New figures have revealed that almost one in five pups bought in Wales die or get sick before their first birthday. The Kennel Club's new research has looked into what they have called the "murky and dangerous" world of puppy buying and breeding.
They say they have found an explosion in rogue breeding of puppies with health and behavioural problems who can no longer be adequately looked after by their owners as the cost of living continues to soar.
Some rescue centres, like Hope Rescue, say there has been a "sharp rise" in the number of dogs being abandoned because of the increase cost of looking after pets.
Read more: 'Unprecedented crisis' as owners dump unwanted dogs
The centre is Rhondda Cynon Taf has taken 300 calls in the past three months about pets, and it is feared more than a quarter of dog owners in Wales won't be able to afford to keep their dog.
It was a boom industry during lockdown with a total of 3.2 million households in the UK have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic in 2020, but rising costs are creating serious concerns for those pet owners and there are concerns new owners don't realise if their new pets have any underlying illnesses.
Now, the Kennel Club, which is a dog welfare organisation, is calling for a need to take action because sick dogs are being sold to unsuspecting owners, many of whom have admitted to not meeting their puppy in person before buying.
The research from the Club is part of its Be Puppywise campaign which hopes to show the hidden virtual world of dog buying that is increasingly becoming the norm.
They have found that more than a quarter of new owners paid for their puppy before seeing it in real life, and one in five had their new pet delivered or picked it up from a neutral location so they don't see where the conditions where the animal has come from.
There are concerns about the future of pups that need expensive behavioural and veterinary care.
Mark Beazley, chief executive at The Kennel Club, says: "Thousands of puppies and dog owners are suffering and this research really does show a damning portrait of our puppy buying nation.
"The virtual puppy buying habits that were normalised during lockdown – which have enabled shady breeders to thrive – have combined in a perfect and terrible storm with the cost of living crisis. This means that thousands of people who have been duped are now struggling to care for dogs with health and behavioural problems, who are sadly the victims of this unprecedented set of circumstances."
He added: "With the world of puppy breeding and buying getting more and more difficult to navigate, it’s crucial that would-be owners know exactly what to look for when buying a puppy. Be cautious of adverts using words that try to lure you in with promises of ‘rare’ or ‘exotic’ dogs, or a quick sale, as a good breeder, such as a Kennel Club Assured Breeder, will always ask questions about your suitability for dog ownership, and you will often need to be prepared to go on a waiting list.
"You should see the puppy interacting with its mum, where it was bred and reared in real life, so clever guises, marketing ploys or tactics to disguise a puppy’s true background to simply make a huge profit, are exposed.
“For anyone thinking about getting a dog, please avoid this heartache and incredible suffering, and make sure you find a responsible breeder, who absolutely prioritises your dog’s welfare above anything else.”
For more advice, visit thekennelclub.org.uk/bepuppywise.
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