More than 1800 people have contacted Dog’s trust to rehome unwanted lockdown puppies

[AlternativePerspective]

And 1 in 4 people admitted they had impulse purchased a pet during lockdown.

how the fuck do we get the message home that a puppy isn’t a toy and that people should think twice three, ten times before rushing out and buying one.

And obviously the increased prices aren’t a deterrent, although those are about greed anyway, because these people are buying them for £££ and then selling them on for the same prices.

www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/pets/a35115185/hundreds-puppies-resold-abandoned/

@DeathValley69

I dont understand why people are outraged that puppies are expensive. The price has risen with demand but as a matter of principle, why shouldn’t they be expensive? They are living creatures that will be a part of your family for 10 plus years? Why should they be free or of minimal cost? I paid £2000 for mine which is cheaper than a summer holiday. To those who are saying they would never pay the newly increased prices; what if they never come down?

It depends who you're paying that £2k to though. There's people breeding dogs badly BECAUSE they go for £2k each. And stealing them for the £2k.

The price hike doesn't remove the ethical issue. It adds to it.

I’m sure some of the get rich quick BYB will just stop if the profits come down. Some of the prices are just crazy, I saw Lab “silver” puppies going for almost £5000 and it was £7000 if you wanted the rights to breed from them!

Yes - the high prices pups attract encourage irresponsible breeding and frequent litters, with no thought for the welfare of the bitch. To a certain type of person, a £20k payout for a litter is more important than the health of the bitch or her pups.

What bothers me as much is how the puppy breeders have been able to 'supply' so many puppies so quickly. Do they usually have an oversupply (what happens to the unwanted ones) or are they overbreeding their bitches to cash in

[quote chaosisaladder]@AlternativePerspective if I ever made it big or won the lottery, my job would be to look after a fuckload of dogs on a massive patch of land. What bliss. So sad to hear this. Dogs are heaven.[/quote]
This is also my dream....

To those who are saying they would never pay the newly increased prices; what if they never come down?

Honestly?

I'd live without a dog.

Paying ridiculous inflated prices for pups is what encourages unscrupulous breeders to breed bitches into the ground, and treat animals as though they were commodities rather than like the living, breathing, feelings entient creatures they are.

I saw Lab “silver” puppies going for almost £5000 and it was £7000 if you wanted the rights to breed from them!

I've seen a few "silver" labs, and I honestly don't think they are a natural lab colour. All of the ones I've seen look as though there has been Weimaraner added to the line to get the colour (it's more a sort of "dusty mink" than the clear weimaraner silver, too). I don't believe they are pure bred - I know many will argue the toss with me, but that's my own opinion.

Their faces aren't lab faces, especially the eyes, and they aren't the lab build (though admittedly working-type labs are taller and rangier than show-type), and don't have a lab gait.

If there are any lab owners on here who have an opinion (either way), I'd be interested to hear it. I'd be the first to confess that I don't know a massive amount about the breed.

This is heart breaking. I hate to see these poor creatures commoditised like this. They have feelings, they get very attached to families so imagine their distress at being moved on. Then there's the puppy farms, the unscrupulous breeders and the dog theft to help meet that demand ! Sadly our Jack Russell was PTS aged 15 in April and we do plan to find a rescue when this current situation has settled down.

@SchadenfreudePersonified

I saw Lab “silver” puppies going for almost £5000 and it was £7000 if you wanted the rights to breed from them!

I've seen a few "silver" labs, and I honestly don't think they are a natural lab colour. All of the ones I've seen look as though there has been Weimaraner added to the line to get the colour (it's more a sort of "dusty mink" than the clear weimaraner silver, too). I don't believe they are pure bred - I know many will argue the toss with me, but that's my own opinion.

Their faces aren't lab faces, especially the eyes, and they aren't the lab build (though admittedly working-type labs are taller and rangier than show-type), and don't have a lab gait.

If there are any lab owners on here who have an opinion (either way), I'd be interested to hear it. I'd be the first to confess that I don't know a massive amount about the breed.

I agree. There's one local to me and he is clearly a Weimaraner cross. My friend a life long Weimaraner owner agrees with me.

A hell of a lot of people saying this doesn't ring true to their areas and gumtree, pets4homes, rescue pages etc have no dogs of this age group available.

One poster claimed there were thousands of 8-12 month old dogs available on pets4home in her area but didn't post a link or provide any evidence (unsurprisingly as that is patent bullshit).

I do think people need to remember that rescues are business's too and have been ramping up their adoption prices and, as is always demonstrated on these posts, setting criteria for adopters that is near impossible to meet.

I've been involved in rescue overseas where there is definite immediate need for dogs to be taken in and a flexibility between permanent, foster, bridging etc to ensure dogs survive and aren't ruined by spending time stuck in eg. a kennel and we have made sure that dogs are neutered, immunised etc without requiring £500 from a prospective adopter.

It always gets justified and glossed over on here but requiring ridiculously high standards for potential adopters eg. dog never being left alone therefore never working outside the home, no children, no other pets, large garden, high fences etc etc makes rescuing extremely difficult which feeds into breeder demand.

One poster claimed there were thousands of 8-12 month old dogs available on pets4home in her area but didn't post a link or provide any evidence (unsurprisingly as that is patent bullshit).

P4H's search parameters start at 4 months, so unless you go through all the adverts individually, it's impossible to get the stats for 8 - 12 months.

Just looked and there are about 200 dogs at 4+ months if I put in my town - the search seems to extend to a 30 mile radius. Obviously I won't out myself by saying where I live.

Lots of 'due to work commitments' 'cannot give him the attention he deserves' 'Having a baby and no longer have time for her' and the catch all 'change in circumstances'.

These people still expect upwards of £1500 for a dog that's quite possibly been poorly trained and socialised, if not suffered worse damage.

In my area there is someone with a litter of four puppies at £5000 each. £20,000. Just unbelievable really.

This is just so sad. If I didn’t have 2 insane cats I’d definitely adopt a woofer... or two.

I would like to ask a question of the dog experts I know are on here.

I've always had cats but didn't get another after my last cat died because I'm in my 70s and didn't want to leave a cat without a home if I died.

I also love dogs but I'm physically disabled and couldn't take them for long walks. However, I was wondering if I could get round that problem by taking them for a walk with me on my mobility scooter, obviously at a slow pace? I also have a good sized garden for them to play in.

If you think this is viable, I was wondering if I would be suitable to foster a dog until it was ready to find a proper home?

I think these people who buy dogs and then dump them on rescue centres are neanderthals and should never be allowed to own another pet.

Crankley I've no experience with walking a dog using a mobility scooter, but I wondered if you had considered adopting an elderly cat? They are often difficult to home. I believe some rescues have a scheme where there is help with vets bills for age-related conditions. Here's hoping you live a good while yet, but the older your cat the less likely you are to die before him or her.

crankley one of my old neighbours (as in where we lived) used to take his little dog out on his scooter. We did have a nice walk locally though that was mainly off road.

Puppy mills are a serious problem, but I am a little ? that people imagine that the KC isn't commoditizing dogs. Their attitude to breeding - the whole concept of it - is what has created the genetic problems that mean so much testing is necessary. That has in turn driven up the prices of dogs. Their insistence that only purebred dogs are responsibly bred has also had that effect. They have really restricted the market - what happens when you restrict a market - prices go up.

And then the breeding is driven by what wins in the shows, supposedly according to the breed standard but often with little regard to canine health - if that is not commoditisation I don't know what is. It's actually completely gross. The KC has ruined any number of dog breeds, the pug being chief among them.

This is a huge reason that crosses have become more popular - people are trying to avoid the health issues of breeds like the pug or cocker spaniel.

Rescues mean well, but in the end they are part of the whole edifice of the dog market. They allow people who would feel guilty buying from a breeder to get a dog.

Crankley I've seen many people out and about on mobility scooters walking their dogs.

Someone I used to know had a small dog who would sit on the foot area of her scooter to hitch a ride when they were out. They'd come to the park for the dog to play and then the dog would jump on for the ride home.

So yes, it's definitely doable. The only thing is the dog would have to be comfortable with it. Some dogs can be a bit nervous around things like mobility scooters, especially if they haven't had much to do with them or been socialised to accept them.

Certainly worthwhile approaching rescues though, and asking them if it's something they could see working with any of their dogs.

This is so awful. I'd love a dog, my DC would love a dog. I've told them time and again that we cannot commit to a dog right now.

I grew up with dogs and cats. I have 2 cats now and they are perfect for us. So loved, so well looked after.

I hope to get a dog when I retire. That's the first time I can imagine giving a dog what it needs.

Only 25 years to go...

It's bad that in this time of climate emergency people are getting puppies at all. They have a very high carbon footprint, as do all carnivorous pets.
With the notable exception of assistance dogs, puppies are a luxury the planet cannot afford.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2017/8/4/16094674/cats-dogs-meat-diet-greenhouse-gases-climate-change

These people probably have children on the same basis- only can't get rid of them to the Dog's Trust as soon as they tire of them.

This is more than sad, but hopefully those pups might now be rehomed with people who understand that they're not toys :-(

I agree @OwlWearingGlasses that's why it's important (to me) to get a rescue. So an animal that already exists IYSWIM rather than buying brand new and creating a demand.

Every pet I've ever had has been a rescue. I miss my Heinz57 dog so much. I know all dogs are good but he was the best! My Dad picked him as he was the next dog due to be destroyed and he gave us years of love.

When he got really old I used to carry his back legs up to my bedroom (his front legs were better) so that I could have a wee lie in (I was a teenager) at the weekend. Somehow, even though he couldn't climb the stairs easily, he'd end up on my bed with me. He was a big dog. Lots of Alsatian in him I think.

It's been over 20 years and I can feel myself getting all teary-eyed over my good boy.

Thanks for your advice re walking a dog with mobility scooter. I guess it depends on whether the dog would accept that or not. I need to think further.

Somewhatbored I have thought recently about giving a home to an elderly cat. Will investigate further.

@Crankley

I would like to ask a question of the dog experts I know are on here.

I've always had cats but didn't get another after my last cat died because I'm in my 70s and didn't want to leave a cat without a home if I died.

I also love dogs but I'm physically disabled and couldn't take them for long walks. However, I was wondering if I could get round that problem by taking them for a walk with me on my mobility scooter, obviously at a slow pace? I also have a good sized garden for them to play in.

If you think this is viable, I was wondering if I would be suitable to foster a dog until it was ready to find a proper home?

I think these people who buy dogs and then dump them on rescue centres are neanderthals and should never be allowed to own another pet.

There are three people on mobility scooters who use a popular dog walking area near me.

One has a smallish dog (sheltie) which sits on her knee while she's in the streets travelling to the walk, then she lets him down - she keeps him on a flexi lead, but I'm fairly sure that that's because he's a show dog, and worth a LOT of money.

The other two are both men. One has 3 border collies and walks them between the park and his home on leash, then lets them off when he gets there; the other has a big cross-breed - american bulldog type. Again walks him down on a leash and lets the dog off at the park.

None of them seem to have any problems. These are all adult dogs and other than the sheltie (I've known that particular lady for 40-odd years, so I know she's been walking him this way since he was a young pup) may have been grown-up, well-trained dogs before the owners became reliant on scooters.

In theory, I can't see a problem as long as your dog has a good recall, and is well-socialised.