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Willis was really keen for me to take dogs from her and sell them as though I had bred them from my home.
“When she found out I was from Cairnryan, she started asking if I knew anyone who did ferry trips to Ireland, so I presumed she was thinking about bringing in pups that way, too.”
We told yesterday how Willis had been forced to hand over dogs to the Scottish SPCA after whistleblowers told of awful living and breeding conditions.
When the Record turned up at her farmhouse near Girvan, she offered a pug pup for £850, claiming she could get it microchipped that day. She denied the dogs were being kept in poor conditions, saying: “The SSPCA said there were too many dogs, they didn’t say they were being badly looked after.”
She added: “The dogs had giardia but you can treat easily with Panacur. It’s just a wee parasite.” BY MARK McGIVERN A WEBSITE has been launched to drive home the message that puppy farms are bringing misery to many thousands of animals.
The Scottish SPCA’s www. saynotopuppydealers.co.uk site is supported by the Scottish Government, Trading Standards and animal charities.
The public have been urged to log on to pledge support and raise awareness of the menace.
Scottish SPCA chief executive Kirsteen Campbell said: “Our research showed that puppyfarmed pups are more likely to have a genetic disorder and are more at risk of deadly infectious diseases such as parvovirus, which can cost up to £4000 to treat.
“The Scottish Government estimated that the illegal puppy trade was worth a conservative £13million last year in Scotland alone – and that doesn’t include the thousands of pounds in vet bills paid for by unsuspecting new owners. The growing illegal trade is, put simply, organised crime and, at present, there is little deterrent.
“Puppy farming has been a priority issue for us and our partners for quite some time.
“Individually, we have been making some progress but the industry has grown exponentially and it’s clear that a unified approach is the only way forward.”
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham added: “I would encourage everyone to consider whether they could provide a ‘forever home’ to a dog in an animal shelter in Scotland, rather than buying a new puppy, and if they still want a puppy to buy one directly from the breeder where they can see the puppy with its mother.
“The arrival of a new puppy should be a happy time but irresponsible and illegal breeding can lead to hefty vets’ bills and even heartbreak for owners.
“Those involved in puppy dealing or illegal breeding can earn thousands of pounds from a single litter but while they count their cash, the dogs which they are exploiting inevitably suffer.”
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home chief Howard Bridges said: “The launch of the website is a welcome step forward in the fight against puppy farming.”