Welcome to my blog

For years I have campaigned against puppy farming, dealers and pet shops, in fact any outlet that is involved in the breeding and selling of puppies by third parties. Why you may ask? Because it is a clandestine trade that lacks public awareness and Governments fail miserably to accept that puppy farming resulting in puppy trafficking is detrimental to animal welfare. Through my thoughts on my blog I will highlight some of the daily happenings from my perspective as a campaigner against the puppy trade.







Disclaimer: My name is Patricia from Puppy Alert, the opinions and views expressed on this blog are entirely my own.



Monday 26 March 2012

Sylvesters Pet shops, Harrow and Hanwell, owner prosecuted.

This is fantastic news for all groups that campaign against the sale of puppies from pet shops and dealers.  It has taken a long time to reach the point of a Court hearing and a successful prosecution but the end result is a one to be applauded.  It proves that forward thinking Councils are prepared to act against pet shop licence holders that flaunt the law.   

http://cornerstonebarristers.com/news/pet-shop-disqualification/

This is why it is so important for anyone who purchases a puppy from any outlet that is dissatisfied to contact the Council responsible for Licensing the trader, Trading Standards or Consumer Direct with as much information as possible and if asked please be prepared to give a written statement.  It is only through factual evidence that Councils can reach the point (after seeking advice from their legal representatives) of presenting a case to Court.

It will not be for your own puppy you are seeking justice but for all the others sold through pet shops and dealers, not forgetting the breeding dogs responsible for producing thousands of puppies each year for the puppy trade.

Even if the pet shop has offered you a refund for your puppy and asked you sign a disclaimer (do not sign) you are still entitled to refund if you have been mis-sold.  Seek advice first from Consumer Direct before you approach the pet shop.

Do not be fobbed off with useless often incorrect sales talk given by dealers and pet shops.  Better still never buy puppy from a pet shop or dealer.   

Sunday 25 March 2012

Eastern European Puppies in pet shops - London

As feared the laxing of the Pet Travel Scheme has encouraged a pet shop licence holder to purchase puppies from Eastern Europe.  One such pet shop Aardvark Kennels in Newham, East London during the last week has advertised six different breeds of puppies sold with Pet Passports.

The Eastern European puppy trade and puppy trafficking is equally as despicable as puppy farming in Wales and the Irish Republic by licensed and unlicensed commercial breeders where most pet shop licence holders source their puppies from.

Puppies arriving in the UK from Eastern Europe to enable them to have Pet Passport must be microchiped prior to receiving a vaccinaton against rabies and tapeworm treatment by a vet, all details must be entered on the puppies Pet Passport.  As the puppy is normally 12 weeks of age when the last rabies vaccine is administered te puppy must wait a further 21 days in its country of residence.   This means the puppy is nearly 4 months of age before it can arrive in the UK.

By this age a puppy should be house trained and socialised but these puppies have missed the most important short window for mental and social development of between 6 and 14 weeks of age due to remaining on the breeders premises, travelling from an Eastern European country to the UK and then waiting to be sold in a pet shop.  A pet shop offers no practical stimulation for the puppies, most are not even provided with a toy to play with by the owner.  Like all puppies sold in pet shops, according to their sellers they are supposed to be suitable to become companion animals - family pets.   Yet neither purchaser or shop owner will have any knowledge of health status of the puppies parents, the premises the puppy was bred in, the care of the puppy from birth until it travelled at 15 weeks of age or later from Slovakia to London. 

The puppies trauma does not end there it is then deposited in a bare, barren pet shop with nothing of interest but blank walls.  The pet shop environment lacks the  proper care and stimulus required to ensure that the puppies life is enriched whilst waiting to be sold, the longer this continues the more chance the puppy will suffer from nervousness with the possibilty of behaviour and temperament problems. 

The puppy trade and puppy trafficking is is detrimental to animal welfare.

Puppies should not be allowed to b sold from pet shops or any pet shop licence holders premises.

The purchase of puppies from pet shops is never advisable and should be discouraged.

Newham Council as the licensing authourity for Aardvark Kennels and London Prestige Puppies should place extra conditions on all their pet shop licences restricting where their licence holders can purchase puppies from.     

All campaigning groups including the Dogs Trust, Kennel Club, Puppy Love Campaigns to name but a few are requesting that puppies should not be sold from pet shops or dealers. If you feel the same please write to your MP and Defra Animal Welfare department.     

Monday 5 March 2012

Pet Travel Scheme - Irish Republic to the UK

On the 1st January 2012 Defra eased quarantine regulations for dogs and puppies entering the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme.  Under EU legislation 998/2003, all puppies and dogs (other than dogs entering shows or competitions) entering the UK from the Irish Republic must have an EU Pet Passport.  The new legislation is not only a legal requirement for dog owners wishing to travel between the Irish Republic and the UK and vice versa with their companion animals (up to 5 animals) a time but it is now a legal requirement for all puppies and dogs leaving the Irish Republic that are part of a commercial consignment they must before entering the UK be in possession of a EU pet passport.

Firstly the puppy or dog must be microchipped before vaccinated against rabies.  The vet must read the microchip number and record it on the puppy or dogs vaccination EU Passport which will hold details of the rabies vaccine.  As the rabies vaccine is not normally given until the puppy is 12 weeks of age (some vaccine manufacturers say vets can administer at 8 weeks but then a second vaccine is required at 12 weeks) the puppy or dog must then wait 21 days from the date of the last vaccine before it is able to leave the Irish Republic to enter the UK.

As the EU legislation 998/2003 Pet Travel Scheme is also UK law it now means that all dog breeders, and dealers wishing to export puppies to the UK must comply with this legislation.  Therefore there should not be any puppies for sale in any pet shop or from a pet shop licence holders premises in the UK originating from the Irish Republic for sale that do not have and EU passport, microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.  They should also be at least 15 weeks of age too. If you are aware of any puppies being sold without a pet passport or less than 15 weeks of age from the Irish Republic please contact puppyalert@btinternet.com or Trading Standards.

The new legislation will also effect rescues bringing puppies and dogs into the UK from the Irish Republic, they too must comply with the legislation just the same as as other sectors highlighted above.

This is good news for those of us that campaign against puppies arriving in the UK from puppy farms in the Irish Republic as the legislation may curb the flow of young, indiscriminately bred puppies reaching pet shops.  The hassle for some breeders of compliance maybe too much and not cost effective and for pet shops in the UK needing to wait until the puppy is 15 weeks of age before it can enter the UK may make it a less attractive option.

I do not think the legislation has reached the ears of  pet shop licence holders or rescues that bring puppies and dogs into the UK, as none appear to be adhering to the new regulations.  However, ignorance is no excuse and those involved with bringing puppies and dogs into the UK from the Irish Republic without an EU passport will be reported to the authorities in anticipation that the legislation will be enforced.      

Thursday 1 March 2012

Kennel Club Campaigns Against Puppy Farming

It is good to see that the Kennel Club is speaking out against puppy farming. It is for this reason I am sharing a link to their site.  There is also a video worth watching and much information on puppy farming and responsible puppy purchase too.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/stoppuppyfarming