1 in 5 pet owners in Liverpool have bought dogs from suspected puppy farms
A third of people say they wouldn't know the signs of a rogue breeder
Last updated 27th Aug 2019
One in five people in the North West have admitted to buying from a puppy farm.
Many animals from these farms end up with health and behaviour issues.
18% of puppy buyers in Liverpool spent less than one hour deciding on their pup, making them an easy target for rogue breeders and puppy farmers as they don’t recognise the red flags.
The research, for the Kennel Club’s Puppy Awareness Week shows those who buy on a whim, or purely for looks, are left particularly vulnerable.
These hasty buying habits, which cause many to miss the warning signs or buy a pup simply because they think it’s ‘cute’, are resulting in serious health and welfare implications.
One in five puppies bought on an impulse get sick or die before their first birthday.
The Kennel Club is now warning puppy buyers about making quick or superficial decisions about both the dog they choose and the source they buy it from, and the increasing amount of irresponsible breeders profiting from this.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: “Millions of puppies are suffering as a result of being irresponsibly bred and sold, and millions of consumers are completely unaware that their buying habits are actually fueling this cruel trade. The impact of this is truly devastating and brings with it suffering, heartache and financial problems, all for the profit of rogue breeders and puppy farmers.
“A puppy is for life, it’s not something you should just search for online, see a cute photo and buy within an hour, having it delivered to your door. This is a dangerous trend which is growing with the likes of Instagram, but puppies are not a commodity. We are urging people to do proper, careful and extensive research.
“It is crucial for anyone thinking about getting a dog to go to a responsible breeder, or to a rescue organisation, and to have spent enough time researching to know what to look for."
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