Ensuring a Safe Start: How to Spot a Responsible Breeder and Avoid the Pitfalls of Illegal Puppy Trading

It is estimated that there are 13.5 million dogs currently in the UK, with up to 60% of households owning at least one pet. The Covid-19 pandemic saw a significant boom in the demand for new puppies, making breeding big business. In 2020, a popular pet selling website averaged 2,187 prospective buyers per puppy, and this demand combined loopholes in the law means that many puppies can be bred irresponsibly or illegally.

Puppies can be illegally traded through two main routes: either bred in the UK and sold illegally, or bred oversees and imported illegally to then be sold. Puppies which are bred and sold in this way are far more likely to be unvaccinated, under-age, unwell, traumatised and unsocialised.

The ‘red flags’ can be hard to spot if you are not sure of what to look for, but the 2020 ‘Petfished’ campaign run by the government aimed to highlight some of these warning signs.

Lucy’s Law

In April 2020, legislation was passed which stated that puppies and kittens must be sold directly from a breeder or consider adoption from a reputable rescue centre, and banned the sale of puppies and kittens through third party sellers, such as pet shops. This legislation was introduced after a 10- year campaign and named after a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Lucy, who was rescued from a Welsh puppy farm. Lucy’s Law aims to work towards ending puppy farming, improving the welfare of both mums and their litters and minimising the trauma and neglect that many animals face.

What makes a good breeder

With the increased demand for puppies and kittens, it is vital that a prospective buyer knows what also makes a good breeder.

• Puppies must be at least 8 weeks old before leaving their mum. This can be hard to spot but if a puppy seems particularly small or still showing signs of wanting to feed from the mother, then they are likely too young to be leaving the mum. A breeder will know the exact date they were born, any may be able to give you the details of how the mum coped with the birth.
• All puppies must be microchipped before they leave a breeder, and before 20 weeks of age. Although not law, puppies should have ideally had one vaccination, and you should be given this record with a veterinary signature.
• A reputable breeder would be open about any and all questions you may have about the puppies/kittens and their parents. Ask about their health, vaccinations and character.
• Puppies should appear clean and healthy – look for puppies that are eating and drinking well, with bright eyes and clean noses and mouths. They should be well socialised with various noises and activities within the home.
• Puppies should be lively and wanting to play with each other, as well as come to investigate you.
• Ensure that puppy’s mum has a good temperament. She should not be nervous or defensive towards you, and happy for you to pay attention to her. Not only should you see the puppies with their mum, but take note of how the mum is interacting with the puppies – is she interested in them? Is she interacting and cleaning them?
• A breeder would want to know their animal is going to a suitable home, so you should also expect to be asked lots of questions in return. If a breeder does not seem interested in the home their animal is going to, then this may be a red flag.
• You should be able to go and visit your puppy multiple times before taking them home.
• Never hand any money over until you have visited the puppies at least twice.
• Always collect from inside the home. Unscrupulous breeders may suggest a non-descript location, such as car parks or laybys, and may have many excuses for this e.g. they are passing that way and it is closer to you or they are moving house. Some will be reluctant to let you into the house as it would suggest poor welfare or a home that is not permanently lived in, suggesting it is used as a front for ‘business’.
• Don’t be afraid to walk away. It can be heartbreaking to see an animal in distress and you may feel that you want to ‘rescue’ that puppy, but handing over money helps to pave the way for even more young animals to be exploited.
• Use transactions which are traceable. Be cautious if seller requests a cash payment and ask for a receipt of payment.
• Suggest a pet contract. A reputable breeder should be open to the use of a contract as they will be confident in their puppy’s health and have knowledge of their background. Some breeders will offer a returns policy, in which you can return a puppy to a breeder if there are problems with their health within the first few weeks of ownership.
• Take great care with puppies that have passports. Puppies should not be more than 15 weeks old before entering the UK and the conditions of their early weeks and travelling are often unknown.
• Check that they have a microchip. It is illegal for any dog to enter the UK without a microchip, and a puppy may have been imported and then microchipped here in the UK. Chips that originate in the UK will start with a 9. If the chip number does not start with a 9, then it is likely that the puppy is imported. If the puppy has been imported and the microchip starts with a 9, then it is a fair assumption that this puppy may have been imported illegally.

Criminal gangs will often play on emotions to push sales, and look for ways to fake documents, so don’t be afraid to be suspicious. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, then it usually is.

Buying a new pet can be an exciting time, but it is vital that a prospective buyer takes the time to think and research into their new pet to ensure the best welfare and future health for them.    

Links

Below are two examples that a prospective puppy or kitten buyer may use to ensure their new pet is coming from a reputable and healthy source

https://puppycontract.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-10/The%20Puppy%20Contract.pdf

http://www.thecatgroup.org.uk/pdfs/The-Kitten-Checklist.pdf

You can also check out the link below for more information on the 2020 ‘Petfished’ campaign and the impact this had on buyer’s experiences

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/get-involved/our-campaigns/petfished