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Please help - I've accidentally acquired a puppy of dubious provenance

66 replies

Puppyhalp · 09/09/2020 00:01

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 Sad. 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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hilariousnamehere · 09/09/2020 00:07

I have no practical advice but in your position I'd have done exactly the same thing. I'd say ring vet and change appt to check over the pup - cat will be delighted to be off the hook if he's anything like mine! Good luck x

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Thesuzle · 09/09/2020 00:12

Oh my good god.
Report the breeder.
Buy very very good pet insurance before you take it to the vet (leave some time in between)
So the pup needs further jabs before you can take it out and about, what age is it, do you believe the breeder

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Floralnomad · 09/09/2020 00:13

I doubt it’s worth reporting to anyone and I think the first thing to do is get insurance ASAP just in case , I hope your mum likes him .

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RunningFromInsanity · 09/09/2020 00:14

So vet checked needed first, and some wormer asap. Ask them to check microchip too.
Did the breeder say anything about vaccinations? Best get them booked in too.

Then get the basic puppy stuff- crate, bed, collar lead, food - did the breeder say what food he was on, best not to change it too quickly as that will make the D+ worse,

I would report breeder to the licensing department of the Council as they should have a license.

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Puppyhalp · 09/09/2020 00:21

I'll get insurance. The breeder said he was born on the 5th of July so should be 9 weeks. He may be that old, I'm not sure. He's not had any jabs, so needs those asap. She said he was on PetsAtHome wet puppy food but they were shut so had to make do with Tesco's offering - I've got some grain free Harrington's puppy food. He seemed to like it, particularly the peas Hmm, but I'll pop to PetsAtHome in the morning. Luckily I'm off work tomorrow. Ffs. And I'll have to somehow hide him from the DC in the morning until they go to school so they don't absolutely terrify him with excitement/ have their hearts broken when I say he's going to Granny and not staying. ARGH.

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fivedogstofeed · 09/09/2020 07:23

They have sold you a puopy without a microchip which is illegal.

The number of litters you can breed per year without a licence varies between councils - you will need to check this locally.

There's also a chance they are not the actual 'breeder' but dealers for puppies from dodgy sources.

Your puppy needs to be treated for parasites urgently by a vet.

The Cariad Campaign provides a full list of agencies to report to. HMRC is my personal favourite.

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SJaneS48 · 09/09/2020 07:29

Hi @Puppyhalp, having been in your exact situation sending you sympathy. We ended up purchasing a puppy from what most definitely was a puppy farm - basically it felt like we were rescuing her from a horrible situation (and sounds like how you felt as well!). Similarly, she’d had no injections for dubious reasons and four days into having her was vomiting up large quantities of worms.

Four years down the line we absolutely love her and I wouldn’t be without her (though she’s definitely not a cockapoo!). I would definitely get the puppy to the vet this morning - I appreciate it’s an additional expense but our dog was really ill with worms when she was small. She has IBD - no idea if that’s related to her poor start in life (she and her sister were in a pen in a caravan away from their Mum & stank to high heaven).

I didn’t report the ‘breeder’ but wish we had. I’d look at the kennel club website and RSPCA for guidance and I’d definitely report it! Basically this just shouldn’t be happening! It is incredibly hard once you fall in love with a pup though just to leave them somewhere awful!

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Estrellente · 09/09/2020 07:33

Take him to the vet this morning and get their advice re reporting.

Poor Mum-dog.

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daisydotandgertie · 09/09/2020 07:50

Vets immediately to check him for Parvo and other nasties. Take him instead of the cat.

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GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 09/09/2020 08:01

Insurance
The vet
HMRC
The local council
In more or less that order.

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orangejuicer · 09/09/2020 08:04

Great advice above.

Can we have a photo please? Blush

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Puppyhalp · 09/09/2020 09:08

Thank you so much for all the advice. We're heading to vets shortly - the cat was very offended by puppy's presence and is sitting on top of the kitchen cupboards glaring at everyone, so saves coaxing him down only to add insult to injury by taking him to the vet. He's had a peace offering of Dreamies and tuna and I'm leaving him to it. Abjectly failed to hide puppy from DC as they came down to find me and pup asleep on the sofa - luckily they were very good with him, and totally accepted we're just looking after him for Granny. I don't have a very good picture because he mostly won't stop moving, but here he is last night once he'd finally decided DH wasn't too scary to sleep on.

Please help - I've accidentally acquired a puppy of dubious provenance
OP posts:
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fivedogstofeed · 09/09/2020 09:17

What breed / mix did they say he was @Puppyhalp?

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SJaneS48 · 09/09/2020 09:20

Let us know how you get on!

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Puppyhalp · 09/09/2020 09:25

Supposedly dad is a poodle/ border terrier cross. And mum was supposed to be a JRT but looked like no jack russell I've ever seen...

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HowFastIsTooFast · 09/09/2020 09:25

Oh look at him! 😍

Good luck at the Vets today OP and please, please report the bastards who sold him to you x

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fivedogstofeed · 09/09/2020 09:29

Gosh. Tiny.Sad

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LaurieFairyCake · 09/09/2020 09:29

I'm worried that puppy is younger - looks 5/6 weeks to me

Good luck at the vet. I would have done exactly the same thing.

(And be plotting to go back in the dead of night and steal the parents as it sounds so shit)

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NoMoreMrNiceGaius · 09/09/2020 11:38

There is no way that that puppy is 9 weeks old Sad

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Sitdowncupoftea · 09/09/2020 13:26

You need to report them. Keep reporting until something is done.

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SJaneS48 · 09/09/2020 13:29

How did you get on with the vet @Puppyhalp? Have been thinking about you this morning and hope all is well and that it’s just a case of new food/new home stress causing the diarrhoea.

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shesgonebatshitagain · 09/09/2020 13:34

He is lovely but doesn’t look anything like nine weeks old bless him

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magicstar1 · 09/09/2020 13:42

Please report them. We just got a rescue German Shepherd. She’s been used for breeding for a few years until the dog warden managed to get her. She was in an awful state....it’s a horrible life for the poor mothers.

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vanillandhoney · 09/09/2020 14:07

How did you get on?

I agree with others that he looks far, far too young to be away from his mum - poor mite. He looks about six weeks old!

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RandomMess · 09/09/2020 14:11

Sad

But such cuteness.

I hope he is ok.

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