May 2023
Rescues all over the country are doing amazing work looking after & rehoming stray and abandoned dogs and puppies. However, they have added pressures on them following the boom in dog ownership during the pandemic, not to mention the costs involved in veterinary treatment. Sadly, more and more people are giving up their dogs, with hundreds arriving at the rescues every week. Some have suffered from cruelty and neglect, or illegally bred and no longer wanted. It is so easy to buy a dog or puppy with just a couple of clicks and it is little wonder why many end up in rescues. The Justice for Reggie team met with Vanessa Wadden and her staff at Hope Rescue last month, joined virtually by the RSPCA, Police, Veterinary representatives and other organisations to tackle animal welfare and online selling. It was also lovely to meet with Janetta Harvey – author, writer and founder of Schnauzerfest – raising awareness of the cruel world of puppy farming. We are so grateful to the few selling sites who attended showing their support with their development of new technology to get to grips with the puppy farmers and illegal breeders. This month, the focus is on poor breeding practices and the impact this has on the rescues. We will also cover the impact of impulse buying online and how this can fuel the puppy trade, and give advice on choosing a dog or puppy.
Hope Rescue
Rescues work tirelessly providing love, dedication and devotion. Hope Rescue is unique in that they work with the RSPCA and local authorities who seize dogs and puppies from horrid conditions and poor breeding establishments. Hope take in stray and abandoned dogs as well as the seized dogs and it is common for them to arrive pregnant.
Hope have around 200 dogs in their care. We met with some of the rescue dogs, some who had recently arrived. Understandably, they were very nervous and some poorly, but with the dedication and love shown by the staff and fosterers, they are being nursed back to health and are starting to enjoy their lives.
Hope Rescue, Justice for Reggie Team and Volunteers
Some of the dogs at Hope have many physical issues due to being in-bred, costing thousands of pounds in veterinary treatment. Most who arrive also need vital emergency care to give them the best chance in life. They need grooming, vaccinations, flea treatment, treatment for infections, deworming and neutering. Many need long term care with fostering before rehoming.
We always encourage adoption from a rescue first, but if you have ruled this out – how do you choose your new puppy when there is a minefield of different breeders out there?
Impulse buying
Pets give us unconditional love, valuable companionship can ease loneliness, encourage exercise & playfulness. It is a real joy caring for an animal. Just like us, their physical environment influences our pet’s wellbeing. Dogs and cats need a safe place to rest, comfort, and space large enough to exercise. They also need to be free from pain and express their normal behaviours.
There is wide-ranging evidence suggesting that people are more likely to buy a puppy on impulse than a new pair of shoes. 20% of people admit that they spent no time in researching. Buying a puppy on impulse leaves buyers more vulnerable to the scams of puppy farmers who come in many guises. In a nutshell, puppy farms are dog making factories churning out puppies for profit and ignoring the welfare needs of the pups and the parents. In addition, it is a well-known fact that when mum or dad can longer breed, they are dumped or worse still - killed.
According to research carried out by the kennel club, puppies bought in 20 minutes or less – almost one in six owners of these pups experienced illness, ongoing veterinary treatment or even death in the first six months.
Good Breeders Vs Bad Breeders
It is worrying to find that a third of people thinking of buying a puppy admit they are clueless how to find a reputable breeder and often say that it is a minefield when doing research online. There are different types of breeders (but may be more):-
· Pet breeder
· Hobby breeder
· Licensed breeder
· Unlicensed breeder
· High volume breeder (puppy farmer and commercial breeders)
There is some overlap between them and it is easy for potential buyers to be caught out. Backyard breeders can be somewhere between the last two as they have little knowledge & experience and just breed for profit without caring for their welfare. They do not take genetics into consideration or health testing which can be said for some unlicensed breeders as well. The jury is still out on this and we would love to know your thoughts on the matter.
So how do you avoid a bad breeder?
Any potential buyer must do their homework before buying a puppy and meeting the breeder in person is top priority. Meet the breeder more than once and always make sure you see the parents. Consider a red flag if you cannot visit the mum and puppies in their breeding environment. A good breeder shouldn’t have anything to hide. The RSPCA and Dogs Trust have a wealth of information on buying a puppy on their websites. With many people giving up their dogs for lots of reasons, it is worth considering the cost of dog ownership, in addition to researching the breed before you buy. And remember – act on your gut instincts. Good breeders should always be happy to answer your questions and not push for a sale, and be prepared for them to ask you a few questions as well.
Can you honestly look your new puppy in the eye and not think about the parents spending their entire lives in kennels or cages with very little human attention, basic food and even clean water.
What do we want for now?
For all selling platforms to work together and bring in technology to weed out the puppy farmers
The Government to bring back the kept animal’s bill and include ‘Reggie’s Law’ we will not rest until they do!
More streamlined and less confusion over the types of breeders/sellers
Once again a huge thank you to all who were present on the day at Hope and to all the attendees at the meeting. Also a big thank you to all our supporters!
‘A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself ~ Josh Billings’
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/mood-boosting-power-of-dogs.htm