Warning over illegally bred dogs

Animal lovers looking to buy a puppy in the run-up to Christmas are being urged to “walk away” if they suspect it has been bred in an illegal puppy farm.

Sheila Voas, the chief veterinary officer for Scotland, said, in what was the most popular time for families to buy a puppy, people should be “cautious and do their homework”.

She issued the warning as the Scottish Government launched a campaign in a bid to make people more aware of the signs a dog could have been bred illegally.

Only a quarter (24%) of those buying a puppy do so from an approved breeder, recent research has indicated.

Online sales of dogs are estimated to amount to £13 million a year, but a large proportion of these could be illegally farmed animals.

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “Puppy farmers are highly active at Christmas and thrive on impulse purchases.

“We work very hard at this time of year to educate the public that getting a pet is a lifelong commitment and research is required to ensure you get a healthy puppy from an assured breeder,” he explained.

To help potential buyers with finding a puppy the Scottish Government has set up a new website www.buyapuppysafely.org where people can find information on how to spot illegally bred dogs.