Pet lovers duped by 'farmed' puppies
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Animal lovers are being duped into buying "farmed" dogs, a charity has warned. As many as 900,000 people may have bought a dog from a puppy farm without knowing it, Dogs Trust said.
In a recent survey of almost 900 dog owners carried out by the dog welfare charity, 95 per cent said they would not buy a dog from a puppy farm. But when asked where they had got their dog from, 15.1 per cent said they had got it through a newspaper ad, the internet, a pet shop or a pet superstore – all of which are often supplied by puppy farms, the charity said.
It branded the trade "battery farming of dogs" and called for a review of dog breeding licensing legislation. The charity said breeding bitches at battery farms are kept in small pens without natural daylight or contact with other dogs, have little contact with people and no space to exercise or opportunity to play, and are bred from continuously in these conditions until they are too old, and then discarded.
An animal from a puppy farm could have genetic or other health problems and behavioural problems, the charity said. Those who buy them can end up with huge vet bills, it warned.
The RSPCA said it shared the trust's concerns. A spokeswoman said: "Puppy farms don't have the dogs' health and welfare at heart. It's all about making a profit."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments