It’s still happening. People are buying dogs at a record rate. And where demand is generated, supply has to follow.
In principle, this is a good thing. Dogs are fantastic companions, they help us get out and about and support mental health. But there is a negative side.
Last month, we had the drama of Lady Gaga’s two French bulldogs being stolen. Bad news for her, worse news for the dog walker who was shot. But even though this got global coverage, and the dogs were returned safely, it’s happening on a local level at an increasing rate.
It’s not just celebrity dogs
There was an ex-boxer in Wales who fought off would-be thieves wielding knives last month. Similar stories have been reported in Fareham, Rotherham and Cambridegshire. In fact, it’s happening all over the country and the wider world.
We don’t always come face-to-face with the perpetrators, some are taken without the owner realising. Break-ins, runaways or plucked from gardens. There will always be opportunist thieves, but when a dog (particularly a puppy) is worth £1,000-£4,000, it becomes an attractive target for organised criminals.
There is no way of guaranteeing absolute safety, and owners shouldn’t feel scared. But clearly it’s important to be aware of the issue and take appropriate measures. No, that doesn’t mean taking a baseball bat with you on every dog walk; but we put together a list of 5 practical ways to prevent dog theft and there are plenty of other resources out there too for guidance.
Breeding for profits
It’s not just theft. As we all (hopefully) know, the only requirements to make a puppy are a male and female dog – unneutered. That’s the basis for puppy farms (or mills, for US visitors). Breeding dogs at volume, without the due care and attention of a hobby or expert breeder; it’s easier than mining gold and nearly as profitable. It’s also illegal.
This week, we saw another example of how awful this practise can be. Buyers in Scotland were duped into handing over large bundles of cash for sick collies. Sadly, three of them died.
In this instance, the dogs are the biggest victims, then the new owners. So while we don’t want to criticise anyone other than the unscrupulous breeders, there are clear red flags;
- Buying on a platform like Gumtree – a dog isn’t the same as a second-hand washing machine, so make sure you buy from appropriate channels
- Paying in cash – if the seller won’t even give their bank details, that’s a bad sign
- Not seeing the puppy at home – it’s an animal, check out its environment, see it with mum and ensure everything is in order before you do anything
- They want to meet somewhere other than their home – RED ALERT, the days of buying a dog from a bloke at the pub are over
Again, this isn’t victim blaming. Plenty of us have made questionable decisions that didn’t go horribly wrong, so these people were unlucky.
Getting your puppy checked by a vet
It’s probably also worth mentioning that if the puppy appears in poor health, before asking for your money back, you should seek out veterinary care. Again, easier in hindsight and without having just handed over a grand to a criminal gang. Equally, based on the poor level of health and rapid deterioration, we don’t know if that would have saved them either.
Still, every new puppy owner should be booking in a visit to their vet for a health check and vaccinations in those first days. Yes, I know, big surprise – VetHelpDirect recommending a visit to the vets. But I think we all want to check that our new puppy is healthy and get those vaccinations done so you can explore the outdoors safely.
So that’s it. Some tales of caution and a few things to watch out for. If you’re still looking for your next fur baby/guard dog/companion, and are worried about where to buy from, the PDSA has done a useful guide on how to spot a puppy farm.
As always though, we want you to share your own thoughts, recommendations and experiences. How are you keeping your dog safe? What steps did you take when buying your puppy? Did you, or someone you know have a near miss? And, the big question, how do we stop this issue? Leave a comment below.
You may also be interested in;
- When can I leave my puppy on their own
- How long should I walk my puppy for?
- Puppy Ownership: Why it’s not always a walk in the park
- Puppy Ownership: The Cost of Getting Your First Dog
- The Price of Friendship – The Growth of Puppy Farming During Lockdown
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