Death of puppies sparks urgent animal welfare warning for would-be dog owners

The Scottish SPCA has renewed calls for the public to buy a puppy safely after receiving multiple reports of seriously ill puppies in recent days.
Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn with Monty the Golden Labrador who has previously been sedated due to fireworks. For further details contact Stephen McCranor on 0141 333 9585
Pic Peter DevlinScottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn with Monty the Golden Labrador who has previously been sedated due to fireworks. For further details contact Stephen McCranor on 0141 333 9585
Pic Peter Devlin
Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn with Monty the Golden Labrador who has previously been sedated due to fireworks. For further details contact Stephen McCranor on 0141 333 9585 Pic Peter Devlin

Scotland’s animal welfare charity has been contacted about four puppies sold by suspected puppy dealers. In recent days, two of these puppies have passed away whilst a third is unwell. The Scottish SPCA’s Special Investigations Unit has launched an investigation amid an escalation of reports of puppy farming.

Inspectors from the Scottish SPCA have launched 78 investigations in to reports of puppy farming in October alone amid growing concerns about the trade. The Society’s animal helpline has fielded 523 calls from people with concerns about puppy farming so far in 2020 and it is believed dealers are using coronavirus restrictions to confuse buyers in to parting with significant amounts of cash due to the inflated prices of dogs.

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Cocakpoo Maxi passed away on Saturday 24 October, less than a week after his family purchased him. He seemed lively when he was first taken home but his condition quickly deteriorated. A dog which has been identified as his sibling and sold to an unrelated member of the public is the one which is unwell.

Nugget, a bulldog-pug cross, died on Sunday 25 October just three days after he was bought. Tests are ongoing to establish the conditions Nugget and Maxi had, but their appalling health was consistent with being bred on a puppy farm. They were less than eight weeks old, meaning they were too young to be removed from their mother, let alone sold.

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “The combination of coronavirus restrictions and extortionate prices of puppies is being manipulated by puppy traders selling badly bred dogs.

“There are things we would urge any buyer to do, such as insist on seeing the pup they are buying at the seller’s home or premises with their mum. At the moment, we know many dealers are telling unsuspecting members of the public to meet them in a car park or public space to pass over the dog safely. The seller will often be wearing a mask and afterwards they are impossible to get a hold of when the pup gets sick.

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“Prices have skyrocketed in 2020 as responsible breeders scaled back due to the restrictions yet demand increased as many people were stuck at home. Now, dealers can charge more than ever before and sell more easily than they’ve previously been able to. The root of this problem is public demand. As we approach Christmas, we are frightened by the prospect of the general public flocking to these people to buy sick and ill puppies.

“The onus is on everyone single person in Scotland to put this despicable trade out of business.

“Of these four dogs, three were sold by the dealer taking the dog to the buyer’s home and the other in was given a fake address which turned out to be a car park. You should never purchase a pup in a public place or at your own home.”

“Every single time a pup dies we say the same thing to the public – don’t be rushed in to parting with money and insist on seeing the puppy with their mum. Do not buy a puppy until you have seen paperwork and certificates for vaccinations, microchipping and worming.”

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A Scottish SPCA survey in the summer found 84% of people think it is unsafe to buy a puppy online and a third of Scots would not confidently be able to tell the difference between a responsible breeder and a puppy dealer.

Anyone who believes they come in to contact with a puppy dealer can call the Scottish SPCA’s animal helpline in confidence on 03000 999 999.

For more information on buying a puppy safely, visit www.saynotopuppydealers.co.uk.