Sad victims of breeders
Here are four new arrivals at a dog rescue charity in South Wales.
There’s Kizzy, an elderly bitch who had been used for breeding.
She had a burst tumour and died 12 hours after these pictures were taken.
Martha is a young breeding bitch who needed emergency treatment and has survived.
Fifi is a six-year-old “blue” French Bulldog, dumped by a commercial breeder because she was no longer “economically viable”.
Tallulah suffers from malformed, undersized nostrils and was also dumped.
The charity Friends of the Dogs (Wales) says they are typical of the dogs they now see abandoned.
“Over the past 10 years we have seen a proliferation of pedigree dogs, many of them suffering from health issues associated with weak gene pools and indiscriminate mating,” says spokesperson Susie James.
“Many also suffer lifetime behaviour issues due to woefully inadequate attention and care during their early life.” She traces the problem back to wellintentioned moves to help farmers diversify.
“Farmers were able to apply for grants to convert unused cowsheds into dog breeding factories, housing hundreds of dogs,” said Susie.
“Now we see a continual stream of sick pups born in misery and squalor to parent dogs who have never known what it is to be a pet, being sold via third-party brokers and pet shops.”
The charity wholeheartedly backs the Lucy’s Law campaign to ban the sale of puppies by pet shops and other thirdparty dealers.
“We share the opinion of the supporters of Lucy’s Law that the only way to stop this happening is to ban the sale of puppies unless they are seen with their mother, at their place of birth,” says Susie.
“Without a change to legislation, mass-breeders will continue to supply the market with no regard for the welfare of the parent dogs or the pups.
“Dogs have become cheap, disposable and dispensable.
“We know because we are picking up the pieces.”