To need a rant? Buying a dog for child’s birthday

[ralieghnc]

7 years ago mum, naively, was spurned by a puppy farmer. You can look them up Kottage Kennels, though be warned, the pictures are horrible. Word locally in the dog community (DP has a standard poodle from a responsible breeder, and is involved with the community) is that he’s moved on from the Kottage Kennels brand and works from somewhere unknown, but a lot of the Pets4Homes listings in the area are apparently from him.

He’s likely part of a large betwork these days, using fake family homes as fronts. The front for my mums puppy was that it was apparently bred by two happy, healthy working Spaniel dogs on a farm. Turns out, the puppy farmer had borrowed a real farmhouse with land, had taken mum and pups there, and another male dog, and made it appear like they all lived there (for the sake of selling the pups), and not in a delapidated barn by the motorway. Her Spaniel puppy, (believed to be 8 weeks), died 5 days after coming home. It suddenly let out and agonising scream, had a fit, and dropped dead. It suffered. My mum had bought the puppy as a comfort after losing my dad, and having an incredibly tough time, and this incident left her absolutely traumatised.

She immediately rushed the dead puppy to a vet for answers. So many issues I can’t even list, but had a huge, swollen, painful looking belly from worms and a very excessive amount of eye discharge. It was also only 4 weeks old. My mum chose not to do autopsy.

On Sunday, on Facebook, a family friend posted a video of her kid receiving a puppy for their birthday. It’s an upsetting video. Puppy is in a box in the front garden (in these temperatures ffs!!!!), with paper over it, and they spend 5 minutes in their toasty living room playing a game with the kid (to guess the present) whilst the fucking dog freezes outside. Kid eventually clocks it’s a puppy, and runs outside screeching at the top of their lungs, yanks the pup out of the box, and then proceed to bicker with their siblings about holding it.

I was already incensed, but it gets worse. Later on they posted more pics and I recognise the distended belly as a worm belly, and it is no way an 8 week old pup. It’s a Sheepadoodle apparently.

I have messaged her, but she hasn’t seen it yet. I haven’t told her my true thoughts, because I expect I’d be blocked and not listened to, I’ve just said “His belly looks wormy” and framed it as friendly advice. I cannot believe the fucking stupidity. I don’t know for sure if it’s the same people my mum got her dog from but that doesn’t make a difference tbf. In 2016 I admit even I hadn’t heard of puppy farming, and my mum certainly hadn’t, but it’s 2022 now and there’s been lots of press on it and high profile incidents. There’s no excuse!

That is so sad. I would say there are good breeders though. We got our lab off someone who works as a gamekeeper with dogs and breeds them. Obviously needs a lot of time and energy but she has a lovely temperament and is in great health. Never needed anything done at vet beyond standard checks, worming, flea treatments etc

@FriedEggChocolate don't know UK but i do know Ireland that some charities do rescues a puppy to homes with children. I know others don't as they have had people return dogs (some after a few years some after a few months) One in particular makes you do classes to integrate your and the family into the puppy life. There are rescues out there taht will home to people with children , -people just need to research and educate more. A dog is like getting another child i always say. If you cant cope with that then don't get one.

I have cats but there is no way i would ever buy a pedigree dog or cat.
I always have moggies, most of whom have made it to 20 and when I retire I'll get a mongrel dog from a shelter.
Where money is involved there is always trouble.

Can't you read? The OP is very aware of this, she can't stop her mum but she's trying to mitigate the problem. She's exactly trying to avoid her mother paying another puppy farmer.

Ugh. That poor dog. I hope he/she is okay in the end. Unfortunately young kids tend to get bored of pets so it’s up to the adults to take care of them responsibly but this lady doesn’t sound particularly responsible.

I am like you. I have no idea how people still get sucked in to buying from puppy farms.

My friend did this. It’s so stupid. She didn’t even meet the mother of the puppy, she met the breeder at the side of the road. The dog looks so wrong, it’s face is all misshapen and it’s legs collapse underneath it. It’s clearly been very poorly bred. When she first got it is was constantly shitting blood and diarrhoea and ofc did not come with any insurance.

It is absolutely infuriating to see people do things like this. I think it’s when people lack the patience to wait for a good quality breeder to have a pup available. They just look online and see what is available immediately and for a cheap price. Most good breeders have waiting lists. I waited 6 months for my pup which was not very long at all.

@FriedEggChocolate Rescues like DogsTrust and the RSPCA tend to be very “dogmatic” in their homing policies.

The smaller, independent charities are much more flexible. I rehomed through Many Tears and they are happy to match suitable dogs to homes with kids.

There should be a test you have to pass to have a dog imho!

I’m in touch/following a rescue where they seem to have a lot of much loved pets rehomed due to deaths/cancer/ relationship breakdowns so have the full history. There are rescues that will consider children, if the dog has grown up around them and they have the history.

There have been alot of puppies dumped recently- I wonder if people have cut back on buying them, col perhaps…. About 4 lab pups only the other day just dumped. Of course lots of enquiries- everyone wants a puppy for Christmas (idiots). Wrapping up a dog is bloody ridiculous too.

Your DM is part of the problem.

Can’t the kennels be reported to RSPCA?

You are
My mum is naive
Shes not naive. She’s been educated on the horrors of puppy farms etc yet she’s still choosing to look for a dog on pets4homes notorious for puppy farms. That’s not naive that’s selfish and disgusting, putting her own desire to have a dog while ignoring the abhorrent treatment of them. She’s worse than your friend imo.

How can you be so vocal about the family yet say your mum will do just the same if you don't help?

Absolutely heartbroken about that poor puppy... i do see peoples anger as there's a huge difference between a 4 week old and an 8 week old and if the pups belly was distended with worms why did it take 5 days to get to the vets... i wonder if the vets have any leaflets on things to look out for as it sounds like your mum really needs some basic education on dogs. As much as i also cant comprehend going back through pets at home (or getting a bloody cockerpoo as nobody seems to do any genetics testing to see if mum and dad are a good match in that respect its always just people breeding their family dogs!) Im glad to hear you will go with her and try and provide oversight, its all you can really do at this point if she'll do it without you regardless and you can report any dodgy looking ones you come across along the way.
Does your mum understand how high energy cockerpoos are though thats more my concern - they sell them as calm family dogs but mum being calm is no indicator and spaniels and poodles are high energy smart breeds...

Your mum need to find a reputable breeder using either the KC website or Champdogs. Both websites show pedigree going back 5 generations and evidence of health testing.

I was thinking that too - Border Collies and poodles are amazing breeds (alone, let alone as a cross), but they are definitely NOT for novice / first-time dog owners or those with limited space or time for exercise or stimulation.

I do not think this will end well.

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