TV’s pup importer breeds contempt
Prestige pet seller says ‘nothing unethical’ about overseas trade
THIS fluffy puppy called Simba could be yours – if you’ve got a spare £4,500.
“Luxurious, small, chocolate and white Pomeranian baby girl with green eyes is now available for reserving,” gushes the Facebook page of a Cheshire business called Tiffany Chihuahuas, which says it sells Kennel Club-registered puppies.
Every responsible vet, as well as the Government, says you should always see a puppy with its mother before purchase, so you can check its breeding conditions.
So, posing as a potential buyer, I emailed Tiffany Chihuahuas asking to see Simba and her mum.
That, it turned out, would not be possible – the mother was hundreds of miles away.
“She is an import from a reputable partner breeder so both parents are not here to be seen,” came the reply. “However I do have their photos.” That explains why pictures of the same puppy, and many more besides, can be found on the Facebook pages of Tiffany Chihuahuas and a breeder in Russia.
Tiffany Chihuahuas is run by Elena Katerova, who upset viewers in August when she appeared with “teacup” dogs on Good Morning Britain.
“One of the little dogs was literally shaking,” tweeted one viewer.
I asked her why she didn’t state on her Facebook page or website that the dogs were imported from Russia.
“I do say that when people get in contact with me, but at the end of the day it’s business, I don’t want my competition to know what I’m doing,” she replied.
She insisted “I work with reputable breeders abroad because they’ve got the best quality dogs,” and said there was nothing wrong with importing the dogs, which are taken to Moscow and then flown to Britain via Amsterdam.
“They travel with a courier on a plane, they come through legally,” she says.
“If you’ve got the right transport, if you meet all the rules, there’s nothing unethical.
“They are the right age, they travel fully vaccinated, I’ve got all the right paperwork.”
But how can potential buyers follow the official advice to see puppies with their mothers if they’re in Russia?
Elena said she can provide videos, or buyers can travel to Russia – which does not seem very practical. Earlier this year, Elena was in court after a customer discovered that the Pomeranian she’d bought had a metal splint in one leg.
“Six weeks after the operation the seller sold the dog to me for £5,000 and claimed the dog to be a perfect example of the breed,” posted Jane Martin on Trustpilot.
She was refunded through her bank but then refused to return the puppy: “I made it clear I was willing to pay an appropriate price but this was declined.”
Elena admitted that the puppy had broken a leg but said it had recovered and accused Ms Martin of trying to get it cheaply.
She sued and Ms Martin was ordered to pay her £1,201. In a counterclaim, Elena Katerova was ordered to pay £927 to Ms Martin.
The Mirror’s Lucy’s Law campaign will ban the sale of puppies by anyone apart from the breeders themselves.
Environment minister Michael Gove has pledged to back the campaign, aimed at stamping out puppy farmers.
Elena said: “Lucy’s Law is not in place at the moment.”
It’s only a matter of time.
‘‘
How can buyers see puppies with mums if they are in Russia?