Council warning over illegal breeders
A West Sussex council has stressed the importance of using licensed breeders when buying a kitten or puppy.
Penny Plant, cabinet member for environment for Chichester District Council, warned the public not to buy from illegal breeders as pets have become more popular during the pandemic.
“Over lockdown many people across the UK have been looking for a furry companion, with two million dogs purchased in 2020,” she said.
“This has led to the price of puppies rising by upwards of 134 per cent.
“This sharp increase in demand has led some of our residents to fall victim to illegal breeders and scams.”
Ralph Walling, principal environmental health officer, underlined the message.
He said: “The majority of unlicensed breeders we meet are unaware of the regulations and are happy to co-operate and improve their standards.
“However, because the price of pets; especially puppies, has risen dramatically during the pandemic, organised criminals have begun to mistreat animals and take advantage of people.
“These criminals either breed animals in a horrible environment, keeping them in dirty and cramped conditions, or they just scam people out of money.
“That’s why it’s very important that residents buy pets from licensed breeders and ask to see the puppy or kitten and their mother in their home environment.
“Criminal breeders will often give the excuse that they can’t let you see the mother because they are somewhere else and they won’t say where, or because of Covid.
“When residents buy dogs from these breeders, the pet is often sick or poorly socialised, which can mean long-term expense and heartache for a new owner.
“We’ve heard examples of people paying a deposit online for pets that don’t even exist and they end up losing their money.
“It’s also important to remember that when you buy from these groups you are helping to fund organised crime, which of course has a huge effect on the district and the country.”
For more information about the issue, visit www. chichester.co.uk