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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to be massively panicking about a pup I bought yesterday? European passport

364 replies

Ohforgodsake000 · 04/11/2017 19:44

Very stupidly bought a dog yesterday who came with a pet passport issued in Latvia.
All vaccines were stamped in the book and micro chipping also in there.
Thought nothing Of it until I mentioned to a police friend who said this is one of the biggest scams going and he probably doesn't have any vaccines including rabies and threadworm which he could now transfer to my kids.
I feel sick with worry.
What a stupid idiot I am.
No vets will see him as he's not yet registered and its now emergencies only.

OP posts:
ThePinkOcelot · 05/11/2017 10:10

This might be a really stupid question, but why didn’t you buy him from a breeder here? Not being goady, genuine question.

WandaWitch · 05/11/2017 10:12

Oh my!!! He is absolutely gorgeous!!!

DragonBone · 05/11/2017 10:12

Personally I would not have bought from Europe .... there are many reputable assured kennel club breeders of English Bulldogs.

How old is the pup ?

Get pup booked in for a thorough health check tomorrow - microchip scan and the veg may even suggest restarting the vaccination programme.

If you don't know when pup was last wormed then no doubt vet will want to do that to.

Get some insurance if u can.

PinkyBlunder · 05/11/2017 10:17

The fact he's a bulldog and you got him from preloved website does raise many red flags.

Sorry.

whatalifethisis · 05/11/2017 10:26

Angelica yes we still have our first dog. His 'mum' still keeps in touch with us. He is absolutely adorable but maybe we were lucky.

isthismummy · 05/11/2017 10:28

Expensive, mega fashionable breed bought from Pre Loved? It's not good OP. You do realise that these poor dogs are nothing more than breathing, walking cash machines to the people who produce them don't you? I honestly don't know how in the age of the internet people still can't be arsed to do their research properly before getting a dog!

For safety's sake I would assume that everything the buck making, puppy farming bastards you bought him from told you was a lie and go from there.

Original poster
Ohforgodsake000 · 05/11/2017 10:28

Why is the fact he's a bulldog make this worse?
It wasn't that I was purposely looking for a cheaper dog, he was the same price almost as an English bred one.
I just didn't think it was an issue as he had the passport with microchip and vaccines, I honestly didn't.

OP posts:
SilverSpot · 05/11/2017 10:31

The dog was bought from preloved

My god. I dispair at how fucking stupid people are when getting a pet. Research? Naaaaaah fuck it, I’ll just get the cute e wute wittle puppy wuppy from an Eastern European puppy farm cos I’m too lazy to care about the health of my pup

SilentlyScreamingAgain · 05/11/2017 10:32

Why is the fact he's a bulldog make this worse?

Because they are hideously deformed, inbred creatures, doomed to a short life of ill health.

SilverSpot · 05/11/2017 10:33

Why is the fact he's a bulldog make this worse?

Seriously?

Because they are an ultra fashionable expensive breed at the moment so there is shit loads of proft in churning out unhealthy pups with scant regard for the mother’s health.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 05/11/2017 10:35

OP, chill !
Wait until tomorrow morning, when you have a consultation, with someone in the know.
You already have a post upthread from @DanceswithWarthogs, who is a vet !
Your pup is gorgeous. 😄

isthismummy · 05/11/2017 10:37

You can't buy an ethically bred and reared puppy from Gumtree. It is a haven for puppy farmers and heartless bastards just looking to make a quick buck.

That dogs mother will be currently living a miserable existence somewhere being bred over and over until she is worn out. Then they'll probably kill her or dump her on a roadside once they can't squeeze anymore puppies out of her. Do you not think that's a problem OP?

Bulldogs are absolutely riddled with health problems. Has your pup had all the appropriate health checks for his breed? Because I'm sure you throughly looked into the health issues around Bulldogs before you parted with your mega bucks?

I'm sorry to be harsh OP. Threads like this make me fucking despair though. Ignorance is what keeps these despicable bastards doing what they doAngry

Original poster
Ohforgodsake000 · 05/11/2017 10:40

Well for us it was nothing to do with a fashion statement of any kind, we've had Bulldogs in the family for years and now that the children are grown up in teens we figured it was a good time to get one.
We weren't trying to get one cheaper, he was £1800 which for a pup of 5 months seems average across even KC sites.
I accept I've been very stupid, I'm too old to describe myself as naive so this is the only word that fits.
Mother in law is a veterinary surgeon so is coming over to see him shortly.
Feel awful, I will report to trading standards like DEFFRA asked me too although I'm struggling to understand why they were happy to let us go to their home to purchase him knowing we now have their address.
Maybe they just don't care.

OP posts:
Laiste · 05/11/2017 10:40

So you did look into the price of an English bred bulldog?

And then chose ''Pre-loved''. From Latvia.

This link gives an interesting read about problems specific to the breed and why it's parentage is important.

iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/spring07/Coates/problems.html

viques · 05/11/2017 10:41

why is the fact that he is a bulldog make this worse

Why? Because a bare two minutes research into Bulldog health would have given you the information that because of their overbreeding Bulldogs are prone to more diseases, illnesses, painful congenital conditions and health problems than almost any other breed. even 'good' breeders have to be careful that the dogs they are using to breed from do not carry genetic faults. I very much doubt that in it for the money breeders from Latvia bother to make such checks. they know that the conditions will only become apparent months down the line by which time they will be long gone . They breed the bitches to death from any entire male dog that it handy.

Two minutes research, that's all it would have taken you. Not long really to ensure the well being of an animal you are planning to spend the next 12 or 12 years with.

I really fail to understand why the importation of dogs is allowed in this way, we have enough issues in the UK with home grown puppy farmers without supporting European puppy scammers as well.

You say the pup has a red eye. try googling cherry eye, one of the many conditions Bulldogs are prone to fortunately treatable. Poor puppy.

Original poster
Ohforgodsake000 · 05/11/2017 10:42

I'm very aware of the health issues Bulldogs can face, we've had them all through my childhood.
I just wasn't aware of illegal importation.

OP posts:
Laiste · 05/11/2017 10:43

Your mother in law is a veterinary surgeon?

Gingernaut · 05/11/2017 10:43

The mother had to be cut open to have her puppies. God knows if she's still alive now. Angry Sad

LakieLady · 05/11/2017 10:43

I think the day has come when it should be illegal to own a dog unless you have passed a course proving that you know how to choose one, how best to buy or rehome one, how to look after one and how to train one.

Anyone who owns a dog without the appropriate training would be fined 5 times the course fee and be ... I don't know, forced to do community service at an animal rescue or something.

Some people are just too stupid to be allowed to own a pet any more complex than a goldfish, and I have my doubts about the goldfish in some cases.

SilentlyScreamingAgain · 05/11/2017 10:44

The one thing you can be fairly sure of with an Easton Europena bred British Bulldog is that the mother won't be living in awful conditions now. They are so badly bred that giving birth is impossible for them, so they are given DIY c-sections by breeders with no medical knowledge and no painkillers and then left to die.

viques · 05/11/2017 10:44

mother in law is a vet

And you didn't think to call her? Or perhaps she is not a very good vet and doesn't see a problem with importing dogs with possible health issue and diseases into the country?

Original poster
Ohforgodsake000 · 05/11/2017 10:44

I'm aware of the cherry eye condition.
This doesn't mirror that as no swollen lump, but it is slightly red.
MIL will bring an eye solution in case it's conjunctivitis from pets at home on her route and we've already done the flea and worming treatment.
I'm sorry to those I've upset with this thread.

OP posts:
isthismummy · 05/11/2017 10:46

Oh my God SilentlyScreamingAgain

That is heartbreaking. Jesus weptSad

Laiste · 05/11/2017 10:46

So you've paid what you knew was the average price for a puppy from a reputable breeder - and chosen one from a web site.

You know all about bull dogs and their health probs. and you're MIL is a vet. But you bought a puppy from a web site.

I cannot get my head around this. You're brave to post this OP i must say!

Did you get shown the supposed parents of this puppy? Or anything like that?

Wolfiefan · 05/11/2017 10:48

You bought a pup off preloved.
I doubt they really did live there.
The dog is 5 months. You have no idea if and how it has been socialised.
It may not be vaccinated.
It certainly hasn't come from a reputable breeder.
I hope you have good insurance. This could all end very badly. Sad