To wonder why on earth people still buy from puppy farms?

[hennaoj]

Why oh why do people buy puppies from the likes of Kelly's Kennels and Douglas Hall Kennels?

This is where the poor puppies come from. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-32308177
Surely people know that you need to see the puppies mother before buying? Never mind the fact that these puppies won't be dna health tested.

Because it's 2022 and adults are unable to distinguish between want and need to the extent that some people behave as if owning a dog is a human right.

The idea that puppy farms make dog ownership affordable for low income families is ridiculous. The puppy farm owners breed the dogs is such deplorable conditions to maximise profits not to make dogs more affordable. The difference between a dog from a reputable breeder and a puppy farm is not the same as the difference between branded a supermarket products, you will pay the same wherever the dog comes from. Puppy farms are not offering economy dogs.

Some of those puppies are smuggled over in buckets or plastic storage bins, the lucky pups don't spend a portion of the journey with their dead siblings because quite a number do not survive the journey.

People are also easily fooled or do not do any research before buying a dog. The ads on pets for homes will all say the pups come from a family pet and the puppies can be viewed with mum but in reality the breeders rent a house, off load puppies from vans in the morning and the bitch you see with the puppy is a show bitch because the bitch that actually gave birth to the puppies is probably in a visibly shocking condition.

It's a disgusting practice and if you buy a dog this way you should be ashamed. Feel free to be offended, I don't give a fuck.

This 100%

It's like their is a cruelty blindness. Your cute puppy farm puppy came from a bitch who spends her life in a cage.

A bitch who was a cute puppy once but is now used literally to produce as many puppies of any breed/cross that currently reaches the highest price.

She has about 5 litters before she's broken and no more use to them - where if she is extremely lucky she'll get passed into a rescue but most likely killed. And I don't mean put down at a vets.

That's the reality of puppy farming.

Expensive, unhealthy (physically and mentally) dogs born out of torture or other dogs.

I agree with all of this.

There is a severe lack of self awareness right now. As well as too many people following like sheep regarding social media.

I have supported a dog rescue that rehomes former breeding dogs and the condition of most of these dogs is absolutely shocking - not socialised & terrified of human touch &used for multiple litters. Many have significant health problems including high grade heart murmers, visual problems and young dogs of only 3 or 4 with virtually no teeth due to poor diet. I can only imagine the problems their puppies are likely to face as they grow up too.

Because they want what they want and they want it now. Like placing an Amazon order.

I have two supposedly intelligent friends who both got puppies via Facebook that may be from farms . They did see the “mother” dog, but please be aware this can be a set up & dealers will have a healthy bitch they pretend is mother when the real mother is in a cage in a shed somewhere……
Dont buy dogs off social media!

If my last experience of trying to adopt a cat is anything to go by, this. I was completely humiliated by the very large animal rescue centre I initially went to. They had about 40 cats looking for homes and told me I wasn't suitable for any of them, without giving me a concrete reason why. I'd even adopted cats from them 17 years previously, but that wasn't good enough.

Because they don’t want to wait. They want a puppy ASAP! They don’t care about animal welfare so they claim they bought from “nice” people who couldn’t possibly be puppy farmers. Because they want one like their neighbour has or their friend. No thought given to if their home is the right one for this animal.
But watch it! I’ve been called a cunt on here for disapproving of puppy farmers and the selfish people who buy from them. 🤷‍♀️

We accidentally got a dog from a puppy farm about 20 years ago, so before social media. Educated, Middle class family, so sorry we don't meet the "poor and thick" criteria many on here would tar us with.

The dog was for my grandmother, who had fallen in love with the idea of a Bichon frise. We thought we were buying from a licensed breeder and when it became apparent it was a puppy farm we tried to walk away. By this point my dog who was with us was trying to revive an unconscious puppy by licking her, we couldn't pull her away and ended up buying this half dead puppy because we didn't know what else to do and couldn't leave this poor little thing.

We lay her in the back of the car with my dog convinced there would be a dead puppy by the time we got home. She ended up rallying and became my grandmother's best friend and comfort for 15 year and beloved by us all.

I loathe puppy farms, I'd never advocate for them, I don't believe we all have the right to own dogs - but I wanted to share why some people might end up with a puppy farm dog - I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I've looked at one of the sites mentioned above - how can they possibly have so many different breeds/crossbreeds of puppies all "available now"?

Because they want a puppy NOW.

No thought as to approaching a legit breeder and being on a waiting list.

Puppy farm pups are cheap, readily available, but still come with a whole host of health problems. Their poor mum will end up in rescue herself after a while.

It's because they're arsholes

People hate waiting and they want the ‘in’ breed and don’t care that it’s brachycephalic and won’t be able to breathe/run like all dogs ought to be able. They don’t care about the origins, they just want the cute puppy RIGHT NOW. They can’t be arsed to research, they want it NOW and cover their eyes when they realise it’s not a normal family breeder (and don’t really care, they just want the puppy). They don’t ask about the temperament or how many litters the bitch has had because they just don’t care enough. Even the regulatory body is worse than useless. They couldn’t give a fuck, so why should a bog standard member of the public care?

Lots of judgement here but I don’t think it’s always obvious. There’s a grey area - well meaning people who have had a litter, aren’t professional/registered breeders but nonetheless love the pups. Mum can be seen but the ‘breeder’ isn’t registered, they just had a family pet and decided to breed off them with a stud or another friend’s pet.
I think there’s a lot more of this than breeding machines kept in a dingy kennel - although that also happens.
I don’t think people always realise.

Notaligned

20 years ago...no social media...not easy to access guidance to help people avoid ending up at a puppy farm...puppy farms nowhere near as prevalent as they are now.

These are all differences between then and now. People can easily access the information they need to choose better breeders now.

Probably because it is so difficult to adopt a dog

If you are happy to acquire a dog bred in horrifically cruel conditions just because you WANT one then you probably shouldn't have a dog at all. In fact I think it would mark someone out as an incredibly unsuitable dog owner.

Because they want to turn the other way and pretend all is well.
because they want a cute ball of fluff and don't care.
Because they are too lazy to make full enquiries.
adopt don't buy!

Because they come from a huge farm in Fivemiletown, Ireland, both of the ones I have mentioned have breeding dogs in that farm. Kelly's Kennels have 900 breeding dogs over there.

Probably because it is so difficult to adopt a dog

It should be difficult to adopt a dog. Dog rescues do not exist to provide people with dogs... they exist to provide dogs with homes.

Genuine question - please don’t jump on me. If looking online for breeders, how do you know the difference between the genuine breeders and the puppy farms? Is the Kennel Club a reliable place to look as they list registered breeders?

I have a show kennel and we breed carefully when we want a new show dog . We don’t over charge we do all health tests puppies are bred and kept in our bedroom then kitchen with their mother aunts 👵 ms ect until it’s time fir them to leave . We ask lots of questions and meet prospective owners . However often we ring people on our waiting lists to be told oh we got bored waiting and found a such and such cross in the internet !!!!! Drives me mad but the public don’t seem to want to be educated !!!!

User135792468

The Kennel Club and all the major animal charities have guidance pages on what to look for. I have linked to the Kennel club because you asked about them but to be honest I'm not a fan and I think they have played a major role in the increase in dogs bred for appearance rather than health with their ridiculous "breed standards".

I apologise to the reputable breeders of South Wales in advance but I would not buy a puppy from anywhere in that area as it seems to be ground zero for UK puppy farms.

If you are thinking of buying a puppy then the dog house would be a good place to ask for advice.

I would never judge anyone for asking for advice about buying a dog, it's a minefield and you just don't know about the warning signs or dirty tricks of shitty breeders until you ask.

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog/are-you-ready/finding-a-good-breeder/avoiding-puppy-farmers-and-irresponsible-breeders/

Not 100% reliable, but that and/or breed clubs would be better than random name found elsewhere. The KC site has (well... it had when we were looking for our last dog ~17 years ago but I can't imagine it wouldn't still be there and maybe even better) a lot of good advice on choosing a dog and finding a breeder - what questions to ask, what to look for when you visit, what they should be asking prospective buyers etc.

As for finding decent breeders go y on fog shows or fog clubs . Look up on line the breed clubs for the breed you want . They can put you in touch with the right breeders . I am kennel club registered and accredited but so are so many puppy farmers !!! Unfortunately kennel club registration doesn’t mean that much in the way of good breeding practices . Talk and meet people look on Facebook most breed club have pages

Xpost .

@Gonnabegrandma @ErrolTheDragon @FOJN thank you for your replies. We won’t be looking for another couple years. We have an older cat who would be incredibly stressed by having a puppy in the house so we will wait for now. It’s just something I’ve wondered but I’ve heard a lot about puppy farms and it worries me for when the day comes.

When and if you do start looking for a puppy/dog, plan on it taking months not weeks (and certainly not days!).