People urged to do research before buying a puppy in Teesside and North Yorkshire
The Kennel Club is issuing advice
People across Teesside and North Yorkshire are being urged to do their research before buying a new puppy.
It is as The Kennel Club says a quarter of new owners may have purchased their pet from a puppy farm.
Kate Broers lives in North Yorkshire and works with them. She said: "We've got statistics of people taking less than two hours before they decide to buy a dog and you know you wouldn't buy a car in that length of time, so the same issues arise; take your time, contact breeders and be willing to travel for the right dog.
"Lots of people aren't willing to kind of leave their county. They're choosing locality in convenience over what's essentially a long-term purchase and the health and therefore the welfare.
"Make sure you see the puppy with its mother, if you can ask about the father and if the father's there then that's even better. Make sure you see the puppy in its natural environment, where it's grown up and there should be certain things that breeders should be asking you just as much as you're asking them."