Newborn puppy been sold to friend

[Foxgloves123]

Aibu to ask her why she has just bought a puppy this young?! This is a friend on Facebook (a person I used to know well but now we just keep in touch occasionally). The puppy looks like it’s still blind and it’s absolutely tiny. Being held in pics by her toddler.

I believe it’s the law to not allow a puppy home until 8 weeks? Or at the very least 6 weeks if weaned from the mum. I don’t know the circumstances of why they have this puppy so young (I.e it is possible the mother dog may have died for all I know) but it seems they have obtained this puppy by a very irresponsible breeder?

I don’t want to be nosey but as a dog owner I did my research and would never have bought a puppy from a breeder who let it go so small

My son took on a rescue puppy at 5 weeks after the mum had died unexpectedly. It was hard work! We worked with the rescue organisation and the vets and she made it and is now almost 8 and fabulous. But no way should they be willingly taken from mum that young as you're fighting against the odds

Speak up I agree. That's a terrible thing to do to a mother and pup. I hope it's mother is ok too.

What's with the "none of your business" replies? If animal welfare is nobody else's business what else does that extend to? Domestic abuse? Child safeguarding?

If the puppy really is this young and has been sold to the friend then yes, it is the OP's business. As others have said even if the mother has died or rejected the pups and they are being hand reared it is better for the litter to be kept together. In the extreme scenario where only this one pup survived it would still not be ok to sell it for someone with zero experience to hand rear.

It's hard to tell without seeing the photo or knowing what breed the dog is. Are you sure it's not just a very small breed and/or has its eyes closed in the picture? Has she said where she got it from?

I suppose if the pictures are in her house, it's possible that the breeder has brought it round to show her before it actually comes to live with her, but that would also be really worrying - if you're reserving a tiny pup in advance, you should always be going to the breeder and seeing the pup with its mother and the rest of the litter in situ, no exceptions.

It does sound from what you've said that something isn't right, but I think you might need to ask some gentle questions about how old the pup is (or how old she's been told it is...) and where she got it from. Having said that, if she's been told that a newborn puppy is eight weeks old, the vet will certainly put her straight on that the moment she takes it for its vaccinations.

I guess now that she has the puppy, the damage will have already been done, but at least she might be able to make some attempt at looking after it in a more appropriate way. Although if it really is newborn, that would probably mean hand-rearing the poor thing at the very least, which is not a job for someone who doesn't know what they're doing. If it had been rejected by its mother, any proper breeder would have done that until it was ready for a new home.

Even six weeks would be much too young. Eight weeks minimum, and a decent breeder would probably say 12.

We need more regulations regarding dog ownership. I’d like to see all dogs on a DNA database and a lot more controls and advice.

It could be done by a private company and funded by dog owners to make sure it doesn’t cost the govt. A fee payable upon acquisition of dog and then an annual fee. With fee exemptions for the 10% least well off owners.

There are lots of reasons why this happens: if the mother rejects the puppy, if the mother is infectiously ill, if the mother dies, if the puppies were abandoned or stolen and the mother can't be located when they're found, etc. Where do people think puppies go in these circumstances?

If you're concerned, contact Dog's Trust (not the RSPCA) and speak to them.

It's illegal to sell/buy a puppy under 8 weeks of age. So like you, I'd be very concerned for its welfare. Unless it's just a very small breed and may look younger. How about just dropping her a call or message to effect of "Hey, I see you have a new puppy. It looks tiny though - is it 8 weeks old?"

In those cases, the breeder would hand-rear the pups to 8 weeks, not sell them immediately. Hand rearing isn't easy and not for the inexperienced.

Yes it’s very strange. I would expect the breeder to do any hand-rearing if necessary. It should be with its litter mates even if mum has sadly passed away.

If the puppy still has eyes closed it's probably no more than 2 weeks old! I'd definitely ask some questions if I noticed.

Honestly I would judge all over the place about this and not feel remotely bad about it. It's animal cruelty if this has happened as it appears and I wouldn't "mind my own business". However I would investigate a bit first, just to make sure that there wasn't an explanation for what this looks like.

I think you need to speak to her to find out the gae and why they have it so young and then find out if they are set up to rear it.

Please report to the RSPCA.

Let them deal with why she has it.

You definitely need to say something. Like others said, without proper care it's very likely the puppy will die. I find it hard to believe anyone could lack common sense to the point of thinking its fine to take a newborn puppy home, even if you don't know about dogs! But yes, start the conversation politely and if she really does have no idea you need to tell her to hand the puppy over to the PDSA or a rescue who can hand rear it properly, and report the breeder who sold it.

I'd find out from her how old the puppy is and if it is under 8 weeks then more questions need to be asked because as PPs have said without proper care, the puppy won't survive.

I've never had an adequate response when I've contacted the RSPCA or any response at all, if I'm honest. They might be more interested if it's about a puppy farm. Try them, but don't expect too much.

If your friend knows someone who works at a vets she might have been asked to look after or take home a v young puppy who doesn't have a mum and needs round the clock feeding.

I don't know why all these commenters are jumping to the worst case scenario – my friend who was a veterinary nurse was always taking tiny kittens/puppies home to bottle feed and look after (and asking others to help out). You can even become a fosterer for tiny puppies/kittens with certain charities.

Either way - start by commenting on how young/tiny it is and see what she says, don't jump to conclusions straight away.

This. Please follow up, OP.

I imagine if this was the scenario the OP would be aware that this is something the person does regularly. As others, myself included, pointed out, it's something you need experience in.

I would ask for the breeders information, under the guise of wanting to buy a puppy myself, and report the breeder to the RSPCA, the council (who issue dog breeding licenses), trading standards and the HMRC (because I doubt they are paying tax on their profits). puppycontract.org.uk/puppy-buyer/puppy-breeding-laws

You can also report them here: www.four-paws.org.uk/campaigns-topics/topics/companion-animals/report-illegal-puppy-traders

I would take screenshots of this persons Facebook page, as evidence, and include it with the reports that I make. Thanks for caring.

The wee pup might need someone to step in. You can be that person.

But there’s always going to be a first time?
my friend hand tears kittens for a charity despite never owning a cat before this.

i think op if you’re gunna speak to her do it face to face, not Over message. Or report to RSPCA.

if someone I barely spoke to messaged me and said ‘hi is your puppy 8 weeks old?’ I’d ignore.

You don't have to be confrontational. Just post a facebook comment or send her a message along the lines of "Oh my goodness what a young puppy. What happened to its mum? I can't imagine caring for such a tiny animal - it's like a newborn human I suppose - imagine some sleepless nights are ahead!" Makes it clear its too young to be with her in normal circumstances without accusing her/ breeder of anything.

I'd say ask out of interest in a nice way.
I had a friend who was in the process of buying a puppy from a puppy farm in eastern europe. It was only when I said not to do that that she realised it was a seriously bad practice! They might just not know