Category: Magazine

It is to become illegal for breeders to sell puppies under the age of eight weeks under a move by DEFRA to try and reduce the harm caused by puppy farmers.

Breeders who produce three or more litters on an annual basis will now have to apply for a formal dog breeder licence in a move announced by environment secretary Andrea Leadsom.

Small, so-called ‘part-time’ breeders and commercial breeders will now have to meet the same criteria and in a further move, people who sell pets via the Internet will be required to adhere to the same licencing regulations or face a possible six month prison sentence.

Speaking about the change in dog breeding law, Leadsom said:

“Everyone who owns a pet or is looking to introduce one into their life will want to know that the animal has had the very best start to life. Yet for thousands of puppies born each year to irresponsible breeders, from smaller operations to larger puppy farms, their first weeks are spent in cramped and squalid conditions without the care and attention they need.

“That is why we are cracking down on the worst offenders by strengthening the dog breeding licence and giving councils the power they need to take action.”

The Dogs Trust veterinary director, Paula Boyden welcome the news: “As the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust welcomes the government’s review of animal establishments licensing in England and the range of measures it sets out.

“We are particularly pleased that it will be illegal to sell a puppy below the age of eight weeks and that there will be tighter licensing rules which will require sellers of pets to display their licence when advertising.”

Kennel Club’s secretary, Caroline Kisko, said the change in law was a step in the right direction: “We are pleased that Defra will be taking forward proposals to ban the sale of puppies under the age of eight weeks by commercial third parties. We have called for a ban on third party sales, and refuse to register puppies being sold to third parties, but this new rule is a step in the right direction.

“We also welcome the requirement for pet sellers to provide written information about the animals they sell and for those who sell pets online to display their licence number.”

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home’s Claire Horton said: “It’s high time we put a stop to the many undercover backstreet breeders and large-scale puppy farmers that profit from their cruel treatment of these animals.

“No puppy should start its life in cramped, squalid surroundings, before being torn away from their mother at a few weeks old. So many owners buying their new pet would be horrified to know that this was indeed the case.

“Toughening the current dog breeding licensing rules and making it completely illegal to sell puppies younger than eight weeks old is a welcome first step and we now look forward to working with the government to see these plans be put into practice and progress further.”

Four people have been given suspended jail sentences for conspiring to defraud members of the public out of money as part of a major RSPCA investigation into the underground puppy trade.

Three women and one man were sentenced at Basildon Crown Court today (Wednesday 1 February) for their involvement in a puppy dealing ring, operating in Essex.

Teresa Wade (DoB: 4/5/59) of Ship Lane, Aveley, in Essex, was sentenced to a 21-month jail term suspended for two years, given a three-month curfew order and ordered to pay £500 in costs. She had previously pleaded guilty to one offence of conspiracy to commit fraud on 5 October, during a trial.

Victoria Montgomery (DoB: 5/12/61) of Melford Avenue, Barking, in London, also changed her plea to guilty part-way through the four-week trial. This week, she was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, and was also given a three-month curfew order and ordered to pay £500 in costs.

Her daughter, Roxanne Montgomery (DoB: 5/8/83) of Grafton Road, Dagenham, in London, and her partner Tony Hammond (DoB: 21/12/81), of Brunswick Court, Upminster, also in London, pleaded guilty to the same offence – of making false representations as to the condition of the puppies being sold, intending to make a gain – in July this year, before the trial began. They have each been sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, as well as ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work each and pay £500 each in costs.

The country’s oldest and largest animal welfare charity, the RSPCA, launched a large-scale investigation into the breeding and selling of puppies in Essex in 2014 following a number of calls from members of the public complaining about buying sick and dying puppies.

As part of the investigation, police and RSPCA officers visited four addresses in Essex, London and Hertfordshire, and dogs were discovered at properties in Aveley, Essex, and Barking, London.

Undercover investigations found that two houses were being used as front addresses to sell the dogs from, while they were transported there from a travellers’ site in Aveley.

RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, who led the investigation, said: “This gang operated in an organised and professional way to dupe unsuspecting members of the public out of money.

“They were using homes to sell the dogs from in order to con prospective puppy buyers into believing that they were getting dogs who had come from loving, family homes when, in fact, they were buying pets who had come from a puppy farm.

“The dogs were being intensively bred on a commercial scale at a travellers’ site in Aveley where they were kept alongside dozens of other dogs and animals. Then, when it came time to sell the puppies for hundreds of pounds each, they were moved to a staged home in order to dupe the public into believing they had been brought up there as part of the family.

“Our investigations also uncovered that some of the dogs were being imported from abroad, including some which we believe were coming from Welsh puppy farms.”

When the RSPCA and police executed a warrant at the travellers’ site – and the two front addresses – officers found 76 dogs and puppies, including poodles, cocker spaniels and some of the popular designer crossbreed types such as cavachons, cockerpoos and golden doodles.

The dogs were seized and placed into the RSPCA’s care and a number of pregnant bitches went on to have 27 puppies in the charity’s centres. Of the 103 dogs in total, four sadly died, but courts ordered for the remaining 99 dogs to be rehomed ahead of the court hearing.

Inspector Lamport added: “Thankfully, it was a happy ending for most of these dogs as they went on to find wonderful new homes with loving families who will put their health, happiness and welfare above all else.

“Sadly, the same can’t be said for the unscrupulous dealers out there who want to cash in on the many families who go on the hunt for a puppy and will do whatever it takes to make a quick buck.

“Even for those dogs and puppies that did survive and go on to loving new homes, the troubles are not over for the animals or their owners. Many needed intensive veterinary treatment for ongoing health problems and some will require behavioural help to get them over their fears and anxieties.”

A hearing is due to take place on a later date relating to animal welfare offences.

A 12-week-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier has been saved by emergency surgery thanks to vet charity PDSA, after swallowing something that would ordinarily be absolutely lethal. The lucky puppy has vets to thank that he’s alive today and his swallowing ‘accomplishment’ has resulted in one of the most astonishing x-rays ever seen.

An eight-inch knife is clearly visible in the tiny puppy’s body.

Owner Irene Paisley (46), from Glasgow, rushed puppy Macie to PDSA’s emergency out-of-hours vet service after the 12-week-old began choking:

“Macie was making a squeaking sound – I thought she’d swallowed part of a toy,” says Irene. “Then she was sick, but there was no sign of a toy and she started choking.”

Having lost her previous Staffie to cancer just two months earlier, Irene feared the worst.

“I was terrified. Poor Macie was still choking and, by the time we arrived at the vet’s, there was blood coming out of her nose. The loss of our previous dog was still very raw and the thought of losing Macie was devastating.”

The young puppy was admitted, and x-rays immediately revealed the severity of the situation. The knife handle had passed through Macie’s stomach and into her intestines, while the tip of the knife was still in her gullet. She underwent emergency surgery straight away to remove the knife while Irene, her partner and four children waited at home for news.

Irene added: “I couldn’t believe it when they said Macie had swallowed a knife. I have no idea where she got hold of it – she could have pinched it out of the dishwasher, but no-one saw what happened. None of us could sleep that night as we knew Macie might not survive.”

Happily, the operation was a success and the following morning Macie was transferred to the PDSA Pet Hospital in Shamrock Street, where her recovery began.

PDSA Vet, Emily Ronald, said: “I’ve never seen an x-ray like Macie’s. She was extremely lucky to survive. Her saving grace was that she swallowed the handle-end first – the blade-end would undoubtedly have pierced her organs, likely causing fatal injuries.

“The morning after surgery, she was bouncing all over the place as if nothing had happened. Macie has been back for frequent check-ups over the past two weeks and we’re pleased she’s recovering and healing well.”

Expressing her gratitude to PDSA, Irene said: “although she’s only young, Macie is already a big part of the family. She brings us so much joy and happiness, and means the world to the children. Without PDSA, she wouldn’t have recevied her life-saving treatment and wouldn’t be here today.”

Vet Emily added: “Macie is just one of the lucky pets to benefit from PDSA’s emergency service which has received generous funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Thanks to their support we’re able to provide thousands of life-saving treatments across the UK.”

As well as using their mouths to eat, dogs also use them to investigate objects. But can sometimes they can swallow an item by mistake. Known as ‘pica’, this behaviour can lead to dogs eating some very bizarre objects. Over the years, PDSA vets have removed everything from tent pegs and golf balls, to radio aerials and rubber ducks during surgery.