As a nation of animal lovers, it’s estimated that [44 per cent](https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/latest/facts#:~
During lockdown, many full-time workers have found themselves working from home, and with more people set to work from home for the foreseeable, more pets are being bought than ever before and the UK is now facing a puppy shortage.
It’s no surprise that with the demand for pets up, disreputable breeders and online pet sellers have taken advantage of this shortage and began to scam people looking to buy a pet.
According to Bill Lambert, head of health and welfare at the Kennel club, Lockdown has had a real hit on the puppy breeding industry.
'We've seen an increased demand for puppies that has led to a shortage in available puppies and consequently to a price increase. Although we do not monitor puppy prices, we are aware of an increase on some of the general pet advertising websites, such as Pets4Home, with prices for popular breeds and crossbreeds increasing often by more than 180 per cent.'
Horror stories of owners having pets that have fallen ill or even passed away shortly after moving into their forever home have recently made headlines, especially after celebrity couple, Tommy Fury and Molly Mae sadly lost their puppy just days after getting him home.
Of course, any animal lover wants the health of their pet to be a priority but sadly, for some breeders, it's more about the money.
'Sadly, there are a number of individuals that put profit before health and welfare for dogs and their operations were made easier by some of the earlier lockdown restrictions, which changed the buying process. This made it extremely difficult for buyers to see puppies with their mother and in the conditions that they were born, before they agreed to buy a puppy.' Says Bill.
Bill urges buyers to be “Puppywise” and educate themselves on what a responsible breeder looks like and follow these steps:
- Always ask to see the breeding environment
- Always ask to see the puppy’s mum and see if they interact with each other, which is a sign of a genuine relationship
- Ask the breeders questions about the dogs and their health – a good breeder will be able to answer any question and have documents about the dog’s health
- Visit the puppy more than once before purchase
- Make sure you are provided with all relevant paperwork including health test results for the parents, vaccination records and microchip details
Take a look at these real life stories below to find out more about how people have been affected by deceitful pet sellers.
If you are looking to get a pet of your own, there are a few important things to look out for before committing to buy your pet. As cute as a puppy or kitten may look, you want to make sure you’re giving your money to a reputable breeder who has taken care of your future pet.
Things to think about before buying a pet
'Owning a dog is a long-term commitment and buying a puppy shouldn’t be an impulsive decision. The first step is asking whether you and your family are ready for the responsibility and the time and financial commitment that comes with a dog. Researching the right breed for your lifestyle is also important before taking time to find a responsible breeder,' says Bill.
When buying a dog, first check the Kennel Club's list of assured breeders. You can find the list here.
If you see a dog commercially advertised, reputable breeders should show their licence number in the advert. It's a good idea to check this over with the local authority to make sure that these details are legitimate.
It's important to make sure you have all the important information you'll need before buying a puppy so it's a good idea to use a puppy contract for peace of mind when buying a puppy. You can find an example here.
For kittens, you can look up the list of reputable breeders here.
Similar to the puppy contract, when buying a kitten it's important to make sure you check off some important things before making a purchase. You can find a useful checklist of things to check with the breeder here.
If you find that the breeder you're dealing with is reluctant to answer some of your questions or won't sign a puppy contract, this may probably be a warning sign. Any reputable breeder will be happy to answer any of your questions or concerns.
The demand for pets in the future
It is likely that the high demand for puppies may continue for some time to come according to expert Bill.
'It's likely that more people have now found ways to permanently work from home, providing them with opportunities for dog ownership. When the demand for dogs outstrips the available supply, there is always a concern that people might start to look for puppies from lower welfare sources, including puppy farms in the UK and dogs imported from overseas. Unfortunately, many countries don’t always have the same animal welfare standards or legal protection as the UK, which can result in imported dogs and puppies suffering due to poor welfare and breeding conditions.'