You can stop the needless suffering of ‘Instagrammable’ dogs
As Love Island’s Molly-Mae mourns the death of her puppy – which was imported from Russia – we investigate the devastating consequences of buying designer dogs from abroad...
PUPPIES ARE OFTEN TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR MOTHERS TOO YOUNG, CAUSING HUGE STRESS
With their adorable faces, snub noses and fluffy coats, Pomeranian puppies have become a social media sensation. But as demand for these “Instagrammable” dogs has spiked during lockdown, puppy dealers are finding loopholes in UK laws to meet demand.
In April this year, it became illegal to buy a dog from a third party, such as a pet shop. Now, prospective owners must buy direct from a breeder or consider adopting from a rescue centre instead. However, the law does not ban puppy imports – and breeders in other countries are not subject to the same regulations as UK breeders.
DEFORMITIES
Pomeranians, and other “designer dogs” such as pugs, French bulldogs and dachshunds, are now being bred excessively in other countries, leaving the animals with severe deformities, such as genetic heart disorders, eye problems and weakened kneecaps.
Earlier this month, Love Island stars Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury were devastated when their 18-week-old Pomeranian puppy, who they named Mr Chai, died just four days after being at his new home with the couple.
The pair received a backlash from critics and celebrities over using a puppy agent that worked with breeders in Russia who then imported the pup to the UK.
Reality star Ashley James wrote, “Please do your research before getting a pet. Do not import dogs from other countries.” And presenter Katie Piper begged followers, “PLEASE PLEASE if you are getting a puppy during lockdown or in general please think! Puppy farms are exploiting the demand.”
Before his death, Tommy and Molly-Mae created an Instagram account for Mr
Chai. His photos were liked nearly half a million times.
But just two days after
Tommy gave Mr Chai to MollyMae for her 21st birthday, the pup lost his appetite, had diarrhoea and began vomiting.
Two days later, the worried couple took him to the vet, where he was given fluids and health checks. But within 30 minutes, he sadly suffered a seizure and died.
An autopsy revealed Mr Chai’s death was caused by numerous complications, including zero white blood cells – crucial for fighting off infections – enlarged organs, and an under-developed skull, which exposed his brain.
In a statement, Tiffany
Puppies, the agency that got Mr Chai from Russian breeders, said, “Chai’s passing has really affected us massively and we just cannot understand why such a healthy, beautiful pup passed so suddenly.
“We are waiting on full veterinary results and conclusion, as we want to understand everything, as things are currently not making sense.”
TRAUMA
Though it’s unlikely Mr Chai would have survived his problems, TV vet, author and animal campaigner Marc Abraham says the puppy’s conditions likely arose from irresponsible breeding in Russia.
He says, “We don’t know which breeder Mr Chai came from, but it’s likely his mum was bred excessively, most likely kept on a puppy farm.
“While puppies are sold without their mums, and away from where they were born, often they’ll be taken from them too young, causing huge stress and compromised immunesystems. They’re then loaded into filthy, cramped transports and sent hundreds of miles to Britain, during which time they’ll be contaminated with other puppies’ waste, potentially coming into contact with a range of dangerous diseases.
“The puppies will have spent days under immense stress before they reach their new home in the UK. The animals’ welfare is never considered by the people operating this chain – puppies are seen as commodities, not sentient beings. Because of the unaccountable – and possibly inbred – breeding conditions, congenital deformities and fatal diseases can often occur, like Mr Chai’s. Although it appears he would never have lived
longer than a few days, even the puppies in his litter lucky enough to survive will most likely spend a lifetime suffering serious behavioural issues and health problems, too.”
Experts advise always seeing a pup interacting with its mum, or adopting animals from rehoming charities, as they provide you with detailed information about an animal’s health. Marc says, “Tommy and Molly-Mae thought they were paying £5,000 for a wellbred dog, but in reality, a hefty price tag doesn’t equal a healthy pet, or a responsible breeder. In fact, when would-be owners are willing to spend so much, it can actually fuel the unscrupulous breeding practices. If you want a dog, carry out thorough research and always consider adopting.”