RSPCA BUYERS GUIDE

Thinking of getting a puppy? Make sure you know where your puppy comes from

Buying a puppy is not as simple as you may think. Sadly, not all puppy breeders and sellers are reputable

There is a dark side to the trade - puppy trafficking. This is where puppies are bred in large numbers for profit, often with little regard for animal welfare. Many puppies fall sick and some die

To avoid getting caught out by the puppy traffickers, here's some simple steps you can take:

• Always see a puppy with its mother
• You should always see a puppy with its mother in the place where the puppy was bred. Ideally you should see the father too, or at least a photo of him. If the breeder cannot show you the mother or father, you should be suspicious.
• Find out about the puppy's background
• Get as much information as possible about where the puppy has come from, and beware if the breeder is from outside the UK.
• Has the puppy REALLY been vaccinated?
• If you are told the puppy has been vaccinated, ask to see the vaccination card. Beware that vaccination cards are easy to fake - if the veterinary surgeon's contact details are not visible, or has an address from outside the UK, the card may be fake.
• Pedigree certificates are not a guarantee
• Bear in mind that pedigree certificates are not a guarantee for the condition of your puppy, and may not even mean you are being sold a pure-bred dog.
• Always see a puppy in the place it was bred
• Don't ever buy from someone who offers to deliver your puppy, or who arranges to meet you somewhere

Concerned about the welfare of a puppy?

• Never buy a puppy just because you feel sorry for it. If you are concerned about the health or welfare of a puppy, please contact the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty and advice line: 0300 1234 999

What to do if things go wrong

• If you are concerned about how you were sold the puppy, please contact Consumer Direct 08454 04 05 06 or the local authority responsible for the area you bought it from (details can be found in the phone book or on the internet). If you suspect the puppy may have come from abroad and does not have a Pet Passport it may be in contravention of UK anti-rabies legislation. Please contact either Trading Standards or Environmental health services at your local authority (depending on where you live). Alternatively you can report the matter to your nearest Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal Health Office

For more information about buying a puppy visit the RSPCA’s website http://www.rspca.org.uk/buyingapuppy