28/03/2024
Some great advice about how to safely choose a healthy puppy and avoid being conned by a puppy farmer 🐶
We are sure by now you will have seen the puppies seized in Stewarton yesterday from a puppy farm? Many of the pups had health concerns sadly.
Right under our noses! This goes on all the time, but so many people have either no idea what to look for, fall for that cute wee puppy and think they need to rescue him/her, or choose to ignore it. By doing this, all you’re doing is making room for another puppy to be born into this barbaric practice.
Puppy farms have been uncovered in Newmilns, Gaston, Mauchline (west highland terriers) and recently Fenwick.
In 2020, 80 animals were seized from two puppy farms in East Ayrshire.
Here are the key signs to help you identify a puppy farm:
Multiple ads from the same seller - a puppy farm is likely to have a few simultaneous advertisements for different dog breeds (hoodie the phone number and see if it keeps appearing in ads). Check the landline matches the regional code if you pick a puppy up at the address.
Generic/ vague wording - puppy farm ads will likely spare a lot of necessary detail about the litter.
Are they already vaccinated? - A puppy shouldn’t be vaccinated before it is 8 weeks old. If an ad states that a litter is fully vaccinated, it is likely to be a puppy farm.
They want to meet in public - the only reason a seller would ask to meet outside a dog’s home environment is if they have something to hide.
Are you being asked questions? - A reputable breeder will want to ensure you can take care of one of their dogs, so they will try to gauge whether you are a suitable owner.
Can they answer your questions? - If they can’t answer questions about the breed, temperament, and health of each puppy in the litter, then you need to be wary.
The mum is nowhere to be seen - puppies should not be removed from their mother’s care before they are 8 weeks old. If you can’t see their mum, this is a massive issue.
Is the mum legitimate? - A litter and their mum will appear closely attached and affectionate towards each other. Her teats should also clearly be visible. They can use “stooges” that are health and say this is the mother. Check the dog is comfortable around the pups.
Cash payments - People selling puppies without a license are likely to only deal in cash.
Does the address on the ad match up? - If the breeder’s ID address and the address the puppies are being kept at don’t match, this can indicate a cover up.
Can you hear barking/ whining? - If you can hear many other dogs, but they are being kept out of sight, this is a major red flag.
The dogs are unsettled - puppies that have been taken out of their home to be sold will seem unfamiliar with the fake ‘home’ environment they are in.
Does the picture in the ad match? - Are the puppies you are looking at the same ones advertised? Take a copy of the ad with you so you can double check.
Is the litter healthy? - The biggest sign of mistreatment is unhealthy puppies. If they seem poorly, injured, or distressed, you are likely dealing with a puppy farmer.
This may seem like a lot to look out for, but a puppy farm can disguise its real business in many ways. It’s not always farms or remote locations, they operate from residential homes too.
Ask as many questions as you can, and even take this list with you if you are going to view a potential puppy. An honest breeder will want nothing more than for their puppies to be in safe hands, so they will go to every length to ensure that you are fully informed about their first few weeks of life and their specific needs.
Another tip is when you phone up just say 'I'm phoning about the puppies', don't mention a breed or male or female, if they have to ask which puppies you're enquiring about then run for the hills.
Now, more than ever, with every rescue centre completely full to bursting, dogs being abandoned and put to sleep on a daily basis, ask yourself “is there no way of rescuing a dog from an animal rescue centre”. If the answer is no, then please, please ensure you carry out all of the above checks and don’t fall for that cute wee puppy thats coming from a puppy farm. If the public stop buying them, the puppy farmers will have to stop breeding them!
If you suspect anyone of being a puppy farm, please report them to the SSPCA. Everything reported to them is confidential.
