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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

in thinking my friend is being incredibly naive?

98 replies

ImNotYourGranny · 21/08/2019 12:02

My friend is very excited as she's getting her 2 new Westie pups this weekend. She's invited me over on Sunday to meet them. I love Westies and have 2 of my own.

She's just mentioned that they're coming from Spain. They were rescued after being dumped in bin. She has to pick them up from the airport on Saturday, having paid £300 for each of them. I looked like this when she told me.

It's a scam isn't it. How the fuck is someone flying 2 puppies in for £600. When I emigrated here (not UK) it cost over £3000 to have mine flown over and that was 10 years ago, and doesn't include the cost of vaccinations, pet passport, vet inspection etc. Plus who dumps valuable pedigree puppies in a bin?

She's either going to get poorly, smuggled puppies or they'll be held up at customs and she'll have to pay more to get them through, only to then find out they don't exist.

She thinks I'm being ridiculous.

OP posts:

TheKitchenWitch · 21/08/2019 16:03

I'm not in the UK, but know there are indeed a number of organisations that send dogs from Spain and Greece to other countries. Some come by car, some fly (usually with a pet sponsor - someone who agrees to "take" the pup on their ticket as they are flying anyway).
Our pup came from Spain. She was 7 months old. I have never in my life had a better, easier, lovelier dog. She was assessed by the resuce she was in over there, and then we had a home check by the partner organisation here. We did not meet her until pick up. But we also had to sign a contract with the usual rescue conditions - we have to let them know if we move, if we can't look after her any more we have to give her back to them (or rather they will rehome her). We had to pay a fee for her, which included transport costs and a donation to the rescue in Spain. And the contract also said we had to get her neutered (she hadn't been yet because she was too young - they recommend at 1 year).
I am still in touch with the woman in Spain who works in the rescue and drove over with her - everything she told me about our dog was exactly spot on, so I felt that they knew their dogs. I am also in touch with the woman from the organisation here in Germany too - she gets an update every Christmas :)
My point is, it isn't necessarily a scam at all.

maddy68 · 21/08/2019 16:08

My friend had some rescue pups from Romania. It was legit and they're really lovely

EmeraldShamrock · 21/08/2019 16:16

My cousin works for a dog rescue, they have recused lurchers and greyhounds from Egypt Lanzorote and Romanian.
I doubt they paid 1000's to fly them over.

NotSoThinLizzy · 23/08/2019 11:15

Did she get the puppies?

EmeraldShamrock · 23/08/2019 11:21

@ImNotYourGranny Any update.

SomeAfternoonDelight · 23/08/2019 11:27

It’s the age old scam... did she look on gumtree? Preloved pets? Pets4homes? 100% a scam. Let us know if it is not OP.

Oliversmumsarmy · 23/08/2019 12:40

SomeAfternoonDelight

The OP isn't in the UK also it is from a charity

MardyMavis · 23/08/2019 12:49

Westie? As you say further down a YORKIE" also these rescues that rescue from abroad tend not to have breeds as such they are normal mixed breeds quite different from dogs in the uk.

BenjiB · 23/08/2019 12:54

There are lots of Foreign rescues where the cost is around £300. My friend just got a Romanian rescue fir the Same amount.

Original poster

ImNotYourGranny · 23/08/2019 13:05

Westie? As you say further down a YORKIE" also these rescues that rescue from abroad tend not to have breeds as such they are normal mixed breeds quite different from dogs in the uk.

Definitely Westies. I got distracted by some Yorkie puppies while looking up how much terrier puppies cost if you buy them here.

No update yet. I won't be seeing her until Sunday.

OP posts:

Original poster

ImNotYourGranny · 23/08/2019 13:09

At least I think they were Westies. They looked like Westies to me, but I could be wrong.

OP posts:

hellenbackagen · 23/08/2019 13:20

I keep seeing stuff like this on fb - hope it works out for her .

tirednhungry247 · 23/08/2019 13:23

Keep us Pupdated

Sorry.. I had too

Original poster

ImNotYourGranny · 23/08/2019 13:25

OP posts:

GreatestShowUnicorn · 25/08/2019 21:38

Did they show up?

Pieceofpurplesky · 25/08/2019 22:04

Another one wondering if they appeared

Branleuse · 25/08/2019 22:06

My spanish dog was 250 so that doesn't sound too over the top to me.
She was driven though. I didnt know they could go on plane

Original poster

ImNotYourGranny · 25/08/2019 22:10

They appeared and are the cutest little things I've seen in a long time. I tried to sneak one into the car on the way home but my friend spotted him so I had to give him back.

They're not Westies though. Although friend still thinks they are. They're not white but a very pale brown/cream colour, but look white in photos. They also have quite long legs which makes me think they're going to be bigger than expected. I'd still pinch one though.

She found them through a Facebook post.

OP posts:

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 25/08/2019 22:16

Healthy and loved though I hope

PA wish my legs were longer than expected

Awaywiththefairies27 · 25/08/2019 22:18

Any chance they're Maltese? Mine have quite long legs and had apricot coloured ears at first before turning bright white.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 25/08/2019 22:32

I am mistified why someone would go to all the effort to import a dog too.

But in the case of these puppies - so it doesn't sound like they are pedigree? And I'm thinking they never came from Spain and probably never been outside whatever country you are in Granny

Could they be Puppy Mill un sellables that the owner has just decided to offload and spin a tail (tale) that they are Rescues ?

Branleuse · 25/08/2019 22:48

They sound lovely. I hope her and her pups are very happy

suzy2b · 25/08/2019 23:09

There are a couple around here that raise money for dogs to be brought over from cyprus my daughter has one she was home checked and payed £300 he was 4 months old came with his sister he had not been done my daughter had to do that

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