Please, please can someone make sense of this ???? What to do???

[EasyToEatTiger]

Just been looking at Pets 4 Homes and just phoned about a pup. www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/523311-8-weeks-border-collie-female-for-sale-no-kc-reg-newark.html The owner didn't speak much english, appeared to have had the pup for less than a week, and was now selling it on. I said he needed to go back to the breeder. What the hell kind of breeder is selling dogs to people who give up on them so fast? What kind of person is buying a pup who doesn't want one??? I know in the back of my mind that this happens, but it's never been so immediate. I have never had to speak to a person like this. AAAAgggggHHHHH!!!!

We are looking for a pup. Yes we are reasonably experienced in looking after collies, and we are prepared to learn. All our dogs so far have been 2nd hand. I guess I am not prepared to travel 150+ miles for a dog with a dubious past without more experienced help, and to pass over money for someone else's effing stupid behaviour. I have seen a pup being sold from a pet shop and that was horrific.

Rescues have loads of PUPPIES! Please don't perpetuate the myth that only "dogs with a dubious past" are in rescue. Heathlands always has loads of collies, as does Many Tears and Puppies needing homes. Google and you'll find their websites/FB pages.

It's well known that underage puppies are being brought to the UK, with faked paperwork, which is probably what was happening with the guy you rang up. They will place the place the pup with a family who is paid to say that it's been bred at home, loved family pet but, oh how sad, has to be sold. Gullible people buy them...

Most of the collie dogs seem to come from the west of the country where the sheep are. We live on the arable side of the country. It's a long way! I expect the poor pup is puppy farmed. We had a dog who had been puppy farmed and pet shopped. It's damaging.

Sounds like puppy farming. Stay well clear.

This is absolutely standard. Puppy farms generally sell not to the public but to wholesalers. They in turn distribute the pups to a nice network of "front" sellers, giving the appearance of family homes. The selling family takes a small cut (this is a very useful way of quietly topping up benefit so there's never any shortage of homes to do this).

Over the past eighteen months we've also seen a big rise in E and Central European imports of cheap pups - fake paperwork, no proper rabies shots, and god only knows the welfare conditions affecting the bitch.

If you have a shred of concern for dog welfare, do NOT buy this pup - you will be helping to fund a trade in misery.

No I won't condone this behaviour. And I am not going to part with my money when it looks so dubious. The RSPCA could do something helpful here. I don't suppose they will.

Just spoken to RSPCA. Since the man is not breaking any obvious laws there is nothing they can do. It looks as though they got a puppy by mistake and now they're selling it on. Hmph. These people ought to be PTS

There are loads of collie puppies on Many Tears rescue website at the moment... many tears

I've just had a look on MT website. Thanks for the link. Unfortunately it is over 300 miles away. I didn't know there was 300 miles across Britain!

If you're not specifically looking for a collie, they have dogs in foster homes all over the country, have you done a search by location?