we are bringing the issue to the publics attention as much as we can with little or no help from media or newspapers, they just do not want to know the same can be said of many politicians etc .

  Will 2009 be any happier for these dogs who have suffered for decades and continue to suffer daily at the hands of greedy despicable people who will do anything for money ? Will the LA's clamp down and make sure the animal welfare act is adhered to ?

  Its very, very doubtful, it would seem the dogs are destined to suffer indefinitely because most people don't care enough to stand up and be counted. Oh yes they mutter how cruel it is and and then go back to burying their heads in the sand .

  Pet shops need to be banned from selling pups, newspapers need to stop advertising pups for sale and intenet sites who do the same should be wiped off the web, drastic yes but only when its not so easy for the general public to buy a puppy will any change happen. In this easy come easy go world its the dogs that suffer every time, owning a dog is a privilege, they should be treated with respect and kindness , loved and cherished ......maybe someday ?

  So if you are a dog lover do something in the new year to help even if its just writing to your MP or the Welsh Assembly to voice your concerns , Ask the RSPCA what they are doing to help too, evil men only prosper when good men do nothing.

  We wish you a happy and healthy new year, we just pray we could wave a magic wand and make the new year happy and healthy for all the dog in puppy farms throughout the land .

  The Puppy Love Team

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• doglover20 December 29, 2008 at 10:49 p.m.

  I have two dogs and brought bella my first ever dog from some kennels in essex (rayleigh) they said the dogs had come from wales and the breeder was a 'friend' of there's and i believed them and why shouldn't of i well they told me she was a pure bred short haired border collie lie!! she is so not a pure bred you could not tell when she was that young (10 weeks) but she is now 18 months old and we are pretty sure she is a whippetxshort haired border collie i don't care what she is i love her loads!! but she started to show the normal signs of being on a puppy farm she was very timid and she had lots of behaviour problems she would bark at most people she would meet she hated people in hats even more she was timid towards people she was timid towards other dogs but i helped her through this and she now doesn't mind people although she still hates people wearing hats but loves playing with other dogs now i do have prove of that they told me she was a pure bred collie they gave me the address for the breeder in wales i can't find it anywhere!! when i went to go and buy holly my tri border collie (who is now 6 months old) i saw her doggie mummy and daddy and the rest of her family i learnt from my mistake don't get me wrong i could never be without bella and like i said i love her loads and she is mine forever!! :) oh i also forgot to say bella used to hide if you ever raised your hand she has stopped this now but she hates people shouting or screaming so i am sure she was on a puppy farm we must stop PUPPY FARMING!!!!!! oh also bella just loves my 1 year old nephew espically when he throw's her ball which by the way if you throw her ball for her all day (which by the way she could and has done) you will make a friend for life :) going on abit now sorry can't help but talk about my dogs could go all day anyway i will shut up now

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• Fionaufo December 27, 2008 at 7:38 p.m.

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7800901.stm
  I hope this item featured on BBC Breakfast News today will at least generate awareness - please send comment emails to the BBC in support.

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• georginga December 26, 2008 at 6:51 a.m.

  perhaps we can concentrate on getting a certain Posh Knightsbridge store to stop selling designer Puppies at around £1000 a go, no sign of the mother, so who's to say she isn't in some crate on her next litter ready to keep the shelves well stocked once some WAG has walked out with one of the offspring!!
  This particular shop sells Fur quite brazenly, hence appealing to its humane side would be pretty pointless, we simply need to get puppy farming banned / that and selling puppies in this manner!

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• animallover57 December 23, 2008 at 5:56 p.m.

  I've got an idea to raise awareness of this problem;
  If we all made leaflets and handed them out to friends, family, schools, clubs or anywhere else we could put them, people would have to raise awareness. We could also make small clubs and discuss and hold events to grab people's attention. Making up stories, plays or posting a comment on your website could also grab their attention.....

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• winnie December 19, 2008 at 9:25 p.m.

  I have not posted on the subject of puppy farming since Jul and I am very disappointed to find that it looks to me as though the RSPCA still have done nothing to help these poor dogs.

  Could someone from the RSPCA please show any evidence of their work? Have there been any inspections or prosecutions?

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• puppylove December 19, 2008 at 12:24 p.m.

  Perhaps the RSPCA can tell us what exactly have they done to help the poor dogs in this film , or has everyone gone home for Christmas ?

  http://www.s4c.co.uk/clic/e_level2.shtml?series_id=315133547

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• animallover57 December 14, 2008 at 8:12 p.m.

  People who run puppy farms should be put in jail and worse punishments. The puppies are completely innocent and don't deserve this kind of treatment. If we raised the issue to the public, people would start taking action. If we started clubs with friends about this issue, or handed out leaflets to our local town and community, or posted comments on message boards in our towns, it would hopefully grab people's attention. Is there anything we can do, RSPCA?

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• Mags53 December 11, 2008 at 12:39 a.m.

  Joanie and others - everyone keeps praising the getting of a dog from a rehoming centre and criticising getting one from a breeder - you all miss the point that the dogs in rehoming centres are the problem not those bred by responsible breeders. It is the dogs in the rehoming centre who are the end result of bad owners or puppy farmers. The owners who allow their dogs to wander about and mate and produce puppies for which they have no people waiting with homes; puppy farmers because they just churn out puppy after puppy after puppy - badly reared and with behaviour problems before they start their life. Responsible breeders have their dogs and their breeds best interests at heart; have people waiting to buy their puppies; take their puppies back if it doesn't all work out for them. Why should I be made to feel guilty that I want to buy a puppy with known parentage (know about health issues and temperament and rearing) - after all, I expect them to be bomb proof around my grandchildren so am not going to risk my dogs or my grandchildren by getting a dog whose temperament I cannot be sure of. I know that rehoming centres are needed because people are rubbish at caring for anything properly, but they are not the only acceptable source of a pet dog! and in some situations are a bad source as they can have serious issues that don't surface immediately.

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• Fionaufo December 9, 2008 at 11:43 a.m.

  For you information there is a docuementary tonight on sky channel 134 at 9 pm some of the programme is in Welsh but there are subtitles. The second part is on Tuesday - although this is great it will have limited viewers but we do know it has caused action in Wales with the Puppy Farmers and Councils rushing about trying to clean up their act.
  http://www.s4c.co.uk/bydarbedwar/e_index.shtml

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• Joanie December 2, 2008 at 10:12 p.m.

  Why is puppy trafficking still going on? 21 years ago i brought my first dog. The advice we were given was never buy a puppy unless you can see the mother. This still holds true today. Don't hand over your money unless you can this common sense approach will stop the cruel action of puppy trafficking.
  Why hand over money to an uncaring mercinary organisation or individual, when there are many dogs looking for a good home from R.S.P.C.A. homing centres. We have gone on to rehome 5 retured greyhounds ( the lovelyest dogs on the planet). Our money is given to a good cause not to line somebody elses pocket.

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• Genie November 28, 2008 at 11:32 a.m.

  I think that the best way to get our point across is to start in a small way..... so does anyone have any ideas of how we can raise this issue in our communities?

  Finally something might get done.

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• Rabbit crazy November 26, 2008 at 7:31 p.m.

  I think that puppy trafficing is a cruel and nasty way to make money.
  These people have no right to treat these puppies the way they do!
  The conditions they keep them in are just as horrendous as the people themselves!
  I totally agree with genie and lottiebottie007.
  These people really do deserve jail and other things!

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• animallover57 November 26, 2008 at 4:24 p.m.

  Something needs to be done here - we can't just sit here and watch time go by. We need to stop talking about it and take action so people know we're serious about tackling this problem once and for all!

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• Genie November 22, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.

  If only everyone saw the pain that they were causing animals....

  we need to do something to raise this situation with everyone else. There must be some way we can all work together and get something done!!!

  Come on people instead of just talking about it do something. People at the RSPCA do you know anything we can do?!

  WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION!

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• animallover57 November 20, 2008 at 8:46 p.m.

  The puppies do not deserve this kind of treatment and the people running the farms deserve every punishment - thank you to Genie and lottiebottie007 as well as everybody else on give animals a voice for all the help we're doing for the innocent animals - they don't deserve this kind of treatment and puppy trafficking should be put to a stop altogether!

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• lottiebottie007 November 18, 2008 at 12:38 p.m.

  I agree with animallover7 and Genie, the people that do this should get whats coming to them, and worse. I would throw these people away in jail, lock them up forever. People that do this should feel how these puppies feel, and feel what its like being cramped up in a dark cage with faeces all around you.

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• Genie November 14, 2008 at 9:49 p.m.

  Thank you animallover,it's good to know that someone agrees with me.

  Maybe we should treat people who treat dogs badly the same so that they know how it feels. That way they might notn do it again in the future.

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• animallover57 November 14, 2008 at 6:08 p.m.

  I agree with Genie - the people running puppy farms need to get their just desserts - the dogs don't deserve this kind if treatment and the owners should be in the dog's shoes - how do they feel when they're in cramped conditions, not getting any food or exercise at all - if the people can feel what this is like for the dogs, they would surely stop, right?

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• animallover57 November 14, 2008 at 6:02 p.m.

  I HATE puppy farms - I don't have a dog, but my friend has a dog and I would never want anything bad to happen to the dog at all - my friend adores her and it would be horrid for something to happen. The RSPCA should get rid of all puppy farms.

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• Genie November 14, 2008 at 2:36 p.m.

  I sooooooo agree with Fionaufo,Sheila,Mags and Kitty. We need to know what the RSPCA's views on this are and what actions are being taken to stop this!!! ANSWER PEOPLE!!!

  I have a staffy of my own called Copper and He's my angel. I couldn't bear for anything evil 2 happen to him. It makes me sik wen i think that dogs are being treated so cruelly in those dog farms. They don't deserve it.

  How would people like it if we treated them as cruelly as they treat animals? I think these people need their just desserts!

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• saffroncat November 13, 2008 at 8:02 p.m.

  Puppy farms are twisted and evil and the RSPCA should stop them!!!

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• animalmad November 10, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.

  i HATE!!!!puppy farms they are soooooo horrid i don't understand what they want with all there dogs.
  they need to be stopped!

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• Fionaufo November 9, 2008 at 3:44 p.m.

  Firstly thanks to Sheila, Mags and Kitty for adding your comments unfortunately we still have had no comment from a representative of the RSPCA. This is very disappointing and unacceptable. I would appreciate acknowledgement of my request for information on what the RSPCA action/policy is relating to Puppy Farming. I look forward to finding out what actually is being done or how I can help.

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• sheila11 November 2, 2008 at 9:59 p.m.

  i have 2 dogs who are my pride and joy. i cant believe there are puppy farms i am new to this blogging its a awful mess those tiny pupps my heart goes out to them what are the pspca doing about this more info please. i pay by direct debit to save the animals so do it please please rspca.

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• hello_kitty_ October 28, 2008 at 10:08 p.m.

  i think this is a big issue for animal lovers. puppy farming needs to be sorted out. its horrible conditions and no sweet puppy deserves that. its not a job. its horrible they need to be sorted out. but what is the RSPCA doing about this!

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• Mags53 October 26, 2008 at 10:03 p.m.

  Come on RSPCA - you make comments on this site, respond to Fionaufo -, what steps are you taking? Or, are you too involved in giving the KC a bad press to deal with a major issue like this?

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• Fionaufo October 16, 2008 at 3:28 p.m.

  I would like to know what action the RSPCA is
  taking to stop puppy farming. I would also like to know what legislation and or monitoring is done to ensure that dogs are not exposed to inhumane act of cruelty for financial gain. Furthermore how do I get involved in helping to stop this dreadful trade.

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• Mags53 October 6, 2008 at 8:23 p.m.

  I know that everyone is anti the KC at the moment but a good way of stopping this is for all pedigree dogs to have to be registered with the KC, for all dogs to have to be DNA tested (to prove sire/dam) and for a limit to the number of puppies born to a certain bitch to be registered. This is partly what is being brought in with a KC scheme - this scheme means that bitches who are too young or too old cannot have pups registered, it limits the number of puppies/litters. If these people cannot register the pups and therefore cannot sell them as pedigree and therefore at a high price they'll go away and find another way to make money.

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• angryjackie October 5, 2008 at 10:16 p.m.

  I have 2 rescued ex breeding bitches, they were both terrified and shook for days, one was severely malnourished had cataracts and a heart murmur but still they bred from her. They were both matted to the skin, crawling with flees and it took 5 baths to get rid of the smell. They are much better now, it cost me £2,000 for a cataract operation but it was worth it as she is a very different dog but I dont think that the fear will ever leave them. I have just learnt that a place not too far away from me is a puppy farm last year 22 litters of puppies were produced and its the daughter of a local councillor. I guess this is how they get away with it. It sickens me that they seem to legislate themselves.

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• xspiritwalkerx September 28, 2008 at 2:24 p.m.

  You wonder if these puppy farm people have ever thought of getting real jobs rather than just exploting aniamls

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• shedevil September 25, 2008 at 10:29 a.m.

  I think part of the problem is people going to puppy 'farms' at first unaware and then feeling the need to 'rescue' a puppy from there by purchessing them but this just keeps this cruel and unjust business going. If these people cant sell the dogs then they cant keep doing it.

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• squigglegirl September 23, 2008 at 3:46 p.m.

  I think this trade is cruel and awful!I feel like going up to those people and telling them how many lifes they have lost. I think there is no way to stop this but we can help it by not buying dogs from pet shops! Just don't do it!

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• fuzzbutt September 19, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.

  I work with animals and now one of my very loved pets was a puppy trafficing victim. She was bought by a local pet store to be sold at 4 weeks of age. Even though she had a "shot record" she was too young for vaccines to work and she ended up with PARVO. I worked at the hospital that she was brought to and did my job while becoming very attached to my little one. In my state it is against the law to sell a PARVO positive animal.The pet store was going to sell her to another pet store to make a profit. I rescued her before the exchange could take place. Lesson for any one is if you get a pet from a store it probably has an illness of some sort.DONT BUY FROM A PET STORE.

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• T.L.C. September 19, 2008 at 4:22 p.m.

  This is D's story.
  After researching many breeders I decided on one. At the time he was the president of that breed's breed club in Canada. I assumed I was safe. At 13 months D had been shipped back from a former buyer in the east and was now up for grabs. Everything I had been looking for at 115 lbs he was the epitomy of the breeds standard. His age was a factor although as I had hoped to get a puppy. I paid the "president $1600.00 Canadian and brought D into my home. Within 6 months D suffered his first, of many Grand Mal Epileptic seizures and was placed on medication for life. I contacted the breeder who told me it was environmental at first, then something I had fed him, and eventually accused me of hitting him on the head causing brain trauma! In time this "breeder" stopped returning my calls and left me helpless and hopeless with a very sick dog. The story didnt end there. After carefully researching and asking questions of other breeders I found out D's epilepsy was known to the president of the breed club and that also D had huge people/animal aggression. This all played out in my home, mind you he was never once aggressive towards myself or my 2 daughters (Thank God ehe?) he would target anyone who entered the home. All this known to the man who took my money and sent me on my way. The woman who initially purchaxsed him planned on studding him but after he attacked her husband and turned on her he was sent back to the man who bred him originally. His pedigree and documents all forged.
  D is now at peace, he died due to a massive tumour brought on by the medication that was prescribed to help his seizures. I had him a short 4 years and he taught me everything about unconditional love, strength and patience.
  In his memory I now crusade against these backyard, cash grab so called breeders.
  Every week I receive emails from others who now suffer the cruel agony of a dog having epilepsy. I honestly dont know what to tell them but love your dog as intensely as you possibly can, knowing that dog will become yet another sad statistic - breeders still breed & puppies still die.
  T.L.C.

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• Mags53 September 18, 2008 at 1:11 a.m.

  The big problem now seems to be the people who have jumped on the bandwagon and are breeding cross-breeds, e.g. labradoodle, cockapoo, etc. and are charging the gullible public hundreds of pounds for the privilege of owning a mongrel - you cannot know what it will inherit from which parent - e.g. the labradoodle may moult like the labrador in it's breeding. If you want a dog that you know will not moult (allergies!) then just buy a poodle! What ever you think of the KC you can go to their web-site and see accredited breeders and registered puppies THEN if you have problems you have somewhere to go to complain and to raise issues about that breeder. AND, many reputable breeders of pedigree dogs will take back the puppies (and dogs) that they have bred if their new owner has problems. BUT, then of course, as most of you on these sites now seem to prefer to buy from puppy farmers or from the irresposnible owner who just lets their dog mate with anything THAN from a reputable breeder thanks to Pedigree Dogs Exposed I suppose this problem is now set to get much, much worse as these people will move in to fill the gap!!!!!!

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• WolfGirl September 15, 2008 at 6:04 p.m.

  I think its cruel and these people need a hard slap! It's wrong and its just to earn money. I just want to protect all those puppies

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• sammyvanstaden September 15, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.

  I have had my dog since I was six years old and I still have her. I cannot IMAGINE life without her. How can anyone do such a thing to a poor little dog? Only a sick, sick person would do that to make money.

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• Eleanor September 15, 2008 at 4:04 p.m.

  There are a few choice words that I would use to aptly describe puppy traffickers, but I don't think they are suitable for public viewing...It seems that no animal is safe in this world from people who are utterly desperate to make money and will do anything to get as much of it as they can, regardless of the animals that they are expoliting in the process. God help us if these people are allowed to carry on this shameful trade.

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• carlos September 15, 2008 at 3:28 p.m.

  hola soy de México quisiera ayudar de algun modo aca en Latinoamérica espero poder contactarme con alguien que hable en español se muy poco ingles ok saludos my msn is carlos.aguirre@hotmail.co.uk saludos y espero que pronto me puedan responder

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• rspca under 8teenz September 13, 2008 at 4:50 p.m.

  I have read puppyloves article but the only thing is How do we stop that???.I can only think to petition so that public can see what puppy trafficking really is because some people are unaware of this issue.

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• puppylove September 12, 2008 at 8:24 a.m.

  I would just like to add , if that were you or I treating dogs in this way we would be prosecuted but because these farms hold a license they are allowed to do whatever they like !

  Shame on us all for letting this continue .

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• puppylove September 12, 2008 at 8:12 a.m.

  Perhaps readers would like to see this video ?

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8SGI62nRF0

  This is Wales today even with new animal welfare act this kind of thing goes on , a disgrace . To learn more please visit http://www.dogs-r-us.org/ and make your voice heard.

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• PTR September 6, 2008 at 6:53 p.m.

  Other sites that are also running free ads for dogs - and are thus giving a ready vehicle to puppy trafficking/farming and scammers are Lycos (powered by oode), www.ukclassifieds.co.uk and www.preloved.co.uk - I'm waiting for their response to my enquiry - I asked for an outline of their policies regarding dog and other animal adverts

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• PTR September 4, 2008 at 8:37 p.m.

  10 minutes after posting my last comment about oodle they have replied to one of my emails - they have removed many of the adverts I highlighted believing them to be scams. However, they say they so not have a specific policy against pet trafficking per se, they cannot tell the difference between traffickers and legitimate sellers by the ads they post - although I would have thought there were clues in the number of ads run, they can only take action if the sale is illegal, but they do try to stop proven traffickers but cannot prevent them from using a new email address. However, since this type of site is an ideal vehicle for traffickers and puppy farmers I believe that that the advertising of any livestock in this way should be stopped

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• PTR September 4, 2008 at 8:14 p.m.

  Recently I was browsing the Internet and looking at dogs for sale and came across a classified ad site called Oodle (www.oodle.co.uk) they have ads for hundreds of dogs many of them from very dubious sources, most probably traffickers. They have dealers offering many types of pedigree pups including rare breeds at very low prices - many of them quoting several different locations for the same "breeder"! As an experiment we contacted one of these people - and our fears were confirmed immediately - he wanted to delver the dog we couldn't see it because he was in Belfast despite the ad saying Coventry! I have contacted the RSPCA with the details. I have written several emails to oodle (they seem to be an international company) highlighting these problems - both in general and with specific advertisers but have received no reply. I would like any suggestions on how to stop them running these ads or to shame them with adverse publicity - at the moment I would say they seem to be lacking in morality

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• lil_los@hotmail.co.uk August 31, 2008 at 7:58 p.m.

  what is the point. please? it just makes me want to cry or reach out and give these people a good slap in the face. i no im only 16, but that doesnt stop the fact that i want to give animals a voice. i love animals my parents have brought me up with them. i currently have a dog and a rabbit. my dog was not from one of these puppy-trafficking places, but he is the sweetest thing ever. i love dogs to bits and it sickens me that horrible people can treat puppies in such a way, when you look in to your animals eyes, or when they cuddle up to u, u no that they just do NOT deserve to be handled in such a terrible way. grr, makes me angry just thinking about it!

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• Mags53 August 29, 2008 at 10:29 p.m.

  Secret - yes, you are so right. I cannot imagine ever wanting to live without dogs around me. I brought my children up surrounded by dogs and cats and chickens and ducks and geese and rabbits and a donkey. Dogs and children are like ying and yang, they are made to be together. All animals deserve to be raised with care and treated with respect - every dog deserves a good home. Dogs give us their unconditional love and devotion, we are not really worthy of such devotion but must work at it every day that they live with us.

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• Mags53 August 29, 2008 at 9:22 p.m.

  k9kathy - I'm surprised that someone who purports to have the best interests of dogs at heart would fund the business of puppy traffikers by buying a puppy on the cheap from an advert and unknown source. It's those who buy from these people, not breeders of pedigree dogs and those who care enough to make sure that they buy from a good reliable source, that threaten the welfare of dogs. A bit like buying a battery chicken instead of a free range one - or their eggs for those vegetarians out there. I agree with you that the internet and such places should be banned from advertising puppies for sale - but I cannot imagine a scenario where I would be willing to buy any living thing from such a source, as going there to look for one means that you are seeing them as a commodity not a living, breathing entity.

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• Secret August 29, 2008 at 9:33 a.m.

  In the perfect world every dog would have a home and every home would have a happy dog

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• Jay A Dog witha Blog August 28, 2008 at 4:40 p.m.

  As a rescue dog I consider myself lucky everyday to have a loving, caring family and a warm, happy house to call my home. Unfortunately there are literally millions of pets who cannot say the same beacuse of the widespread attrocity known as "Puppy Farms". I am still beyond horrified as to the conditions and lack or care that is considered acceptable to bestow on helpless dogs and cats. As "mans best friend" I cannot see the logic or reasoning behind anyone who buys a pet from an inhumane breeder or location. I would be hopeful that it is widely known that many of these so called "Puppy & Kitten Farms" sell their animals on to breeders and through website and paper advertisments, but it is really no excuse for someone buying a puppy or kitten to ignore what must be so blantantly obvious. There are so many things that can be checked and see with first hand experience, and of course there is always "If in doubt, do not buy". I suppose it would be a common misconception that if you buy one of these suffering animals that you are actually helping them out, and on one level this is true. However, you are in reality, only making room for more puppies and kittens to be bred and sold and are actually endorsing the whole process.

  I felt it was my duty as a pet of the world to post my opinions of this dispicable trade and hopefully have a dog voice for those who cannot be found or saved. We depend so heavily on humans for love, care, nurturing and housing and there are so many millions of people who provide all that we could ever need and want. But sadly this is not the only type of person. Breeders of the type described above are after one thing only....MONEY. Breeding animals is not a cheap or carefree business and these inhumane people will cut corners whereever they see fit in order to increase the size of their wallets. Whether this means no vaccinations, poor living conditions, little food and water, breeding females to often and too young, taking puppies and kittens away from their mothers before they are ready. These people are obviously not a part of the so called "nation of pet lovers" this country prides itself on, and I would be utterly suprised if they even have any human compassion for any living thing.

  To read my full doggie rant on this subject and to comment on anything that can be done please visit my blog as below.

  Jay - Border Collie
  http://dogwithblog.wordpress.com

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• Walkerboy August 27, 2008 at 10:16 a.m.

  I've spoken to the BBC this morning because they're planning on hitting a puppy trader near me on Rogue Traders.
  We bought a Labrador pup from them in late October/early November last year, and he died of parvo within a week.
  I reported them to Trading Standards as we heard other similar stories from the vet and others in our area.

  It turns out now that the RSPCA suspect him of being a puppy farm AND bringing puppies in from other sources.

  They constantly have puppies on sale, of multiple breeds and I would LOVE to see them get publicly exposed.... especially after their nonchalent "claim it on the insurance" statement to us, after they'd pocketed the cash.

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• Mags53 August 27, 2008 at 9:59 a.m.

  Puppy traffiking is often the result of puppy farms who breed dogs in appalling conditions, who don't socialise their puppies (psychological problems), and pass on puppies with congenital problems due to poor living conditions for mum and pups. And, now thanks to the RSPCA and BBC bias in their programme about pedigree dogs, many people will now not go to the people who care about their breeding dogs and the puppies, people who keep them in the house and have the puppies running around with them (all of the breeders from whom I've got my pedigree puppies raise them like this). In fact, I have been wanting a puppy from a certain breed for 3 years now and because so few are bred and so many people want them I'm still waiting - perhaps all of the people who have problems with their dogs aren't willing to wait for one from a decent breeder so go to a puppy farmer and that's why they get health problems.

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• seaflowers August 25, 2008 at 6:05 p.m.

  Full credit to the RSPCA for highlighting this trade. Laws need to be made much tighter.These people afe out to make a fast buck on the back of people's greed and vanity. It is a neglect issue-neglect in the sense that the animals welfare is not paramount

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• sam150150 August 25, 2008 at 4:31 p.m.

  While there is a demand for 'designer' dogs, there will be a supply.
  If someone wants a bulldog pup, for instance, but can't afford the £1000 fee, then of course they are going to buy one from the free advertising newspapers for £350. Even if it means meeting the 'breeder' at the services on the motorway.
  Whilst it would be nice to think that most people have some common sense, it's all too apparent, that when it comes to pedigree dogs, most people are a bit too trusting.
  These back street breeders are only interested in one thing, YOUR MONEY!!!

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• k9kathy August 25, 2008 at 4:02 p.m.

  My opinion of people who make money from misery is quite simple......they are worse than drug dealers.
  I was caught by one of these scumbags 6 weeks ago and my little girl was on a drip for 5 days, had to have morphine for pain and also had 4 plasma transfusions. £1000 vet bill later and, thank god,a puppy still alive, I find that the scumbag who made money from my little girls misery is actually advertising many different breeds on the internet and all the pups have had their 1st jabs (lies) and also mum can be seen with whatever litter you enquire about (more lies). They have even posted bogus addresses on the ads and give you the proper address when you call. All the ads have different mobile numbers too. Very greedy, very crafty and utterly immoral.
  The quicker the law is changed to stop classifying animals as "goods" the better.
  I also dont understand when you have irrefutable proof that lies & deceit are used when selling a puppy that they cannot be arrested for gaining money through deception, after all if I sold someone a car that had a dodgey MOT or something like that I would soon be nicked.

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• KayleighLouise August 24, 2008 at 5:04 p.m.

  oops forgot to add. the reason behind puppy trafficking is purely cosmetic and fashion. i love whippets - i was brought up with 4 of them, and i now own my own (so obviously in the future i will certainly be after another whippet) but there is no way i would buy one from a commercial breeder, i would definatly get a rescue dog again (like the one i have now) because i will not support the cruel unnecessary breeding of dogs, directly or indirectly.

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• KayleighLouise August 24, 2008 at 5 p.m.

  i wasnt aware how widespread this was.
  if there are so many puppies born each day, we are allowing many, many dogs to suffer because of overbreeding.
  (does anyone have any links for more information on this topic?)
  it makes me feel ill to know that many of these puppies wont find a loving home and that many will just end up as abandoned dogs and treated as pests :(

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• CockerCharlie August 20, 2008 at 11:28 a.m.

  I found this fact in a magazine the other day and it really shocked me.

  1.2 MILLION puppies are born everyday- six times more than the number of human babies!!!!!!!

  There has to be something that can be done!!!!

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• kt&dillain August 19, 2008 at 11:58 p.m.

  we looked all over the internet looking for a puppy. I was absolutely stunned when we got lots of replies about puppies for an affordable price. one in particular was a little girl but the stories the 'owner' didnt add up. The puppy was from kent (quite a distance to drive from cheshire for a puppy but well worth it) but suddenly it turned out to be in malan and the 'owners' not even with her... we were heart-broken but couldn't continue with the purchase:- either it was fake or puppy trafficing was happening, the stories just did not add up. eventually we found a lovely family in wales, we met the parents of our young pup and played with the litter for a few hours. it as such a lovely experience and dillain is my pride and joy.

  It was such an eye-opener when we saw how many people seemed to not be honest about selling puppies and we should try and do as much as we can to stop people from being so cruel to such young lives.

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• Em August 15, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.

  I think puppy trafficing is awful, the people who run such thing should be very ashamed. Even if their aim is to get good bred puppies they arn't going to get very far keeping them in that horrible place with them all cramped up like that, it's just sick. How could someone do such a thing?

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• zoe louise August 13, 2008 at 5:48 p.m.

  These puppys are kept in bad conditions, and just a fashion accsessorie (sorry spelling) for most people, it keeps this cruel people in business, Dogs are dogs, puppys are puppys. I have two of my own, they don't need to be perfect looking, they are lovely animals that don't deserve to be picked out by things like colour ect.. I just hope that these puppys find a nice home and are treated well. I don't agree with how people can buy puppies from such a place though.

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• romy-baybee August 10, 2008 at 10:05 p.m.

  all i can sayis that dogs are very special to me and i hope that anyone whou could do such a thing as in the video should be ashamed!

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• Sue August 1, 2008 at 1:46 p.m.

  Forgive my possible naivety on this subject, as although I love dogs and have two of my own (both rescues), I can't help wondering what drives the puppy industry. From all I have seen and heard, it seems to me that the reason this industry thrives is the demand for "designer" or pedigree dogs. I am not saying that those who contribute to this demand are not genuine animal lovers who will treat the dog well, but why does your dog HAVE to be a certain colour or a certain breed? Obviously if you have an interest in a particular breed and regularly show your dogs, then I can understand, but for the average Joe, isn't it just a bit of a fashion statement? After all, if what you want is a doggy companion because you love dogs, what is wrong with the millions of homeless dogs in this country, many of whom end up getting destroyed simply for being "surplus to requirements". Many of these dogs are pedigree dogs, many are not, but in the right hands, most will become loyal companions for life. I have a Border Collie, but she was about to be shot, so I took her on. I had never seen her till the day she was delivered to me. I didn't know what she looked like, or even if she was a dog or a bitch. All I knew was her age. What she looked like, what markings, what colour etc didn't enter my head for one minute. In fact, she is the most beautiful looking dog I have ever seen, but that is pure chance. It is the demand which feeds the industry, and if you are willing to pay the price for your designer dog, then breeders will keep breeding and puppy farms will continue to prosper. It is that simple isn't it? The RSPCA will do all they can, but the puppy farmers will always make money and find new ways of disguising their practices. The only reliable way in my view of stamping out puppy farming is to remove the demand which drives the industry. This means educating people to understand that a dog is a dog, not a fashion accessory, not something to look good with your beige handbag, not something to parade round as a symbol of your wealth or status. This sadly will take a long time, particularly in our fashion obsessed culture.

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• ranst August 1, 2008 at 1:25 p.m.

  I work for the European Union in Greece.
  Yesterday, a dog came into the car park at my work with his skin removed. Somebody had skinned this dogs back. He was also extrememly thin. Luckily we were able to save him. We took him to the vet and she will keep hold of him for a week until he is better. You can imagine the suffering of animals here. There are hundreds living on the streets in a terrible state. Greeks prefer to buy expensive pure breed dogs which they buy from pet shops. Dogs on the streets they see as vermin and poison them or in some cases I have witnessed hang them up by their throuts in the heat until they die.

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• animal-lover July 29, 2008 at 1:48 p.m.

  It makes me sick to hear about this :-( How do people get away with it?? If i got a dog i would never buy it from a shop i would adopt one from a charity ike the RSPCA, dogs trust, Blue Cross ect. :-( !!!

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• animal-lover July 29, 2008 at 1:47 p.m.

  It makes me sick to hear about this :-( How do people get away with it?? If i got a dog i would never buy it from a shop i wwould adopt one from a charity ike the RSPCA, dogs trust, Blue Cross ect. :-( !!!

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• Jaffa July 24, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.

  How can these people get away with this?? They need to be stopped immediatly!!! it makes me sad to hear about this.

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• Gemma... (((<3))) July 22, 2008 at 3:17 p.m.

  D:

  How can people do this????

  Oh, wait.... Money, isnt it :(

  I've never had a dog, but i think i can definitely say that if i ever get one i'll check a millionzillion times that the place is not trafficking puppies. Or getting them illegally. Or any other animal, actually.

  We need to use our people power!

  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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• doggy rights UK July 17, 2008 at 8 p.m.

  Actually all you need to do is this :

  Get two vets to state that the animal is ill (and from when and what etc)

  Then go online to http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/claims/index.htm

  Complete the claim for a refund and costs here , its friendly and very easy, costs are about £40-80 depending on how much you claim. You do not require a solicitor and providing you can attend court then the service is excellent.
  If the business has gone under try to seek personal costs against the defendant in the same manner.

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• CockerCharlie July 17, 2008 at 1:46 p.m.

  CockerCharlie says:
  It is easy to say about getting your money back, but in our case this seller has gone out of business and had moved away and the local trading standards said that we have to mount a private proscution. I have to say that we would not even know where to start on this and we dont have the money either!!!

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• Cambstreasurer July 17, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.

  Could I just point out that anyone who has been misled about the health status of a puppy that they have purchased should keep copies of any vet bills and specifically ask Trading Standards for help in putting pressure on the seller to refund the puppy's purchase price and/or pay the bill.

  I know of at least one person who did succeed in getting some of their bill covered and it is one way of making irresponsible selling less profitable.

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• doggy rights UK July 17, 2008 at 9:37 a.m.

  To add to that I advise on many sites about the legality of getting their refunds for purchases they have made from both pet profiteers and breeders who fail to disclose health conditions.I also advise on canine welfare and health conditions, oh and yes I AM QUALIFIED TO DO SO.
  Breeders really do need to read before they write, it would appear to be a very common fault, The RSPCA should be congratulated for taking this stance, not before time I might add.I would like them to prosecute more and in a professional manner ,many cases they do prosecute are legally appalling and its about time they had better training to effect far more prosecutions in a fair and equittable manner.I personally would like to see them apply for ANIMAL POLICE STATUS , this would give them far more powers !
  The RSPCA MUST visit every known puppy farmer and check conditions , to date they fail here badly. ACTIONS are far better than words... so come on DO SOMETHING TO STOP SUFFERING NOW !
  Also have a campaign to stop such ridiculous prices being charged by greedy breeders , make the public aware , that would help to stop puppy farmers......

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• doggy rights UK July 17, 2008 at 9:23 a.m.

  As I said in the post many breeders are deluded and as I said note the response given by that breeder was of that nature.It is factually wrong to state that breeders do not make money they do , I am not actually interested in who you are , I am interested though that you mention you did pay taxes , I know through the tax office the first sole breeder in the UK to pay taxes and I can assure you it wasnot a cavalier breeder.Incidently cavaliers are one breed of dog in the UK that due to over breeding have serious health problems did you ever have them health tested BEFORE breeding and did you ever mention health problems to any of your owners ?
  If you did well done... If not then herein lies the problem doesnt it, yet another breeder who fails to test BEFORE making money!
  If you would have read the post instead of simply picking snippets and getting on your high horse then you would have realised that I am not against breeding, what I am against is POOR BREEDING , BREEDING FOR MONEY, BREEDING AS A SOURCE OF INCOME TO ATTEND SHOWS AND BREEDING WITHOUT TESTING....
  Simply that adds up to people taking advantage of their dogs, pets whatever they want to call them. They are profiteering from their dogs and YES that does include show breeders, if they did not charge such high prices for their dogs then the need for puppy farmers would diminish, THEY cannot justify the prices , its extortionate , greedy and an afront to any breeder who takes the time to research lines before mating, rather than mating at show venues and many do, with a dog and bitch from within the breed club.
  Breed clubs have ethical codes , frankly when you read them they mean very little and many breed club members are simply puppy farmers.
  I happen to rescue dogs also and unlike many rescues I PAY for them to be spayed or neutered BEFORE they are rehomed, this stops DL registrations from pups born.
  PUPPY FARMERS EXIST IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE, THE PROBLEM IS OWNERS CANNOT RECOGNISE THEM , THEY GET BAFFLED BY THE MANTRA OF THESE PET PROFITEERS.
  For over 5 years now our GLOBAL sites have openly published the poor breeders details, the untested dogs and the dogs with known health conditions, we publish information to assist new owners in spotting a pet profiteer and we openly inform about poor breed clubs and its membership.
  So just in case you cannot read here is what we stated and will continue to state as it is factual:
  PUPPY FARMERS EXIST IN EVERY SOCIAL GROUP, THEY MAKE MONEY FROM THEIR DOGS, THEY DO NOT GIVE MONEY TO RESCUES, THEY MATE UNTESTED DOGS, THEY SPEND VERY LITTLE TIME WITH THEIR DOGS, THEY CAN BE SHOW JUDGES, BREED CLUB MEMBERS AND WILL USUALLY HAVE NO OTHER SOURCE OF INCOME.

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• puppylove July 16, 2008 at 1:25 p.m.

  http://www.dogs-r-us.org/ and the Puppy Love team would like to thank the RSPCA for taking the time and trouble to contact us with information about their work on [name removed]. We are now satisfied they did their best and worked hard to get license revoked.

  We will continue to work with them in an attempt to make an impact on this wicked trade.

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• Melody July 16, 2008 at 9:13 a.m.

  Thank you RSPCA for making me aware of this awful 'business' - this is just dreadful and I had no idea that this sort of thing happened! I feel really silly because I didn't even know that Pet Shops still sold puppies!

  I think people are being a bit critical of the RSPCA - maybe there has been a history and maybe they haven't been perfect but the fact that they are now raising the profile of Puppy Trafficking and informing people like me that this awful thing exists is surely a good thing?

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• RSPCA July 16, 2008 at 8:53 a.m.

  If you have had a bad experience of buying a puppy, please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 on visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk - they are the central body for Trading Standards. They can provide advice on your rights and refer the complaint to the local Trading Standards office.

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• puppyalert July 16, 2008 at 7:45 a.m.

  Jules4Daisy please send the info to me by email or complete my questionnaire on my web site. I need to speak to you with all the evidence, cannot do anything without, I will try my best but do need the help from you. Irrational talk will no get results, basic facts and evidence will.
  I find it hard to believe they were not interested, I think you may have not spoken to the right person. Did you speak to Barbara Snow this is the officer you need to speak to at T/S if message left they should call you back.

  Cushti please the same applies to you please contact me. Cant help without the evidence.

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• puppylove July 16, 2008 at 6:25 a.m.

  jules4daisy, this is sadly the case all too often and I know just how you feel. You expect help from the LA'S and Rspca then you get let down.

  We had a similar case concerning [name removed], dying pups, very sick pups, lots of evidence to LA and RSPCA what happened? nothing the trader has moved into another county and will continue her evil trade unhindered, unbelievable !

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• jules4daisy July 15, 2008 at 9:45 p.m.

  puppy alert

  i have contacted essex trading standards not interested and ive reported it to rspca have not heard from the officer since november i should have done what i said to rspca and stolen all the puppies put them in my kitchen then called rspca i feel im banging my head against a brick wall and i feel the law lets this evil woman get away with it since i reported it to rspca dogs from her premises have died or been very ill what more does the rspca and trading standards need to shut her down it really makes me angry.i have reported the daisy story to puppy alert and spoke to someone who was really nice but it lays down to the rspca and trading standards to actually do something or maybe in the end someone will take it in to their own hands and will do something theirselves

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• cushti July 15, 2008 at 7:52 p.m.

  Raising public awareness to these establishments is all very well; if you were giving a warning about the perils of buying a sabre-toothed tiger, but how on do you tell a family who think they are saving a puppy from a terrible life, to turn their backs? How many times have we all heard, “It might have been a puppy farm – but at least I saved our Bonzo”. How will you drive this message home?

  If, as you say,

  ‘We work closely with local authorities. This includes passing on details of complaints we've received about puppy traders so they can investigate further. However local authorities are not obliged to seek assistance from us or any other animal welfare organisation to help with annual inspections’.

  Then why can you not oversee the passing on of details and ensure that complaints about these puppy traders’ are seen through to prosecution?

  We could go on debating back and forth forever. All I am asking is for you to show that the outcome you are aiming toward is the same we are pushing for.

  A trader in Essex has already been mentioned as being prosecuted twice before, and is continuously in contempt of court, selling sick puppy after sick puppy. Ask her what she thinks of the RSPCA – she laughs. Take her to court and she’ll use another name for herself and her establishment.
  There are people on here with overwhelming proof of her guilt - what more do you need to see?

  All we are asking for is a bit of solidarity; give us a bit of hope, rather than this continuous feeling of coming up against a brick wall.

  www.dogs-r-us.org

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• CockerCharlie July 15, 2008 at 11:21 a.m.

  I brought a beautiful puppy from [name removed] and everything was ok til April of this year when she was admitted to the emergency vets with non stopping fitting.
  I left our Belle at the vets and came home and tried to call the above place but no reply so i started to search the net and found out that this place was a puppy mill and some other owners that had brought puppies there were going through horrendous times with their pups too.
  I contacted the local trading standards to find out that the owner of this place had had her license taken away for selling sick puppies but had contuined to sell them anyway, the RSPCA were involed at this time however i have heard that the RSPCA are not going to prosecute this place and i find it hard that they are doing this campaign yet not doing anything about a place that they knew exsisted!!!!
  Our Belle is a very poorly 11mth old puppy and is going to drugs for the rest of her life and isnt the same puppy she was before all this fitting happened, she also has a very narrow windpipe and a slight heart murmur.

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• sweetie July 15, 2008 at 10:29 a.m.

  I have had lots of dogs and puppies come through my life some fostered some just didnt work out but i can safely say not one had puppies or was involved in making them as i got them all done even though i live on benefits due to being disabled!
  At the moment i have an 8 month old staff and he is just adorable brilliant with the cats and kids.
  People do need to neuter their pets not enough are being done,i nag family members to neuter their dogs and so far so good they listen and if they wont i would make them watch one of the films showing dogs stuck in cages without homes or a puppy farm hopefully that would persuade them.

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• RSPCA July 15, 2008 at 8:58 a.m.

  Just to reiterate what we have said earlier, The RSPCA does investigate allegations of cruelty - and we have successfully prosecuted puppy breeders and traders in the past where animal suffering has occurred.

  We also pass on details of complaints we've received about puppy traders to local authorities so they too can investigate.

  The RSPCA would like to see a change in the law and have submitted proposals to Defra highlighting the importance of a robust, enforceable traceability scheme for puppies. We have also urged the government in England to look at the licensing system being proposed in Scotland as a potential model for the future.

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• puppyalert July 15, 2008 at 8:28 a.m.

  Staffie and jules4daisy please both contact Essex Trading Standards this trader who you purchased your puppy from is in contempt of court for selling sick puppies, taken to Court by Essex Trading Standards and Office of Fair Trading at Southend County Court. Unfortunately Chelmsford Council licenses her as a pet shop each year this must be stopped. Give the evidence to both and it will help to take this trader back to Court. Please,forward your information to them and also to me at puppyalert2003@yahoo.co.uk by email and I will telephone you if you leave a contact number or you can complete my online questionnaire on the website (soon to be updated)
  http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/puppy_alert/index.htm
  Much info on this trader on my website and web journal.

  Thank you RSPCA for your reply. Please reply with your answers to my questions on the above email or arrange a telephone conversation at your convenience to discuss my questions. Thank you.

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• puppylove July 15, 2008 at 8:17 a.m.

  And will the rest of us get to know the answers to puppy alerts questions ? Surely a public reply is called for ?

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• RSPCA July 15, 2008 at 8:07 a.m.

  Hi Puppy Alert

  Thanks for your post. It is probably easier to discuss some of the points raised in your post - could you please therefore email your contact details to campaigns@rspca.org.uk and someone will give you call.

  Thank you.

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• jules4daisy July 14, 2008 at 9:44 p.m.

  staffy
  im so sorry for what has happened to you i bought daisy i sure its from the same place the end of september 2007 i went into the premises and was asked what dog i wanted i said it was the yorkie female the lady just put her in my arms ia asked to see all puppies she had she would not let me look i paid for daisy and she soaked her in flea spray daisy was 10 weeks old when i got her the lady said she had a family tree which was fake and had all jabs which 2 were fake.daisy was very sick all the way home i thought it was the journey and she did pick up i took her to the vets for a check up 2 days after getting her and they said she was underweight and had a slight fever they gave me medicine but by the friday daisy was being sick it was all blood and had blood when she went to the toilet she was rushed to the vets at First they thought she had parvo but thankfully she did not i took her jab sheet i was given by the pet shop seller and i was told these jabs did not excist so now daisy was very ill and had no jabs daisy was kept in the vets for 5 days and nearly did not make it she had phenomena daisy did pull though and is making up 4 it she is spoiled due to what she went though and my 2 other dogs adore her im just sorry your puppy did not make it.i to rang the lady who sold her to me but she was very rude and said it was my fault but i to have other dogs and they have been fine this stupid woman needs to be stopped im incontact with the rspca and have been since the day daisy fell ill i would tell anyone do not buy a puppy

  (The remainder of this post has been removed in accordance with paragraph 6 & 7 of the terms & conditions. Please could all blog users be reminded to check the terms and conditions before posting on this site.)

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• puppyalert July 14, 2008 at 9:14 p.m.

  In response to the above reply by the RSPCA to Cushti

  Why is the RSPCA sending details of complaints to local authorities and not dealing with the complaint directly themselves? The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is a 'common informer' Act which means that it is not only statutory enforcement agencies that can enforce the Act's provision. If any member of the public can enforce the provision, then surely the RSPCA can?
  Therefore why is the RSPCA not entering licensed dog breeding establishments with or without a warrant and Council licensing officer if informed that the five freedoms are not being adhered to by a breeder?

  Public awareness on the puppy trade and puppy farming has been going on for years, the message is not getting through. Just look at the ads selling multiple breeds of puppies in the free ads and on line. Those of use that keep up the awareness by web sites are getting very weary of the lack of action by Licensing officers, RSPCA and vets that keep ticking boxes and saying OK when inspecting these premises as we know differently.
  Work with us and stop this trade by using the Act where it will make a difference in the breeding premises.
  Telling people to not buy a puppy from a pet shop is not going to stop this trade. If it was then the cinema ads by Dogs Trust, Free Fido Campaign would have had the desired effect years ago.
  If the RSPCA were to support Puppy Alert for a ban on puppies from being sold from a third party ie pet shop that will make a difference and the trade in puppy trafficking would decrease. Can the RSPCA explain why this would not be a better option?

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• Whistler July 14, 2008 at 8:24 p.m.

  Yeh, I think it's a case of shoot the messenger about this. The RSPCA shouldn't get grief for telling us how it is. It's the breeders and pet shops who put money before the puppies' best interests.

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• animallover July 14, 2008 at 8:03 p.m.

  I applaud the RSPCA for this campaign - if you don't tell people about the problem they will never know about it. And if it's the puppies that people are buying then its the puppies that they need to focus on.

  It's really sad what happens to the parents and I agree that more needs to be done about it but I think there's some people posting on this site who seem to blame the RSPCA and they're not the ones being cruel to the dogs.

  Well done RSPCA, you've got my thumbs up on this issue.

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• puppylove July 14, 2008 at 5:10 p.m.

  I think you are losing support here because you have hardly mentioned the terrible conditions the parent dogs live in and what you could do to help them now , not years down the line?

  Raising awareness is not enough, people will always impulse buy the cute pup in the pet shop no matter how much you warn them not to. Todays generation want everything instantly and while they can buy pups this way they will. Also when they walk into some of these pet shops to be faced with a wall of photos of stupid celebrity satisfied customers means more than any words you or I can say ?

  So how about a proper rethink , a really good plan we can all get behind with confidence ? Otherwise sorry to say I think you are on a loser. People really want to help these poor unfortunate dogs that are caged in breeding establishments day after day, old worn out, bred almost to death , sick and dying and they want to do it now as its long, long overdue.

  Another point if the vets of this country are so concerned why do a lot of them service these dealers and breeders ?

  http://www.dogs-r-us.org/

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• sweet666 July 14, 2008 at 4:23 p.m.

  raising awareness is all well and good as part of a strategy but ACTION speaks louder the words..it doesnt matter how many people are reached there will always be one who is either missed or is lured by a dog thats cheap and seeing as many of these puppies are sold under cutting a ethical breeder they are like beacons to naieve or tight bargin hunters...the amount of people who post wanted ads for pedigree dogs like chihuahua's and pomeraninas free or cheap is crazy. the breeding bitches and stud dogs are suffering so terribly right now while people are told about this...they need released from their prisons licenced brreders or not if the dogs are suffering they should be taken from these cruel pigs who use them for their own monatary value. its time to take action.

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• A Dog's Life July 14, 2008 at 4:04 p.m.

  One more point - how many of these traffickers have you stopped en route to check if they hold a licence for the transportation of animals?

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• A Dog's Life July 14, 2008 at 3:59 p.m.

  January 2006 Meeting held between Kennel Club, RSPCA and Dogs Trust was the first of a new group aimed at addressing the problem of what is sometimes called "puppy farming" was hailed a success.
  How many hours did it take this eminent group to agree a definition of the term "puppy farming"
  It was held to discuss the present and future roles of each organisation and
  To develop a joint and co-ordinated strategy.
  According to Caroline Kisco of the K.C. the meeting proved extremely beneficial and promised that the group would begin working on the initial action points agreed at the meeting . Further details of these discussiion will be made in due course.

  That was the last we heard of it. Were any more discussion held or was it just another excuse for lunch on the expense account?

  How many more meetings are to held between the national animal welfare parties before any action is taken?

  There is no point in referring us to Cosumer Direct as we work directly with Licensing, Planning and Environmental Health. We would appreciate the names of breeding establishments that you have prosecuted. The RSPCA took over two years to prosecute a breeder in Abergavenny and it was only because of the media coverage that we had that you were obliged to act. Plus the fact that the MP for Monmouth had to waste his time writing to you.

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• sweet666 July 14, 2008 at 3:36 p.m.

  I totally agrre with what puppy love is saying in order to stop the trafficking the puppy farms which produce these puppies which are often near death due to the conditions they are bred in and the lack of care/vetinary attention/ vacinations they recieve. it not suprising that due to most of the puppies being ill alraedy many die in transit. if no farms exist to produce the puppies then the traficking will cease as a result, there are also far worse fates puppies can meet puppy farmed dogs are often traficked abroad and many end up in the horrific dog meat trade, I understand how hard it is to bring about prosecutions but something needs to be done even by restricting the number of breeds/litters are bred per year the number of times each bitch is mated , the retirement age each stud dog should be rehomed...and not killed as many farmers do once they have made all the money they can out of the dog and the way in whic breeders advertise/sell their puppies the government needs to wake up and put stricter laws in place so you can achieve more prosectutions and bring these sick sick people to justice.

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• RSPCA July 14, 2008 at 2:18 p.m.

  Hi Cushti

  We work closely with local authorities. This includes passing on details of complaints we've received about puppy traders so they can investigate further. However local authorities are not obliged to seek assistance from us or any other animal welfare organisation to help with annual inspections.

  We know this is a huge problem, but unfortunately current legislation allows for the trade in puppies to continue. Under the Animal Welfare Act secondary legislation there is opportunity for tighter regulations regarding the sale of puppies. The RSPCA has urged the government in England to look at a licensing scheme being proposed in Scotland as a potential model for the future.

  We believe public awareness is the way forward at this present time to make people more aware of this trade and how they can avoid being caught out by the puppy traffickers.

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• cushti July 14, 2008 at 1:50 p.m.

  I’m sorry, but I see this as nothing more than a paper exercise for the RSPCA and as ‘A Dog’s Life’ states, “get the publicity, draw in even more donations and leave the pups and breeding bitches to suffer”.

  You say, “The RSPCA does investigate allegations of cruelty - and we have successfully prosecuted puppy breeders and traders in the past where animal suffering has occurred”.

  Then why are these puppy ‘breeders’ still in business? One in particular, from Wickford, in Essex has been prosecuted twice, and yet is still trading – despite numerous complaints to Essex Trading Standards.

  I have adopted 2 ex-breeding dogs’ and have fostered many others’ from different breeding establishments though a rescue in South Wales. No matter what breed of dog, most show the same characteristics, fear, despair, depression, broken spirited and physiologically damaged. The first I adopted fell to the ground in sheer terror the first time she was out in the rain – even now after almost two years, she paces constantly and despite being rescued over a year ago the other, still visibly shakes if a person looks at her. These two dogs'are not one of the toy breeds, they are both Boxers.

  I have said this before but, to know that the fear that has been instilled in these animals by man, is so great, it causes their bladder to involuntary release on your approach is one of the worse feelings I have ever had.

  So why is it not possible for an RSPCA Inspector or a representative from another Animal Welfare Organisation to accompany a council official on their yearly inspections? I am sure any animal welfare/rescue would be only too pleased to offer their services without cost, or funded through their own organisation, where donations would be gladly made.
  My long-running direct debit to the RSPCA was cancelled in protest to your apparent lack of interest in even acknowledging the existence of puppy farms’. It denies credibility that you can be that naive to state that these places are ‘An urban myth’.
  
  We are all waiting...............

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• Grace.Garner July 14, 2008 at 1:36 p.m.

  Its terrible that such things are happening, i adore animals and have always had animal compainions. its so important that we know where our friends come from.

  i have seen so many bitches just walking around my local park that have been abused or overbred. its terribly vital that these places are stopped and the public take notice.

  its amazing what the RSPCA is doing and we all need to work together to stop this dreadful treatment.

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• puppylove July 14, 2008 at 10:51 a.m.

  Its good to hear the RSPCA will see this campaign through and not let it fade away as it has in the past as it has been left to individuals to try and get some help for these poor dogs and that is quite shameful.

  Its good to educate the public we and other groups have been trying to do so for a long time, however things need to change at the licensed breeding establishments now, there are dogs suffering and dying every day. How these places pass inspections needs to be looked at very closely , bitches are rescued with womb infections, dry eye,tumors, rotten teeth,hernias and many more ailments, all untreated. Does that sound like cruelty to you ?

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• RSPCA July 14, 2008 at 9:01 a.m.

  Thanks to everyone for your comments. In answer to your questions, our campaign sets out to hightlight the problems with this trade, which exists in the UK as well as Ireland - the media chose to highlight the Irish angle, which is why it go so much attention.

  The RSPCA does investigate allegations of cruelty - and we have successfully prosecuted puppy breeders and traders in the past where animal suffering has occurred. We would advise people to always contact us if they are concerned about the welfare of a puppy/puppies they have seen. However, as we all know, many puppy traders ask buyers to sign a disclaimer to relinquish their responsibilty for the future health of the puppy. And then they argue that a puppy fell sick after it was sold and so is not their responsibility. We would therefore urge anyone who has bought a sick puppy to contact Consumer Direct (http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk)) and log the details with them - this information will be fed back to the local Trading Standards office for further investigation.

  We have no intention of letting the campaign drop now - we believe the way forward is to raise public awareness. If people stop buying these puppies, then over time the trade will cease.

  We are also contacting classified websites to ask them to review/provide advice provided to the public about buying a puppy from their website.

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• A Dog's Life July 13, 2008 at 10 p.m.

  I fear this may be a repetition of the 1985 campaign, get the publicity, draw in even more donations and leave the pups and breeding bitches to suffer. The RSPCA had a meeting with Kennel Club and dogs Trust in January 06 to discuss the issues of puppy farming.

  This also came to an abrupt end. No more was heard of this scam either.

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• Nic July 13, 2008 at 8:32 p.m.

  I can only reiterate the above; questions need answering and action needs to be taken.

  I find it appalling that puppy farmers can be granted a council liscence - and because of this, it is very hard to get action taken against them.

  What can be done to prevent puppy farmers from being liscenced?

  Thank you in advance.

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• winnie July 13, 2008 at 2:31 p.m.

  Come on RSPCA the silence is deafening!

  The dogs need you now!

  I ask you again you have started this campain how do you plan to finish it ? Is it just to bring it public attention and then do nothing. Well that is not enough!

  There has been far too much secrecy for too many years surrounding these puppy farms. You must be aware which local councils are involved why are you not naming and shaming. The general public have a right to know.

  I urge you to give us some answers now !

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• puppylove July 13, 2008 at 9:04 a.m.

  Yes I too would like to hear the answer to Winnie's questions please. In fact our members are full of questions they would like an answer too ?

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• winnie July 13, 2008 at 7:35 a.m.

  Although it is interesting to read the views of breeders here should we not to return to the subject of puppy farming and what the RSPCA plan to do? The RSPCA have started this campain but can they explain what that means? Could a representive come forward and answer some questions please. I posted earlier and I would really like some answers to my questions. The dogs need acton now. There are dogs in these licensed farms that will die today! The RSPCA should not rest until every last puppy farm dog has been liberated. Please tell us what you are going to do about the councils who are issuing licenses to these farms? The general public want to do something but have no power so come on RSPCA we want acton now!

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• Willow July 12, 2008 at 11:19 p.m.

  I find the tirade of Doggy Rights UK an afront to what my experience of a dog breeder is. A member of my family was a breeder of Cavaliers for many years and very well respected. I have known many similar breeders who would feed their dogs before themselves. She did not breed dogs solely to make money, although this was a consideration, but in fact usually ended up not making any money at all because she put everything in to producing the best puppies bred in the best way possible. They were part of the family and lived as such not in kennels as so blatently stated by Doggy Rights, and that include the show dogs who were pampered and loved not isolated and used as stated. When puppies left her they were happy well fed healthy individuals and many owners would attest to that. To put every breeder of every dog in to that category is unfair. There are some extremely good breeders out there, as well as some very poor breeders, and to lump the all together is wrong. We are not talking about sole breeders who are breeding one type of dog but the so called breeder who is producing every type of dog that suits the current fashion trend. These breeders (lets call them puppy farms) are using what happens at Crufts and other major competitions to produce the dog that everyone wants - a fashion item. It would appear that Doggy Rights are on a crusade to ban all breeders of so called high priced breed dogs. What is their problem? Fight against the people who do really exploit dogs not the individual, who for whatever reason, chose to breed a particular breed of dog and hopefully do it well. It is a sad fact that some breeds do have inherent genetic problems such as heart conditions, hip dysplasia, etc. but most breeders do inform prospective owners of these problems. I find Doggy Rights UK is being very negative in it's attitude towards good breeders. I have never heard of Doggy Rights UK before today and would like to know what they are doing about the injustices against the dog held in a appalling conditions in breeding establishments such as the ones in Ireland and Wales. Believe me I am aware of the problem because I took in a recipient of what I believe to be a dog from one of these kennels in Wales just over eight years ago, still going on, and she was in a very poor state having been used as a brood bitch and at some point having had her jaw broken. Fight these monsters they are the ones who are causing distress. By the way where is your proof that these breeders of show dogs are not paying taxes in one way or ther other I know the one I knew did.

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• doggy rights UK July 12, 2008 at 7:47 p.m.

  continued

  The site we operate was specifically designed to show hopeful owners that breeders lie, cheat and fool the buying public, they provide dogs that will become problematic in the very near future. It was designed to advise owners of how ethical all breeders should be. Yet all we had in return from breed clubs was doors being slammed shut when we exposed the lines in the UK that were continually producing progeny with genetic problems. ANY breeder that fails to perform health tests , or who uses a sire repeatedly in a breed wthout understanding the consequences of gene pool management MUST be classified as a puppy farmer or pet profiteer.Any breeder that tries to convince new owners that the breed they have is health problem free should be banned from the breed club , sadly within some breeds that would effectively close down the membership and its committee and the KC would undoubtedly lose many judges also.
  So before people start to use the term puppy farmer, I would like you all to examine where your dog came from and ask youself did you contribute to the suffering of animals being bred in inappropriate conditions by buying that over priced show dogs progeny, or by wanting something sooner rather than later, waiting for a dog bred in the right conditions is a must if one is to avoid exploitation of pups.
  Many show dogs live in kennels and are not allowed to mix with the pack as this may break their coats, they are isolated for much of their lives and that is appalling, so before you help that breeder continue to exploit their dogs by purchasing one of their over priced pups ask yourself, Wouldnt it be better to buy from a shelter , rehome an unwanted pet or buy from a breeder that really does pay taxes, operates rescues services for FREE and supports animal charities worldwide and would help you as an owner no matter what !

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• doggy rights UK July 12, 2008 at 7:46 p.m.

  The term puppy farmer is widely over used yet little understood, a puppy farmer can be a show judge , a show exhibitor , a grant recipient in the farming community or even your next door neighbour.... allow me to explain!
  If a breeder receives an income from any mating they undertake they SHOULD pay taxes , yet many would have you believe they make no money , DELUDED is what the are, they make huge sums from champion lines that they show, as much as £1200 PER PUP, and they want us to believe they do this year after year without making a profit??? Many are retired, unemployed, in receipt of incapacity benefits council tax etc , yet pay nothing to the revenue department. Its clear some breeders have no other means of financial support , its illegal, unlawful and sickening, many are members of their breed clubs. Does not make sense does it? . Much of this happens under the watchful eye of the Kennel Club and many are accredited breeders who are given special accolades for breeding. What the accredited scheme fails to do is preserve the well being of the very dogs being exploited for money , a huge cycle of events that to date attract no revenue for rescues, correct health testing , or tax returns.What the KC should have done is to recognise the breeders that health test using the correct vets, recognise the efforts some put into rescue, all the accredited scheme does is reward hypocricy and encourage irresponisble gene pool management, which sadly affects most breeds within the UK today.Instead of the term puppy farmer I believe the phrase PET PROFITEER is much more appropriate and will be more effective , because that is exactly what breeders do if they do not use funds for the betterment of the animals they use.

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• pepper July 12, 2008 at 2:51 p.m.

  I live in Wales and was appalled that a couple of years ago, the Welsh Assembley gave a grant to Puppy farm breeders. Can the RSPCA creat an on-line petition, asking the Assembley not to support puppy farms, to ban them, or at least make sure they are regularly inspected. I support a charity called Many Tears Animal Rescue. and they rescue in particular ex breeding bitches. It is so sad to see them, as they have never been socialised, and are withdrawn, and traumatised.It's about time Footage, and information was sent to the authorities, so they know just what is happening, and make them take action.

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• A Dog's Life July 12, 2008 at 2:27 p.m.

  In 1985 (23 years ago) the ITV camera team followed the RSPCA round the Welsh puppy farms and filmed distressing scenes of the conditions under which pups were bred. What happened to that campaign?. I made a 20 year study of the RSPCA and in each following Annual Review you stated how much headway was being made into puppy farming.
  That same camera team visited me three years ago and was appalled that puppy farming had increased a hundredfold in the intervening period.
  Why wasn't puppy farming introduced into the new AWB? Didn't Clair Lawson comment at the APAWG in October 07 that puppy farming was based on myth & legend?
  When I gatecrashed the inaugural meeting of the AWNW I asked Lorraine Barrett why puppy farming (the shame of Wales) was not on her agenda?
  Did the RSPCA & Dogs Trust not make an oral comment to the Irish Working Party on Dog Breeding that due to their neutering policy there was no trouble with strays in the UK?
  We have received 370 calls from the public on the purchase of sick pups from either pet shops or breeders and we have traced every one back to the breeders in Ireland and Wales.
  Of course you must know about this as I have written to both Lorraine Barratt AM AND Alun Michael MP. Not that I had a reply from either of them.
  We also know that 10 victims of the puppy farming industry reported to the RSPCA and your inspectors walked away from all of them.
  It is time you learned to work with voluntary organisations as a few years ago I asked one of your inspectors to help us remove 50 dogs from an unlicensed puppy farm. He remarked in no uncertain terms that the RSPCA would not work with us. This was filmed by BBC who called it a dog concentration camp.

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• Debs July 12, 2008 at 1:59 a.m.

  I work for the RSPCA in Australia, we are having the same problems with puppy trafficking. One person, in the last couple of weeks was stopped and fined for chihuahua breeding, trying to sell puppies on the internet. The dogs were in appalling condition, to make matters worse, he had NO remorse. It has to be stopped, it's rampant world wide! The RSPCA are doing everything they can, it now depends also, on public awarness and the courts to prosecute - hard. Debbie

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• angel July 12, 2008 at 12:09 a.m.

  puppy farming i seen for the first time 2day, by email with a link and then the same footage on the news. It is disgusting and why is it aloud? makes me sick to the stomach and at current i am sending monthly debits to the RSPCA, i just hope that this can be stopped too, animals in destress and they rely on us, we surely can do more?

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• winnie July 11, 2008 at 11:53 p.m.

  Can you please explain why you are only giving publicity to the cruelty in Irish Puppy farms and not the farms in England and Wales ?

  I watched the interview with the RSPCA inspector on GMTV this morning and was very disappointed to note that there was no mention of the cruelty endured by the breeding bitches or studs who spend their entire lives until they go crazy or become too old to breed locked up in these hideous hellholes.

  I have given a home to a beautiful labrador ex-breeding bitch not from Ireland but from Wales and I know that she came from a licensed puppy farm. When she came to live with me she was too scared to walk passed anyone, if I spoke to her she would loose control of her  bladder she was so afraid of any human attention that she would not eat her food unless I left the room as she was afraid I would use the food to trick her. If I put my hand out to stroke her she would stand and visually shake and tremble. She still will not walk through a doorway if there is someone standing on the other side. She was full of fleas, bald patches and sores. When I took her to be checked by my vet he informed me that she had probably endured three caesareans. Her undercarrage was so swollen it almost dragged on the floor and she could hadly walk. Her spirit had been broken.

  I estimate that she has probably given birth to up to eighty puppies and earned her puppy farmer anything up to £40.000.

  If she had lived with me and not been owned by some heartless puppy farmer who has no interest in dogs other than to make money I would have been reported long ago and then prosecuted by the RSPCA for neglect and cruelty so can you please explain to me why you would not prosecute a puppy farmer who may keep hundreds of dogs in this condition just because he has been issued with a license by a local council. The RSPCA  must not allow this matter to drop and they should work with sites like Puppy Love who have done so much work in supporting and advising victims of puppy farms. They have information given to them by members of the public who are afraid of the consequences should they report the situation to the authorties. People  who have purchased a puppy directly from the farm or a pet shop and then the puppies have become ill and even died.

   The general public have always trusted and relied on the RSPCA to do the right thing for animal welfare do not let them down now !

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• janec July 11, 2008 at 10:26 p.m.

  In 2000 me and my husband responded to an advert in a local paper for cross breed puppies. The seller purported to be an animal rescue centre. When we arrived we had to wait at the gate and a woman then brought out the puppy. A black lab./springer cross bitch that seemed to be in some distress. We were asked to pay £80 in cash. We felt we just couldn't walk away from a sick puppy in need of help so we paid the money. We were advised that she had been wormed and had had her first set of inoculations (sound familiar?).
  We arrived home and noticed that our new puppy seemed very listless and bloated. She had no interest in her surroundings and smelt very bad. She then started to cough up worms! We took her straight to the vet who immediately put her on a course of antibiotics, gave her some worm meds. and started her on a proper course of inoculations.
  We were very, very lucky! Lizzie survived and is now a beautiful, loving dog. She's not without her problems though. She has a wonky jaw and has had to have a fair bit of dental treatment. She also suffers from a number of skin allergies including FAD. And she has some behavioural problems that despite loads of training, it seems are just going to be part of her nature.
  My husband died in 2004 and Lizzie is my companion and best friend. Would I do the same thing again? Probably yes, despite the RSPCA advice to walk away. I just couldn't do that to a poor, helpless puppy and I guess that's what these unscrupulous people count on. Caring people like us!
  We did report the so called “Rescue” to the RSPCA but I don’t know what happened.
  And here's another thought. The video clip focuses on the puppies. I dread to think what conditions the parents are kept in. Lizzie absolutely stank when we got her home. We undoubtedly left her mother to continue to live in what, unbeknown to us at the time, were probably disgusting conditions.

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• puppyalert July 11, 2008 at 9:40 p.m.

  Firstly, Staffy, really sorry to hear your story. Please contact Essex Trading Standards, the person you purchased your puppy from is already in contempt of Court for selling sick puppies. Essex Trading Standards used the Enterprise Act to bring this trader to Court, with the evidence of still selling sick puppies they may succeed in returning her to Court and closing the business down.
  How to stop this trade?
  Stop puppies being sold from pet shops, full stop.
  Stop pet shops selling puppies from unlicensed breeders, halfway there. This would immediately stop the influx of puppies from Eire as no licensing required for dog breeding in S Ireland.
  Make it illegal to purchase a puppy from anywhere other than directly from a breeder.
  Make the breeder responsible for identification of the puppy before it leaves the breeder.
  More use should be made of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 by the RSPCA and Council licensing officers. Is this likely to happen?
  The five freedoms are not carried out by the puppy farmers and commercial breeders in SW Wales. Can I suggest that when they carry out their yearly inspection that the local RSPCA Inspector also attends and uses the Act to ensure that the breeding bitches are not living in converted pig stys,cow sheds, old barns and agriculture buildings, just concrete bunkers without beds, cold dark in winter and hot without windows and adequate vetilation in summer. Just like the TV programe this morning in Ireland.
  Why is this allowed to continue here in the UK, we have legislation, we have licensing officers and the RSPCA both can prosecute, why are you not using your powers to enforce better standards?
  Good to highlight the trafficking of puppies, because so many people have over the years contacted puppy alert for advise when their puppy has died or become sick.
  Please do not forget the thousands of breeding bitches whelping in appalling conditions, yes and the premises are licensed!

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• Jan July 11, 2008 at 8:37 p.m.

  I gave a rescue King Charles a home, who was rescued after being a breeding bitch at a puppy farm in Wales. She had a terrible heart murmur, was blind and had hardly any teeth! She was terrified of everything. They had been breeding from her for god knows how long! Apparently when the breeding bitches come into the Rescue Centre and they spey them some of them are so torn inside. I shouldn't think they ever call a vet, that would cost money! It just doesn't bear thinking about the pain they must suffer. My lovely little dog lasted 3 years. It took a long time, but I'm sure from being frightened and depressed she actually smiled. She was one of the lucky ones if you can call it lucky, but at least she knew some happiness before she died last year of a heart attack. Never buy a puppy from a pet shop or anyone who seems to have more than one breeding bitch. They are just in it for the money. They don't care about inter-breeding or pain...

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• staffy July 11, 2008 at 7:25 p.m.

  hi im so sad that this goes on but this has happened to me at the beginning of june this year i bought a puppy from a kennels in wickford essex she was a staff at 12 weeks old i fell in love with her straight away it said that she has a family tree and vacenataed i paid 275 for her 3 days later she fell ill i took her straight to the vets and they put her on tablets i then had to take her back again as she got worse and could not walk or stand they gave her more pills i then rung the kennels up but the lady was not intrested i got very anoyed with this 4 days later i had to take her back to the vets she lasted a night then died i was heart broken so was my 2 children she had blood pisioning and the virus distemper which is a killer when i phoned the lady up she said it ws something i had fed her she also said that she could not give me information on her back ground as she was from ireland the kennels were no help at all i just hope that this does not happen to anyone eles. i also have another dog so i know what to feed them and how to treat them my other one is like my baby she is really missed in this family and i hope this can be stoped.

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• Willow July 11, 2008 at 6:18 p.m.

  As the daughter in law of a previous dog breeder (licensed) I am very much aware that this problem has been around for at least thirty years. This country did through legislation try to put an end to this but unfortunately it continues. If people continue to purchase from disreputable so called breeders then it will never end regardless of all the wonderful work the RSPCA does. The best way forward is to not purchase dogs from other than licensed breeders or go to your local pet rescue centre where you will find the dog of your dreams. Eight years ago my dog was found as a stray and it became obvious that she had been used as a breeding bitch on a great number of occasions. The abuse of her nearly took her life a couple of years after she came to live with us with massive infection in her uterus (requiring a pretty major operation) attributable to the continued pregnancies. As I said the only way to deal with this is to get your dog from a place you know. Do not buy off the street, or through someone you do not know. Be vigilant.

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• iluvpepsipig July 11, 2008 at 6:10 p.m.

  I didnt even know in the UK this happened until today! I went to Barcelona last year and i saw a pet shop that sold puppies, they looked so sad and deprived of things they need. I really wanted to bring them all home! I didnt even know that you were aloud to sell puppies or kittens in pet shops!!! I cant believe people can be this mean to poor defenceless animals, want have they done? It should be stopped, NOW!

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• linda46 July 11, 2008 at 5:59 p.m.

  As with most people who own dogs i was aware that these puppy farms existed but it broke my heart to see those poor dogs on your film.I own 3 labradors and made sure i seen exactly where the puppies had been bred and their mothers. It is very tempting when you want to purchase a puppy to reply to these ads offering puppies at a cheaper price or willing to meet you halfway but this should set alarm bells ringing.Lets not forget the adult dogs either who are forced to perform and produce litter after litter making their life a misery too! I wish these people and i use the term loosely could be locked up and the key thrown away!

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• Clogs July 11, 2008 at 5:25 p.m.

  Thanks for this campaign RSPCA! There are so many unwanted dogs and puppies in rescue centres, why don't people just go there, instead of shelling out loads of money on expensive pedigree dogs that have also clearly not had a great start in life. By buying puppies from these traffickers, people are just keeping the trade alive.

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• puppylove July 11, 2008 at 4:30 p.m.

  Many thanks for your informative reply RSPCA. We would love to see a change for the better in the way puppies and kittens are sold too as most pet shop pups are bought in from Irish and Welsh puppy farms as I am sure you are aware.

  When you say most of the traders are acting within the law I think you will find ALL puppy farms breech the FIVE FREEDOMS day in and day out and local authorities are not following this new act up at all ? We were very hopeful when this new act came into being but it seems its just being abused . Can we expect improvements in this area ?
  thank you.

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• mimi July 11, 2008 at 4:15 p.m.

  Well done RSPCA continuing your work on this important issue. I got my dog from an RSPCA centre. You had discovered he had been born on a puppy farm, sold to a pet shop and then bought as a Christmas present. He was unwanted by New Years eve and left at the animal centre at just 12 weeks of age. You cared for him and gave him treatment and behavioural help until he was healthy enough to be adopted. I was checked out to make sure I could provide him with a permanent loving home... something a pet shop, garden centre or unscrupulous breeder would never do. I know you do so much investigation and work that never gets publicised or praised - so from me and my dog...THANK YOU!

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• Cambstreasurer July 11, 2008 at 4:11 p.m.

  As an RSPCA branch volunteer I've sadly had regular experience of people asking for help with the cost of treating puppies who never really had a chance in life. Virtually every year there are puppies with parvo-virus or distemper (preventable by vaccinating the mother and the pups as soon as they are old enough).

  We've just had an infuriating case (fortunately with an eventual happy outcome) of a pup who was nearly put to sleep simply because he had dreadful worms and his owner had spent all her available cash on buying him.

  People do incredibly daft things like agreeing to meet the seller in road laybys and paying cash.

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• bennie July 11, 2008 at 2:50 p.m.

  I don't understand why people don't get dogs (and other animals) from animal rescue centres instead of buying pedigree pups. Animal centres in the UK are full of unwanted animals yet people still insist on going to a breeder.
  My dog is from a RSPCA rescue centre and is perfect.

  Thanks RSPCA for bringing this to our attention

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• green.lady July 11, 2008 at 1:58 p.m.

  these people are pure scum they adertise on viva street i was almost scamed twice from the same site first with an akita puppy and then a bullmtif puppy. i was looking for a pup after having to have my old collie put to sleep. the first pup had a lovely photo and a cracking good sob story (which i almost fell for)this guy had 3 pups his wife had been killed by a drink driver and he couldnt bear to look at them. he sent me all kinds of advice on how to look after them. i was sucked right in. i had only to pay £120 for transport on a plane fae belfast to scotland. i had never delt with anything like this so done a bit of reserch no plane would transport a pup under 12wks these pups were ment to be 6wks i checked the address he gave me it was a hostel (alarm bells were ringing). i decided to forget the pup it was just to dodggy ! so i went to look at the site to see if there was any more pups for sale and there was bullmastiff pups as soon as i got an email back from the breeder it was almost the same as the akita pups. at the same time the first man has taken this akita pup to the transport company to be sent to me (i hadnt even said that i was taken it)i was getting emails from him and the transport company telling me i had to pay for this pup i got a phone call also which was abusive. i cant belive i was daft enough to give my number which i had to change because of this. i always belived these pups didnt exist but after seeing them on the news i wish i reported them then. if the emails would be of any use to investigators rspca have my email address

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• RSPCA July 11, 2008 at 1:52 p.m.

  Thanks for your post puppylove.

  We receive many complaints every year about suspected puppy farmers and traders selling sick puppies, but if a welfare offence hasn’t actually been committed it is the responsibility of the local authority to investigate further. All evidence shown in our film has been passed onto the relevant local authority. We are working with all local authorities to make improvements to animal welfare and have, where applicable, prosecuted people involved in the puppy trade. Most of these traders are actually acting within the law, so it's very difficult to bring about a prosecution.

  We would like to see a change in the law regarding the way that puppies are sold, and there is opportunity for this under the Animal Welfare Act secondary legislation.

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• BorderCollieMan July 11, 2008 at 9:54 a.m.

  This is a huge problem. It's been going on for years and there must be dozens of individuals, organisations and groups campaigning for public awareness.
  As a rescue organisation we have been particularly concerned about the lack of regulation in our own industry.
  Sources of commercially bred puppies are not limited to pet shops and ‘agents’; there are many bogus rescue's also providing outlets for these unfortunates. Proposals to regulate and license rescue organisations under the 2006 animal welfare act have been shelved so these bogus rescue outlets can really only be controlled by local authorities under planning or environmental laws.

  The lack of animal welfare and dog breeding controls in the Republic of Ireland contribute greatly to the problem.
  At a time where rescue organisations throughout the UK are inundated with unwanted dogs and many dog owners cannot find a place in a genuine rescue when they need to re-home their dogs we are seeing an increase in commercial rescue organisations - non charitable individuals and trading partnerships that are exploiting rescue for profit. These sometime form the front for commercial breeders or agents (licensed or unlicensed) and many have been quick to realise that they can exploit the puppy market by diversifying into sale, even if not involved in breeding.
  The trouble is that the public do not perceive these outlets as commercial or the transaction as a sale.
  They are led to believe they are saving a pup or a dog.

  Even some legitimate rescue groups are bringing in unwanted dogs from Irish pounds to add to our already overloaded market. This seems ludicrous when you consider that we are unable to cope with our own surplus.

  One side effect of all this is desperate dog owners simply dumping their dogs on the streets because they are unable to find a rescue with space to take them in.
  This is overloading Local Authorities pounds with strays.
  How many dogs have to be PTS because of these issues is difficult to assess, however it is logical that some have to be destroyed simply because the market is flooded and there are not enough available homes to place them in.

  Newspapers and websites are used to advertise commercially bred puppies. This in itself is a minor scandal as they are often not particular as to whom they allow to advertise.

  Our existing laws are supposed to be amongst the best in the world but we really do have a long way to go before we can say that we are on top of this situation.

  What you have covered is the tip of the iceberg.
  I hope the debate will open up from here and that a number of other issues related to this will surface and come into the public arena.

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• puppylove July 11, 2008 at 7:27 a.m.

  *
  puppylove July 11, 2008 at 7:08 a.m.

  We are so very pleased that at last you doing something to highlight this evil trade.

  However we would like to see more mention of puppy farms here in the UK , Wales is rife with puppy farms and dealers .

  What are you actually going to do about them ? can we expect prosecutions ? Have you taken any action against the dealers in the film shown on tv this morning ?

  If we pass on dealers names and addresses to you what will you do about it ? more info please .

  http://www.dogs-r-us.org/ raising public awareness to the plight of puppy farm dogs. Please join and help if you can.

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• blogbottom July 10, 2008 at 1:22 p.m.

  The film made me cry - how can this be allowed to happen! Puppies are living animals - they don't deserve to be treated as objects, shipped en masse and sold in a shop or on the internet like a pair of shoes or a coffee table.

  Poor little things - I hope people sit up and take notice of this campaign and do something to stop it happening.

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• Carly July 2, 2008 at 10:58 a.m.

  I actually wasn't aware how much of this goes on, don't mean to sound so naive but like some things in life you have faith in humans to do the right thing and especially for the government to ensure this behaviour is illegal.

  Both the dogs I've had came from pet shops, but my Dad looked into where they were brought up. I don't know whether he was trying to make me feel better when my first dog died but he told me that my dog now was actually my first dogs grandson. I like to believe that as it did help me grieve for my first dog. I like to think that he did come from a good home and that his mum was not overbred and unhappy, also that all her puppies were with her for longer than 6 weeks.

  If I ever have a dog in the future I will be more aware of the cruelty of puppy trafficking. It really upsets me to think that this still goes on! Thank you for makign the public more aware and I hope with the help from everyone thinking of buying a puppy we can put an end to this!

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