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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Why oh why do people buy Gumtree puppies?

187 replies

Bubble2bubble · 29/11/2017 16:59

I've just been sent a FB page of a family very local to me who bought a pug puppy from a Gumtree and and she died of parvo three days later.
I am sorry for them, and to have had their new pup die in their arms must have been truly awful.
They are now working with the RSPCA, and police and have been on local radio trying to get attention for the case, having discovered that the same seller was selling multiple breeds from several set-up addresses.
But really, to buy an unvaccinated, un-microchipped puppy from a 'breeder' on Gumtree , and to collect the pup half an hour after you see the ad - how could anyone think that was a good idea? I just don't know how many times the message has to be repeated :(

OP posts:
Thewolfsjustapuppy · 01/12/2017 08:31

Husky it is exactly the attitude in your last post that I’m talking about. You have no idea of the lengths I went to to find the right pup from a good breeder but you choose to attack.
Many rescue advocates on MN are reduculously sanctimonious about it. Many dog owners are wilfully ignorant.

HuskyMcClusky · 01/12/2017 08:36

Consider your own post before you accuse me of ‘attacking’ anyone.

‘Sanctimonious’, ‘zealots’, accusing people of ‘scorning’ puppy owners?

Have a think about the tone you’re taking, before you point fingers.

Thewolfsjustapuppy · 01/12/2017 08:48

In the last week I have read two threads where several posters are celebrating and congratulating themselves on ‘looking down on’ and ‘judging’ people who have puppies. Is that not sanctimonious? And actually rather unpleasant. I said I don’t follow any zealots, I certainly did not accuse you of being a zealot, sort of I hit a nerve.
As I said in a op I applaud the work being done to raise awareness I would like to point out that some of the language used is alienating your target audience.

Jigglytuff · 01/12/2017 09:08

People don't want to hear it. And what's the point in being polite after they've already got the puppy?

If people post on here asking where to get a dog, they'll get helpful advice. I've seen

Thewolfsjustapuppy · 01/12/2017 09:09

Bloody autocorrect, that is supposed to say sorry not sort. and pp not op..

Look people who work in rescue and who rescue have the moral high ground, we all know it. However using that high ground to look down on us when you have absolutely no knowledge of our back story really does not help your cause. You may feel its fine to slag everyone off on a single thread on MN but this is exactly where a lot of people doing research into getting a puppy come for information. Do you really want them to just leave again because its just such hard work scouring through all the 'puppy buyers are idiots' posts?

Thewolfsjustapuppy · 01/12/2017 09:11

Jiggly, they do if they want a breed approved my MN but god help them if they ask about a cross breed. Unless its a lurcher which is fine apparently but only a rescue one..

Bubble2bubble · 01/12/2017 11:15

Just leaving this here for anyone who really, really doesn't know where puppies come from.

It's a multimillion pound industry, and if you have any interest in dogs then please make yourself aware.

https://cariadcampaign.blog

http://www.pupaid.org

http://www.four-paws.org.uk/campaigns/companion-animals/puppy-farming/puppy-farm-awareness-day-/

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 01/12/2017 11:46

Bubble. It's shocking. It's absolutely shocking. I would seriously rather not have a dog than participate in that industry. And make no mistake that's what you do when you buy a pup from these people. You aren't saving a dog. You are perpetuating the suffering of others.
It isn't easy though. Many people think KC reg or council licenced or "saw it with mother in a home" means it CAN'T be puppy farmers. It wasn't a farm. They seemed nice.
I spent ages meeting breeders and asking questions and talking to owners and had to be home checked and interviewed. And I had to wait. Hoping to see our breeders and a few litter mates this weekend. And I have their support forever.

MinorRSole · 01/12/2017 11:53

I love breeders who do 'puppy walks'. One of my friends does it and they keep getting bigger! He's one of the good ones, I hope he keeps breeding but I guess he may take a break (only does 3 litters per dog and they they are spayed)
He has the most beautiful examples of the breed, shows them and dogs living locally come back to him for grooming. You do have to jump through hoops to get a puppy from him though and rightly so - they are his pride and joy.

Wolfiefan · 01/12/2017 11:56

What's a puppy walk?
Three litters a dog is quite a few isn't it? Four is the absolute maximum the KC will reg.

Nannyplumbrocks · 01/12/2017 12:01

Its very hard to find a reputable breeder. I have been looking for a pup for about a year. In that time I went to look at one wh

MinorRSole · 01/12/2017 12:02

Puppy walk, all dogs from previous litters meet up a couple of times a year for a group walk.

Number of litters depends on lots of factors, 3 is his maximum that he'll allow but I can't answer much more as I've never bought a puppy.

Nannyplumbrocks · 01/12/2017 12:03

Oops posted too soon.

Went to see one who was obviously a puppy farm. I walked away. That put me right off. Rescue wont give us a dog as I have a 2 yr old. So Im kind of stuck. But Ill keep looking till I know its right. I refuse to deal with a puppy farm

Wolfiefan · 01/12/2017 12:05

Puppy walks sound lovely. We meet up at shows and breed events. It's lovely. I have made friends because of this dog! A breeder who wants to stay in touch is a very good thing.

TinyDoom · 01/12/2017 12:21

The puppy v rescue question is tricky. We have school age children and a cat and have found that local rescues don't have enough dogs that work with both to meet local demand.

We have always had a particular breed of dog. It's not particularly popular or well-known, but we know it well and love it because of despite its foibles. It's very unlikely to come to a general rescue. We had one rescue from the breed who we lost to lymphoma at the grand old age of 13 (upper end of the breed's expected lifespan) a few years ago. When we were ready for a new dog, we kept an eye on the breed-specific rescues, but in 18 months, only one came up and it was unsuitable for us for various reasons.
Happily, as the breed community is very insular small, we talked to a few people, found someone nearby who was planning a litter, and got on the list. We met mum before she went into season, had regular vet updates following season and mating, met the puppies as soon as the breeder felt that mum and pups were ready, had regular updates on socialisation and vet visits, then collected our girl at 8 weeks. It meant a lot of travelling, but we wanted to know as much about the dogs as possible.
We were lucky - the breeder does one litter per bitch meaning there's often a 4 year gap between litters, but that also reassures us that the breeder is acting carefully and responsibly.
I don't know how people can ignore the suffering and health issues caused by puppy farms, and even back-yard breeding. Picking a dog because you want a particular breed isn't silly, especially if you've taken the time to look for a dog that fits in with your family's lifestyle. But getting a dog definitely shouldn't be a spur of the moment decision that has to be done now.

Bubble2bubble · 01/12/2017 12:42

Agreed Tiny .Going back to my OP, the people said they wanted a pug, they looked on Gumtree, they went out then and bought the pup that day....it's just not how it should work.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 01/12/2017 12:59

Tiny. That's how it should be if you go to a breeder. Yours sounds like a good one!

reallyanotherone · 01/12/2017 13:14

I didn’t want a puppy. I was looking for an under 5. See my previous post as to why i didn’t rescue.

I didn’t get a puppy puppy. I phoned around breeders and asked if they had older dogs they needed to rehome for any reason. In the end I got a 6 month old from a show breeder that didn’t meet show standards. They were intending to keep him until he was neutered to prevent breeding.

driven by greed or some romantic notion about letting their wee darling have 1 litter with that dog they keep meeting at the park

I have been approached on several occasions by people who have seen photos of my dog or met him in the park. Nearly always by people who think a morkie/shorkie/yorkicav or whatever would be “so cuuute”. I take great pleasure in telling them that it would be irresponsible.

MinorRSole · 01/12/2017 13:23

I've been approached too - like you they weren't even the same breed for heavens sake! My boys are all neutered so they can jog on

Wolfiefan · 01/12/2017 13:50

I don't want to breed. I don't have the know how or practical support (it's 24/7 for a while) to make a good job of it. My dog is a pet.

Whitney168 · 01/12/2017 14:14

Guilt-tripping that people should only ever get rescue dogs really is attacking the problem from the wrong end.

When 'demand' for puppies in a certain breed dries up, who do you think will avoid having a litter - the responsible breeder, or the puppy farmer who sees the dogs as commodities and washes their hands of them as soon as they leave the premises? It is not the responsible breeders we need to stop, it is the others, or we will be left with a population of dogs bred with no care for health or temperament (or breed type, although I appreciate that isn't important for many people).

Rescues are not generally full of dogs from responsible breeders - I am not saying it never happens, and when it does it is generally because the owner feels guilty for having let a responsible breeder down or doesn't think that the breeder who promised a lifetime commitment to their dogs actually meant it - believe me, many do! I have seen breeders move heaven and earth to try and help their dogs if they do end up in this unfortunate situation (often met with stonewalling from charities, with their bank balance in mind rather than the welfare of the dog).

I don't know what the answer is, really. Education clearly isn't working, there is no excuse at all for anyone not to know about the horror of puppy farms - and it is not just idiots buying there either, I am amazed at some of the people who wilfully ignore the situation to get that cute puppy.

That said, I don't fundamentally have an issue with anyone advertising on these sites when they are vetting homes properly, for the odd puppy that wasn't pre-booked, a larger than expected litter, a sale that has fallen through, etc.

Better that there are some quality adverts on there, listing the results of health tests that should be taken - perhaps then at least a few people might realise there is a difference. Price is usually the same too, and quite often lower.

CornflakeHomunculus · 01/12/2017 14:16

Excellent post Whitney, couldn't agree more.

Wolfiefan · 01/12/2017 14:19

Agreed Whitney.

tothesideoftheirlives · 01/12/2017 14:19

I saw this RSPCA advert this morning and thought of this thread and the attitude of many towards puppies and other living creatures.

Hope he link works. Warning may induce tears

W0rriedMum · 01/12/2017 14:36

This thread has been an eye opener. Thank you.

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