Puppy Farms and Back Yard Breeders.

[tbourner]

This was posted on a Malamute forum I go on, thought it was worth cross posting if it stops someone from going to one of these places or buying from 'pet shops':

 

 

I know the majority on here know what to look for when purchasing a puppy but with new members joining all the time, I thought I would make this post to highlight how important it is to find a responsible breeder and to avoid back yard breeders and puppy farmers.

 

I've been involved with various rescues for quite a few years. In a way, I guess I've toughened up a bit over the years. I've seen battered, abused and broken dogs and have often dealt with the scum that did it to them. I've learnt to separate emotion, to smile sweetly, take the lead while silently promising the dogs the best first day of their new life.

 

On Thursday we had 2 new arrivals. The details were sketchy but we knew it was a Mally girl with her puppy. Sam drove miles to meet someone from the RSPCA who handed them over. She arrived at tea time and we got to meet the dogs for the first time.

 

Zara (mum) has been used and abused as a breeding bitch all her life. She's lived in a shed having litter after litter. Her body is tired, her belly hangs low and her fur snaps off with a touch. There is no light in her eyes, she just accepted her pittyful existence and expects us humans to inflict pain.

 

I've not managed to get any photos of Zara yet, the camera makes her freeze in fear.

 

Bear is the puppy she arrived with. At 5 months old, he should be full of mischief and fun. What met us was a puppy stained with urine and completely shut down.

 

Within half an hour, it was clear there was something wrong with Bear. He screamed out in pain before biting at his own feet, scuttling to us for comfort then biting at ours. He was that shut down though, he wouldn't give us any indication of where the pain was.

 

We've been backwards and forwards to the vets with him and have hopefully got to the bottom of everything that is wrong. It is quite a list.

 

He has an overshot jaw by about an inch, causing him problems eating.

He has un-descended testicles. There is no trace of them whatsoever.

He has an umbilical hernia.

His hips are a bit out of line and he seems to have some discomfort around his right one. This will (fingers crossed), hopefully improve as he grows.

He has old puncture wounds around his shoulders.

His pads are tender and pink due to urine burns.

 

He also has acute pancreatitis. The most probable cause is by eating and drinking contaminated food and water. We had the challenge last night of firstly getting him to eat and secondly not bringing it back up. He managed both, is hopefully starting to mend and shouldn't need to go on a drip today.

 

He faces a future of pain, vet visits and medication all because a greedy back yard breeder decided they were going to make some money from their bitch.

 

It must have been profitable for the previous owner or Zara wouldn't have been bred half to death. Someone must have bought the pups allowing the owner to justify keeping Zara in that existence and pups like Bear to be born.

 

Despite all of Bears problems, he is the lucky one. His siblings that were also seized were too poorly to have a shot at life and have since made their way to rainbow bridge.

 

Everyone that has met Bear (we've spent a lot of time sat in vets waiting rooms) has gone all gooey and silly over him. His fur is a funny colour and his face is an odd shape but all they see is a cute fluffy puppy and want to take him home.

 

 

This is exactly what BYB's and PF's prey on, that your heart overules your head. Sometimes when the head kicks in, they prey on people feeling sorry for pups and people justify it to themselves by 'saving' the puppy that most pulls on the heart strings.

 

I can understand why people do it, but in reality all it does is keep 'Zaras' in their squalor and creates a space for the next generation of 'Bears'.

 

I sadly fear that this is the tip of the iceburg and rescue is going to see a lot more cases like this over the coming years. As Mal's become more popular, more people will abuse them and more poorly puppy's will be brought into this world.

 

If you are reading this and looking for a pup, please go through the right channels. Please contact the breed club, get to rally's and shows and meet people involved in the breed. We're a friendly bunch and happy to help.

 

Please don't just pick up a £500 puppy in your local area from a free-ad site or you could end up with your very own Bear complete with all his problems.

 

I shall get off my soap box now and if you've got this far, well done.

 

 

I don't know if most people know about these 'breeders', but they have dogs who aren't registered and therefore haven't been health checked in any way. The hereditory problems they carry will often be passed on to hundreds of dogs that unknowing people buy - and when they realise they're going to cost them money or turn aggressive, they send them into a rescue centre! Great.

A lot of people go to pet shops thinking the dogs will be 'guaranteed', but ask yourself: Would a proper breeder of KC registered dogs, with championship winning studs really sell them through a pet shop?

 

If you want a puppy, go to the breed websites, find some breeders, ask to meet them and their dogs. If you're asked lots of questions and 'probed' to the point you think they don't WANT you to have a dog, then you're in the right place. If you get a fluffy bundle handed to you on the doorstep and they ask you for the money first off, turn around and keep walking!

[Mike]

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[Swampy442]

Heartbreaking story and one thats all too common

Ive only ever had 1 puppy and when I got him I met the breeder, the mother and father of the litter, the rest of that litter, saw where they lived and got a cracking dog out of it.

Ive since had rescue dogs because I truely believe in giving neglected dogs another chance, the previous one i rehomed was a 10 year old Boxer who would only rot in kennels or be disposed of.

[Matt H]

The people that buy the puppies are almost as much to blame as the breeders IMO. They are keeping the market alive. Not nice

[MARTIN R]

I am currently wanting to buy a Golden Retriever puppy and believe me I am researching as many local breeders as possible before I buy.

 

Stories like this are both very saddening and extremely sickening

[Thorin]

Personally I would do research on the breed I was interested in, including looking up respected breeders on a breed forum... However many people would balk at the cost from a reputable breeder and just see a dog breed they like and buy from any old dodgy bloke down the pub.

[Fitz]

Just spoke to my colleague about this as he's a very big dog lover (he attends shows and all sorts). He's already aware of these 'puppy farms' and is disgusted by them already as they have no compassion or consideration for the dog or its well-being.

 

Out of interest is anybody heading to the "Millenium Dark Side Training Day" on November 14th?