I've namechanged as I'm fully prepared to be flamed, but tonight I accidentally bought a puppy. Essentially - my mum lost her old dog a couple of years ago and has been going round the houses about getting a new dog ever since. What breed, maybe now, maybe not now, maybe rescue an older dog, maybe a puppy etc etc. She's really missing having one but basically can't make a decision. Anyway I was talking about this at work the other day (apropos of someone else telling us about their new dog) and an acquaintance mentioned that her cousin's dog had had a litter and they were ready to go, right sort of size, heinz varieties but a mix of nice breeds. So I arranged to go to look at them this evening, with the idea that if I thought they looked promising I'd tell DM about them and she could think about it and go and look at them.
So anyway I pitched up tonight and 'them' turned out to be one solitary puppy, the others have all gone. And the place I'm reasonably sure was a very domestically-scaled puppy farm . I did see his mum with him but they were mostly being kept separate for weaning. I was genuinely shocked as work acquaintance made it sound like a family pet having a one-off litter before spaying. But maybe that's what she thought too. In any case I'm sure that wasn't the situation. I know I should have walked away and reported to whoever - is there even anyone I can report to? The other dogs didn't look in awful condition or anything, just clearly being used for breeding - but I couldn't bear to leave him there. He was all grubby and was on his own in a little pen with giant biscuits too big for him. So I forked out several hundred pounds and brought him home, via a trip to the supermarket for puppy food. He's currently snoozing on my legs. I'm fairly sure he's got worms - the 'breeder' said he'd been wormed but his belly's very distended and he's had two lots of diarrhoea (though maybe just different food?) and I think he's limping on his left back foot. He's very friendly with me (after initial wariness) though he was notably scared of DH's voice and wouldn't go anywhere near him until he'd sat quietly on the rug for about 15 minutes.
I don't know what to do - should I report the breeder to somebody? And what should I do about the puppy?! We have a vet for our cat and I'm actually taking him in the morning because he's due his annual check - shall I take the puppy instead and beg them to do an initial check-up? Or should I try to call someone tonight? He seems mostly well in himself but I'm worried about the diarrhoea. In terms of homing him I'm 90% sure my mum will have him, and if not he can stay with us - we were planning on getting a dog (though not a puppy 😑) this year, and are shift workers so someone's home all the time.
I'm just in a massive flap and furious with myself for ending up in this situation and for funding a puppy farmer. And resigning myself to a night on the sofa with one eye open. Also the cat is NOT going to be pleased when he gets in from his night-time prowl...
Halp.
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The doghouse
Please help - I've accidentally acquired a puppy of dubious provenance
66 replies
Puppyhalp · 09/09/2020 00:01
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