One in three puppies die in their first year due to ‘convenience culture’.
The Kennel Club is asking the public to be cautious amid concerns that puppy owners are inadvertently buying unhealthy puppies from puppy farms.
New statistics, released as part of The Kennel Club’s ‘Be Puppywise’ campaign, have revealed that one in five puppies are dying before their first birthday. This increases to nearly one in three puppies when the owner has done limited research.
The Kennel Club suspects that these statistics reflect a worrying ‘convenience culture’, which is contributing to a puppy welfare crisis.
A quarter of new dog owners admitted that they would not travel more than an hour to see a puppy – with nearly half of these owners saying that this was due to convenience. Twenty-nine per cent said that they had spent less than a day researching their decision and the breeder.
After buying their puppy, 40 per cent of puppy owners suspected that they may have bought their pet from a puppy farm.
The Kennel Club believes that rogue breeders are taking advantage of some potential puppy owners’ need for convenience. As such, members of the public are missing vital red flags about how their puppy has been bred and by whom.
One in four puppy buyers were unable to spot the signs of a puppy scam.
When visiting their puppy, over half of customers did not see their puppy interacting with its mother, the puppy’s breeding environment and where it slept, ate or played. Sixty-three per cent did not check their puppy’s vaccination certificates before buying.
Meanwhile, 77 per cent were not asked by the breeder about their suitability for puppy ownership. The Kennel Club says this might increase the likelihood of impulses purchases without the buyers understanding the responsibilities of pet ownership.
Charlotte McNamara, head of health at The Kennel Club, said: “This dangerous convenience culture has become a cancer for puppy welfare. Getting a dog is a long-term commitment and any decision should not be made lightly, superficially or without effort.
“We absolutely urge anyone thinking of getting a puppy take the time to do proper, careful and extensive research and make sure the pup is right for you, and that you can spot the signs of a bad breeder.”
The full guide can be found here.
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Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
