Puppy farming concerns in Guernsey

Thursday 22 August 2019

Animal Aid is warning local people against buying puppies in Guernsey without visiting the breeder first, as concerns over puppy farming are raised once again.

The re-homing charity claims a breeder in the island has been separating pups from their mother too early and selling them on for hundreds of pounds with out vet checks, vaccinations or flea and worm treatment.

Sue Vidamour from the charity has taken to social media to highlight the dangers.

"Locally, this person has been on our radar for a few years," she told Express. "There's nothing we can do under the law and that is why we've gone public."

Ms Vidamour is urging anyone thinking of buying a puppy to do their homework first and make sure it comes from a respectable breeder. They are advised to visit the pup first, meet its mother and father and check it has a vet record before handing over any money.

Although the recommended age for a puppy to be re-homed is at least nine weeks, Ms Vidamour said dogs from one litter in Guernsey have been taken away from their mother as young as six weeks old.

"If you buy these puppies, what you are doing is making room for another litter which means the mother will have to go through it again. You need to see the puppy in its breeding environment and if you are not happy, you don't buy the puppy.

"Anywhere where you have to pay in cash and you're not home-checked, that owner doesn't care where that puppy is going.

"You should be prepared to go on a waiting list. A good healthy puppy would be worth waiting for.

"I always get 'oh but I saw them and I felt so sorry for it', but that is when you need to walk away otherwise it is just going to carry on all the time. If you provide a demand there will be a supply. If you suspect [the puppy has been farmed], don't go and look."

Pictured: Guernsey Animal Aid.

Dogs from puppy farms can often suffer from issues or illnesses later on in life, which become the responsibility of the new owner.

"There's lots of behavioural issues because the parents aren't right and the mother is drained emotionally and physically," explained Ms Vidamour. "I've had puppies locally who have been crawling with fleas and worms. I've had several dogs here from this person that have not fitted in with the home environment because they have issues."

Animal Aid is asking that people stop buying farmed puppies, so the trade can come to an end in Guernsey.

"It shouldn't be happening in such a small island," Ms Vidamour added. "There's Animal Aid, there's the GSPCA, there's the vet - if you want to buy a puppy just ask where to go.

"This person has got to be stopped."

Guernsey Animal Aid has not named the breeder.

Pictured top: File image.