Have now received a long awaited response from N Kesteven Council regarding the selling of a puppy from Willow Farm Kennels that died within days of purchase of suspected distemper or leptospirosis both diseases and one a zoonosis.
When the Council were asked what their policy was when advised that a puppy was sold from a licensed premises (pet shop licence) in their area? They replied with 'N Kesteven Council does not have a specific policy when a puppy has been sold that has later died of of a possible outbreak of distemper or leptospirosis, each incident is dealt with as appropriate to the individual circumstances'.
N Kesteven Council were contacted on the 26th May 2011, I understand they spoke to the owner of the premises Willow Farm Kennels the same day but failed to make a visit to the premises until the 10th June 2011. Followed by another visit on the 22nd June 2011. Why did it take N Kesteven Council 15 days to visit the premises when they were notified by the purchaser that their puppy had died from a suspected contagious disease?
The Council said they had no concern for the premises, yet on reading inspection reports under FOI it appears that since 2008 the Council licensing officer has requested and noted on the inspection reports that wood panels and doors needs replacing on the areas where the puppies are kept. Why is N Kesteven Council allowing this to continue and renewing their licence each year when the owners are failing to comply with their licence conditions? The Council are failing in their duty of care too as wood is porous and a known source of spread of disease in kennel areas. The pet shop licence holders excuse for not replacing the wood with metal was 'money is tight', that was in 2008 and 2009 and still the work has not been undertaken.
The puppy that was sold from Willow Farm Kennels according to N Kesteven Council was from an unlicensed breeder, and they have contacted the Council for the area where the puppy was bred.
The questions that remain unanswered are what happened to the other puppies in this litter if they too were delivered to Willow Farm Kennels, were they sold or did they die too? Did the Council contact purchasers of puppies on the premises at Willow Farm at the same time as the puppy suspected of carrying these diseases was there, advising them of this contagious outbreak? It appears not.
This is not acceptable practice on behalf of the owner of the premises nor N Kesteven Council, they have failed in their duty of care on animal welfare and to the consumer who purchases puppies from these premises. The Council says they have few complaints, yet looking at the review online of WillowFarm Kennels there appears to be many disgruntled purchasers of sick puppies. I can recall complaints as long ago as 15 years.
My advice would be to anyone who has purchased a sick puppy from these premises to contact N Kesteven Council they may not be so willing on re-issuing the licence next year if complaints are received. If more people complained about pet shops selling sick puppies then perhaps 'money is tight' will be a real reality for the owners of these premises selling puppies forcing them to close.
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