Dodgy dog advertisements should be avoided at all costs, and adopting or fostering is the best option according to the DSPCA
But what should people be on the lookout for to figure out if the ad is dodgy? DSPCA spokeswoman Gillian Bird told us about the things prospective dog owners need to be aware of - and how to avoid getting a dog they would later have to give up on.
The first thing she advises is getting a dog from a shelter, rather than buying it online. But if you find yourself browsing through the cute pics of dog adverts on dogs.ie, the main website in Ireland where you can buy a dog – sometimes for thousands of euro – you need to know how to read the advert like an expert.
Be extra cautious with online ads
Any breeder worth their salt doesn't advertise dogs as they already have huge waiting lists, Gillian said, since they would breed their show dog only a few times in the animal’s life. She added: “So if you want to know how people can spot or how they can avoid getting from the puppy farm, the answer is they really can't. If you're going online, there is really no way of guaranteeing that the animal you're getting is not coming from somebody who is mass-producing.”
Read more: Dog found with wounds that exposed his skull finds happy home in foster care
Carefully read the fine print
Gillian drew attention to a few things people need to look for, such as reading carefully if the puppy is not younger than eight weeks, or if it is being advertised by a registered dog breeding establishment. Taking a look at a random advert for Cavapoo puppies on reputable site dogs.ie, she said: “What they have here is that they are a registered dog breeding establishment. It says it on the advertisement, and they have up to a maximum of 300 breeding bitches.”
Verify if what the ad is telling you is accurate
The Cavapoo ad also claimed the puppies – a crossbreed between a Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles – had completely non shed hypoallergenic coats and are great for allergy sufferers. However, according to Gillian, while Poodles don’t shed much, Cavalier King Charles dogs ‘shed like mad’, so doing your own research is important when looking at the ads.
Do your own research on the breed you're interested in getting
Gillian also strongly advises anyone who wants to own a dog to do proper research about the breed they’re looking for. Instead of obsessing over how cute a particular breed is, she said, people should focus on finding out whether the animal would be prone to certain illnesses. This is especially important when looking at puppies, since the medical conditions of the pup don't usually come out until the animals are adults.
“It's not about appearances," she said. "It should never be about appearances. It has to be about health. It has to be about the welfare of where the animal has come from. It has to be about how long and how healthy is this animal gonna be, and is its temperament gonna be right for your family?”
Try fostering
Fostering is a great way to make sure if having a dog is really the right decision for your family, Gillian said. This is something Orla Donohoe from My Lovely Horse Rescue agreed with, adding that this would also allow shelters to take in more dogs.
Consider adopting instead of buying
Similarly, adopting a pet is the much more sustainable option. “If you go to a breeder, you're just adding to the problem, even if a breeder is known as reputable,” Orla said. “That breeder is still going to be then making more puppies.” Also, rescue dogs can always be returned to the rescue, whereas there's no comeback with dogs that are bought as breeders frequently wash their hands.
Adopting an older dog is also a good option since their personalities are already established, and they’re generally always house trained. "Rescue centres are seeing an influx of older dogs that are just like being left at shelters because people don't want to deal with their sicknesses," Orla added. "Also, sometimes unfortunately it's out with the old, in with the new.”
Update your pet's microchip details
Once you finally get your new dog, it is critical to contact the database of europetnet.com with your pet’s microchip number to update the ownership. “Unless the dog is microchipped to you and your details are kept up to date, then a microchip isn't worth anything,” Gillian said.
After that, it's important to check if the chip is still working every time you bring your new pet to the vet for a vaccine since they can become faulty or damaged with time.
Dogs.ie founder Paul Savage said their website works to make sure people know who the breeders are. He said: "We try hard to show exactly what type of breeders the sellers are. They are all licensed and inspected by the county councils. The number of breeding bitches is not a legal requirement, but we feel that it's important to give people an idea of what scale a breeding operation has.
"We also have an extensive list of tips for people contacting sellers, an example contract and a free 100-page ebook for new dog owners.“
Read next:
East Wall office block refugees 'cried for four days' when they arrived
Attacks on Gardai 'quite bad' but guns aren't the answer, says Dublin MEP
'I travelled through Dublin Airport during cold snap mayhem - here is what you need to know'
Government issue statement on schools opening amid 'bitter' cold snap
To get the latest news to your inbox, sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter.
