DOG lovers are being warned about impulsive choices when making a four-legged addition to the family.
This comes after research by The Kennel Club found a quarter of puppy buyers in the West Midlands fear their pet may have originated from a puppy farm.
This comes as the organisation warns of the disastrous consequences of ‘convenience culture’ puppy buying, with around half in the region admitting they won’t travel more than an hour for their puppy and over one in four spending less than a day researching their decision – with thousands then being duped by rogue breeders.
The research, released as part of The Kennel Club’s ‘Be Puppywise’ campaign, shows the devastating consequences of this convenience-driven puppy buying behaviour, with 19 per cent of pups getting sick or dying before their first birthday nationwide – increasing sharply to 31 per cent for those pups bought based on little research.
Following this damning research, The Kennel Club is warning puppy buyers about making impulsive decisions about both the dog they choose and the source they buy it from, opening them up to be scammed by duplicitous rogue puppy sellers and inadvertently fuelling a puppy welfare crisis.
Charlotte McNamara, head of health at The Kennel Club, said: “This research paints an alarming picture of a nation of puppy buyers making quick and sometimes careless decisions when it comes to where and how to get a dog.
“Though it may be unintentional, this behaviour is enabling duplicitous rogue puppy sellers to flourish and operate with little scrutiny – and with devastating consequences for puppy welfare. Millions are ending up with a sick dog and paying the price in heartache and vets bills, all for the profit of rogue breeders and puppy farmers.”
Despite being prepared to buy a puppy with minimal research or effort – with over a third in the West Midlands unwilling to travel outside of their county for a pup – a quarter admit that they couldn’t spot a rogue breeder or puppy selling scammer.
The research also suggests this impulsive purchasing could be fuelled by the lure of ‘puppy dog eyes’ on social media and trends driven by celebrities, with almost half of all UK puppy buyers saying their main motivation for their puppy choice was either how they look, or because they saw the type of dog on television, social media or with a celebrity.
Charlotte added: “This convenience culture is having a dangerous impact on puppy welfare. Getting a dog is a long-term commitment and any decision should not be made lightly, superficially or without effort. We absolutely urge anyone thinking of getting a puppy to take the time to do proper, careful and extensive research and make sure the pup is right for you, and that you can spot the signs of a bad breeder. Please be willing to wait and go the distance, for the sake of your new family member. The more time you spend, the more likely you are to bring home a happy, healthy puppy, rather than fuelling untold suffering and heartache.”
Following this warning, The Kennel Club is providing advice and practical resources for would-be owners to help them Be Puppywise here.
