Please sign this petition to stop Harrods selling puppies from Puppy mills

[Alouiseg]

The staff lie aboutbthe origins of the dogs often saying that the mother died during whelping.

Please sign and pass round to others.

we need a link is it this one?

here

I'm such a twit, I obviously meant to add the link but my outrage scrambled my brains. Thanks Minimu.

While I am no fan of any pet shop selling puppies directly to the public, you are making some pretty serious allegations. Do you have any evidence that Harrods are not licensed to sell pups, that they come from unregistered breeders or that staff lie about their background? Petitions about Harrods selling puppies have been kicking around on the internet (including Facebook) for years. I'm generally very wary of petitions in general - usually FA use to the actual cause.

If you really care about puppy welfare, join one of the many groups that are campaigning to end puppy farming, especially in Wales and Ireland, refuse to buy pups unless you see them with the mother, only use breeders that are well established and reputable. Avoid any one who sells via internet, offers more than one type of dog, only sells via mobile phone, or offers to meet you in a motorway service station. Better still buy a rescue dog.

The number of pups that Harrods sell and the prices they charge mean that in the scheme of things there are plenty of more pressing situations that need to be resolved. Most important of all, this vile trade will only be stopped when people realise that cheap puppies are only cheap for a reason - that is their early care and that of their mothers has been compromised (usually badly). Good breeders are very expensive for the reason that a pregnant bitch who then whelps and raises a litter needs a significant amount of extra food, veterinary care and nursing none of which are cheap.

Woooow Scuttlebutter - the person involved with this campaign is an active campaigner on all dog welfare issues. Harrods is just one campaign. I can assure you that she is strongly involved with puppy welfare and against puppy farming,

She is definately singing from the same book as you don't shout down those who are as dedicated as you

well that's ok then Scuttlebutter! Because Harrods charges over the odds for the dogs it doesn't matter that some poor bitch is knocking out umpteen litters while living in appalling conditions?

The reason this petition got to me is because I've been fed the same lies from the pet store staff on 2 occasions in the past year.

There were Bulldogs for sale for £4000 each. The litter was suspiciously large for 1 litter. The pups were only 7 weeks old and had allegedly been hand reared from birth as the Mother had died during c-section.

6 months later I visited again, showed interest in a pair of pugs £3000 each!! They were also 7 weeks old and hand reared as the mother had died during whelping

While there are undoubtedly many more dogs in shocking situations, a flagship store in UK in 2010 should not be taking part in a horrific trade.

I repeat - you are making serious allegations about Harrods staff lying to customers, and that's not something I'd do lightly unless I had really solid proof. If you do have such proof, then fine, but it should be immediately reported to the licensing authority who allow Harrods to sell live animals, and pressure should also be put on the breeder responsible.

Like both of you, I am appalled by the trade and I don't think Harrods should sell pups. However, the way to end puppy farming is not by throwing around unverified allegations.

Without knowing the context of the campaign it is difficult - I'd be interested to know for instance what if any contacts had been made with Harrods previously and what their stance is, what licensing visits and conditions they work under, how they describe the origins/traceability of the pups they sell, local authority concerns about dog welfare in the store, how pups are sold (ie. can you literally just go in and buy one ) etc etc. Without this information I can't just jump up and down (or worse still, sign a Facebook page and think I've done something). If you want me to look at a considered reason for this case, i will gladly and I will then happily join you in the less glamorous but very necessary campaigning grunt work of FOI requests to the local council, letter writing, gathering of solid evidence, pressure on other stakeholders etc etc.and all the other things that make a campaign work.

I'm not shouting down anybody. You've asked in a public forum that people should sign a petition (which also has some pretty strong allegations on it) with no supporting information. As someone who has campaigned for years on animal welfare (for different species) the quickest way to discredit a campaign is to make exaggerated claims or use unverifiable facts - all this does is make a campaign look vindictive, hysterical and amateurish and is counterproductive. I live in Wales and see first hand and at regular intervals the horrific reality of puppy farms.

If this is part of a bigger campaign, then great, I'd love to be involved but would want more solid information before signing up, or at the very least a website where I could read the context of the campaign.

Wales is actually closer than it has ever been to changing the law on dog breeders - this is a fantastic opportunity to improve the welfare of breeding bitches and pups. We've only got to this stage because activists have spent long, patient hours working with WAG officials, other charities, reluctant local authorities and a host of other disinterested and hostile special interest groups (and that's without the language issue). I care deeply and passionately about this vile trade that besmirches the reputation of my homeland - I want to ensure we end it as quickly as possible. I'm just not convinced that this petition is necessarily the way to do it.

Both Bulldogs and Pugs have big heads compared to the size of their bodies. Bulldogs cannot give birth naturally because we've made them like that. Any operation holds danger, and giving birth has its own problems.

I would hope that any pup sold would have its papers and be fully traceable. This is not the case in some pet shops, and still too many people go into a pet shop thinking AAAaaa what a sweet puppy, and take it home only to find it's got problems coming out of its ears. Sadly there are still far too many people who do not follow the puppy-buying guidlines that Scuttlebutter has emphasised and pet shops appear to offer a cheap fix.

Frankly, were I spending £££££ on a dog, I would like to know where it came from. If I had a bitch from a mother who had died during whelping, it certainly might not bode well for any future litters.

That is very good news that the sands are shifting in Wales. Keep pushing!

Scuttlebutter I just think you are overeacting and making accusations yourself. You are saying without evidence that this is a vindictive and amaterish campaign! I am in no way connected with this petition or demonstration but am aware of a peaceful demonstration that is going to be help in London to highlight the plight of puppy farming and the purchasing of puppies from pet shops. Where better to carry out this campaign than a high profile store that sells puppies. The petition does not state that Harrods is unlicensed.

End off - if you are not interest do not sign- no need to lynch the hand that is actively campaigning for the same things you believe.

puppies should not be sold from any pet shop.

why is this difficult to understand, or agree with?

The Pet Kingdom at Harrods is a much loved destination within the store which attracts thousands of loyal visitors everyday. Harrods works closely with the Kennel Club and numerous animal welfare charities to ensure that we sell livestock in the most responsible way that we can.

You can not walk into the Pet Shop and purchase a dog or cat on a whim. We want our animals to go to only the most responsible and loving homes, so in order to purchase an animal from Pet Kingdom a customer has to undergo an interview carried out by one of our trained livestock handlers. They must also have a veterinary reference or a professional reference and a copy of a tenant?s agreement if appropriate. We will also invite the potential customer to bring all of their family to the interview (this may include pets) so that we can assess how they all interact.

At Pet Kingdom we have the highest quality of animals and we are very meticulous in researching their background. All of our breeders are reputable and breed their animals in a home environment.

Full background checks are undertaken, breeding records are reviewed to ensure there is no under/inter breeding, kennel registration is verified and home visits are arranged to ensure that they are maintaining impeccable standards and breeding animals which are healthy, happy, socialised and suitable for Harrods customers.

Each puppy and kitten will have

? Pedigree registration (with at least 3 generations of pedigree)
? Vaccination certificate
? Micro-chip
? Two veterinary certificates of health from both the breeders and Harrods veterinary surgeon
? Details of flea and worm treatments
? Breeders contact details

If for some reason the animal does not fit well into the home environment then we will accept the animal back.

At Harrods, we do our utmost to ensure animal welfare and strive to achieve outstanding standards for all of our animals. We currently have 3 full time highly qualified livestock handlers and a qualified veterinary nurse and their sole job is to care for all of our animals at all times.

It is very important that all of our animals follow a daily routine and this is carefully organised to prevent any stress.A routine is devised to ensure that all animals have enough sleep, food, socialising, stimulation and TLC.

Each one of our animals in Pet Kingdom has been placed in an enclosure which has been specifically designed for their breed requirements. All enclosures are thoroughly and carefully cleaned in the morning and evening and maintained throughout the day to the highest standards.
During the day the livestock handlers take care of the animals and during the night the animals are checked every 30 minutes by Harrods security officers.

The friendly livestock handlers exercise, play, handle and groom all of our animals on an hourly basis. This will develop the animals social and behavioural skills ready for adult hood, as at this stage in a young animals life it is critical to obtain these skills.

We also have a private exercise area for our animals to give them time to relax away from the public.

Harrods supports more than 35 animal welfare charities including The Retired Greyhound Trust, Hearing dogs for deaf people, Friends of Animals League and has help to raise thousands of pounds in the past year.

Dear Mumsnet readers,

We would like to take this opportunity to reassure you of the high standards of care and attention that are maintained via a strict policy regarding the sale of pets from the Pet Shop at Harrods. We have detailed these as much as possible here, but please do contact customer care at +44 (0) 20 7730 1234 should you require any further details.

The Pet Kingdom at Harrods is a much loved destination within the store which attracts thousands of loyal visitors everyday. Harrods works closely with the Kennel Club and numerous animal welfare charities to ensure that we sell livestock in the most responsible way that we can.

You can not walk into the Pet Shop and purchase a dog or cat on a whim. We want our animals to go to only the most responsible and loving homes, so in order to purchase an animal from Pet Kingdom a customer has to undergo an interview carried out by one of our trained livestock handlers. They must also have a veterinary reference or a professional reference and a copy of a tenant?s agreement if appropriate. We will also invite the potential customer to bring all of their family to the interview (this may include pets) so that we can assess how they all interact.

At Pet Kingdom we have the highest quality of animals and we are very meticulous in researching their background. All of our breeders are reputable and breed their animals in a home environment.

Full background checks are undertaken, breeding records are reviewed to ensure there is no under/inter breeding, kennel registration is verified and home visits are arranged to ensure that they are maintaining impeccable standards and breeding animals which are healthy, happy, socialised and suitable for Harrods customers.

Each puppy and kitten will have

? Pedigree registration ( with at least 3 generations of pedigree)
? Vaccination certificate
? Micro-chip
? Two veterinary certificates of health from both the breeders and Harrods veterinary surgeon
? Details of flea and worm treatments
? Breeders contact details

If for some reason the animal does not fit well into the home environment then we will accept the animal back.

At Harrods we strive to achieve outstanding standards for all of our animals. We currently have 3 full time highly qualified livestock handlers and a qualified veterinary nurse and their sole job is to care for all of our animals at all times.
It is very important that all of our animals follow a daily routine and this is carefully organised to prevent any stress.
A routine is devised to ensure that all animals have enough sleep, food, socialising, stimulation and TLC.

Each one of our animals in Pet Kingdom has been placed in an enclosure which has been specifically designed for their breed requirements. All enclosures are thoroughly and carefully cleaned in the morning and evening and maintained throughout the day to the highest standards.
During the day the livestock handlers take care of the animals and during the night the animals are checked every 30 minutes by Harrods security officers.

The friendly livestock handlers exercise, play, handle and groom all of our animals on an hourly basis. This will develop the animals social and behavioural skills ready for adult hood, as at this stage in a young animals life it is critical to obtain these skills.

We also have a private exercise area for our animals to give them time to relax away from the public.

Harrods supports more than 35 animal welfare charities including The Retired Greyhound Trust, Hearing dogs for deaf people, Friends of Animals League and has help to raise thousands of pounds in the past year.

Many thanks,

Harrods.

wow that was quick.

I do not know the person who started this thread or anything about her upsetting experiences with Harrods but I do want to thank her for putting the petition on here and also minimu for supporting it.
This campaign is supported by anti puppy farming groups, rescue organisations and dog behaviourists. We are making no unsubstantiated claims about Harrods but we are saying that no pet shop should be selling puppies and that no responsible, ethical, caring breeder would sell to a pet shop.
This campaign will raise awareness about pet shop puppies and puppy farms. The fact that it is being talked about here on a non dog forum shows that it is having an effect. There are still a lot of people who do not realise that it is even legal for pet shops to sell puppies and a lot more who haven?t heard of puppy farms.
The petition and campaign will have an effect on Harrods. The fact that they are posting on here to try and justify their actions is proof of this. I have had the same response via the petition and I will reply to them privately. I hope that they have also read the comments on the petition. Their document raises more questions than it answers. We know where they used to get their puppies. They are obviously being more careful now because they were exposed before; maybe they would like to tell us exactly who supplies them now.
We are having a mass peaceful protest outside Harrods on Sat 4th Dec at 12 noon and hopefully we will get a very big turnout. It will be great to meet some of you there. This protest and the handing in of the petition will get media attention and so raise awareness even more. This will of course change if Harrods prove that they really care about animal welfare and set an example and stop selling puppies in their store.

I have to say I would never buy a puppy from a pet shop, who would give £4000 and do such a thing? For 3rd generation only papers

Harrods is known as a shop where they will find you what you want. A local pet shop where we lived was well known for selling puppies from dubious backgrounds. It was banned by the RSPCA, changed name and address and started again. Surely these kind of pet shops are a more valid target than a well known store with a reputation to keep?

I don't shop at Harrods, and wouldn't buy a dog from a pet shop. Surely it is a good thing that they are looking after their charges? Some pet shops do supply puppies that are well bred and they are looked after very well.

Just to repeat that no puppies should be sold in pet shops regardless of how well they are looked after. Well bred puppies are only available directly from the breeder as no decent breeder would sell to a shop. They would want to check the person that the puppy was being sold to and would offer lifetime back up for that dog. It is against the Kennel Club Code of Ethics to sell to a shop or dealer.
There are lots of small campaigns against small shops but do people hear about them? There are protests held monthly at Dogs4Us Leeds with the next one on Sunday 28th Nov.
We are targeting Harrods as they are such a high profile store and should know better. Harrods stopping selling puppies would set an example for other shops to follow. Campaigning against Harrods is also getting the media attention and publicity that this cause needs.

Harrods

Whatever your policy is and care taken to ensure owners are suitable , selling animals from a shop is wrong.

By selling animals this way you are seen in the same class as the pet shop in high street and the mega pet store on an industrial estate.

Just because you have a high profile name doesn't make it better. the prices you charge encourage this type of selling, more fool the customers that buy from you.

It is in the Kensington & Chelsea Chronicle online. There is a bit too much from Harrods for my liking but the informed comments are coming in. Looking forward to meeting some of you on Saturday.

kensington.londoninformer.co.uk/2010/12/dog-lovers-plan-protest-over-s.html#comments

Does anyone know if Harrods are still selling puppies? Is there a current petition? I hadn't realised until I came across this thread. Disgusting!

I think they are Missy but you do realise this thread is 3 years old?

Haha, yes but I was just so angry I scribbled my response not realising that I may be talking to myself. Obviously I wasn't though so thanks for replying :)