Where Should I Buy a Puppy? Animal Blog from Animal Friends Pet Insurance

Where to Buy a Puppy - How to Avoid Puppy Farms

Ethical pet insurance customers will already know how important it is for potential pet owners to realise that a dog is a lifetime commitment and should never be taken lightly. Unfortunately, such is our world that it's full of people more concerned about money than welfare. Which is why it is so important that when you look to purchase any animal, you do your research properly beforehand.

There are many animals out there that are desperately in need of a good home. So always try a rescue centre first before thinking about approaching a breeder or answering an advertisment. You know for a fact that the dog you take in will have been looked after for properly whilst in their care. It will probably also have been vaccinated and any health issues will be fully disclosed before you agree to adoption. A good rescue shelter will also ensure that you are a suitable owner and will assess your home situation. This is how it should be.

Adverts that you see in newspapers are unfortunately not always placed by reputable breeders. These are often puppy farms, which are mostly appalling to say the least. The welfare of the pups is generally not high on their list of priorities. Organisations such as the Dogs Trust are always campaigning against these farms and have likened the production of puppies to the battery farming of chickens. They are "battery farms for dogs ", and it's pretty sick that it's us as a nation which has been buying the puppies which has led to it becoming a problem of this scale.

Sadly, there are lots of puppy farms across the country, especially in Wales. It is also believed that 50,000 puppies are imported from Ireland every year. Ireland has particularly lapse breeding legislation. Charities estimate that up to eight million dogs in the UK started their lives in a puppy farm. Some are not so lucky and they die there too, usually in squalour and pain.

The bitches are isolated and fed very little; just the bear minimum to keep them alive. They have no exercise, attention or veterinary care. They are bred from continuously until they are exhausted, then they are killed. Some breeding bitches reject or attack their pups.

The puppies from these farms are often ill before you buy them. Many die within weeks of being with their new owners. These puppies not vaccinated by the breeders, so they are often riddled with worms and canine parvovirus. Many also have congenital heart problems, dislocated kneecaps and spinal disorders. Imagine the mental and emotional problem these dogs will have as a result of starting out life in these conditions. They are starved of human contact and that of other dogs. This can cause aggression, failure to bond with an owner or possibly clinginess. What a way to start and have a life! These farms will never let you see the conditions that the dogs are kept in and they will most certainly not let you see the mother.

Warning! - Don't be taken in in the belief that you are saving a puppy, as you are merely fuelling the supply and demand. These farms keep going because of the lack of resources in local authorities, which are often unable to spot check conditions and paperwork. If you suspect that there is puppy farming going on near you, you must tell the authorities or an animal welfare organisation immediately.

There are new initiatives being suggested to try and stop these abhorrent practices; one is to set a statutory code of practice under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Another is to have compulsory microchipping before the point of sale, so that a dog can always be traced back to the breeders. There is also a "puppy contract" being drawn up by the British Veterinary Association, which will protect both the seller and the purchaser. As with all major changes though, naturally they will take time to enforce and to have an impact.

In the meantime, the main way in which to cease this trade is through public education. So before you buy a puppy, please remember the following:

• Do get advice from a vet before buying. They will probably be able to recommend reputable dog breeders
• Don't ever buy on impulse from a pet shop, pet superstore, from the internet or adverts in newspapers. The puppies will almost certainly have been supplied by a puppy farm
• Don't buy a pedigree dog at a bargain price, the chances are that it's lineage won't be genuine
• Do consider classified ads if you are content with a mixed breed. But only agree to purchase after a medical, and get all communications in writing
• Do go to rescue centres , the dog of your dreams may well be there
• Do go to the breeder's premises, so you can see the conditions and the mother. The breeder should interact with the puppy's mother well. If they don't allow this, don't go through with the purchase and alert the relevant authorities
• Do check the paperwork. All breeders should provide you with medical records and any pedigree breeders should have Kennel Club registration papers. Certain breeds also need parents' hereditary disease screening certificates

Wherever you buy your puppy from eventually, the most important thing is to remember that you now have a responsibility to take care of him and provide for his needs - in return you will be rewarded with unconditional love and a loyal companion for many years to come.