Puppy Farmers planning for a Christmas cash bonanza
The illegal puppy farmers in their dank, dark, and stinking barns hidden from public view have been mating their dogs in preparation for the lucrative Christmas puppy market. This terrible trade is estimated by Northern Ireland’s animal welfare charity USPCA as being worth £150 million annually to the cruel breeders. These dogs are only for breeding. They have no other use and are disposed of at the end of their producing life.
There’s a responsibility on the public to be aware of the horrible level of cruelty behind the lovable face of a farmed puppy.
Christmas is the peak time for puppy buying. Mums and Dads come under pressure from children looking for that special family pet. Many will search online. Going online will reveal numerous breeders offering a wide variety of breeds. Many of these sellers will be unscrupulous. Countless pups will be torn from their mother much too early and put up for sale. These dodgy and deceitful breeders will give all the assurances and guarantees the unsuspecting buyers want to hear. But there’ll be no contact or follow-up support if the pup has health problems. Vet bills for sick pups can be expensive.
The pandemic sparked a puppy craze. The puppy farmers reaped a rich reward as families, restricted to home, sought areas of family activity that seemed safe. Owning a new puppy appeared to fit the bill. The puppy farmers couldn’t keep up with demand.
Not all farmed pups sold in Northern Ireland are bred locally. The PSNI confirm that organised crime gangs are operating in this heartless trade. Pups are smuggled from the Republic of Ireland, sold to unwary local buyers, or alternatively transported through Belfast Port to trusting GB buyers. A few of the smugglers will be stopped and the rescued “Christmas pups” will make headline news. However, it’s suspected every ship leaving Belfast has puppies onboard. It’s a low-risk and high reward brutal business, carrying fines that are infinitesimal when compared to the cash to be made.
Many will go online. Online puppy buyers can be easily fooled by the dishonest breeders. If you want a puppy, first think about a rescue dog from an animal welfare charity; don’t shop, adopt. It’s a way of giving a shelter dog a loving home.
If you want a specific breed, make sure you meet the pup and the breeding mother dog together. Meet in the place the puppy was born. Don’t meet in a car park when the unlawful breeder gives you the suspicious reason,” I’m in your area.” Meet the puppy at least twice, don’t rush into buying because the breeder hassles you. Ask questions about vaccinations and microchipping, ask where the microchip number is documented. If the seller is cautious about paperwork back away from the purchase. If you have serious concerns, please contact the USPCA.
Don’t be a victim of the unscrupulous puppy farmers and their abhorrent methods.
Remember, dogs are for life, not just for Christmas.
