Why oh why do people buy Gumtree puppies?

[Bubble2bubble]

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 :(

I wish I could find any evidence to disagree with that. I can't.

BatteredBreadedOrSouthernFried no, nothing at all. When a rescue has a blanket ban on:

Rehoming to families with children under a certain age
Rehoming to anyone who leaves the house for more than a couple of hours at a time
Rehoming to people who don't have other dogs or alternatively rehoming to people who do have other dogs,

The reasons have nothing to do with the need to combat cruelty in the case of their rescued dogs and everything to do with their need to be seen to be allegedly doing the best thing for their dogs which is apparently living in kennels for the rest of their lives.

Unless you're suggesting that families with children are more likely to abuse their animals hence why most rescues don't rehome to families with children?

The reality is that most rescued dogs just aren't suitable to be rehomed full stop, and rescues are incredibly unpredictablewhich is why many people don't want a rescue.

But if dogs are suitable for rehoming then putting such blanket policies on criteria does no-one any favours, least of al the dogs in question.

Most rescues aren't suitable to be rehomed? Really. To anyone?
Rescues aren't all unpredictable. Many are fostered and decent charities offer behavioural assessment. They are then picky to try and achieve a successful adoption and not have the dog returned.

@Wolfie, I have been really pleased with the breeder. We have kept in touch with her and we have a facebook group for the litter where we can talk about how the pups were getting on and looking for support if we had any issues (the breed is lovely, and clever, which means they can be a bit naughty if they don't have enough exercise AND training games).

@Lover, I don't know about that. We may have a charmed experience, but our first rescue had to be rehomed due to a change in her family's circumstances. She was fantastic with kids, dogs, cats, and just generally happy. The rescue we couldn't take was perfect in many ways (good with kids and cats), except that he was male-dog aggressive and I wanted to go on walks with my friends who have male dogs. He made a great pet for someone else.
Our local charities rehome dogs suitable for families with kids and cats REALLY quickly. Where they have more complicated needs, it takes longer, but I think that's the rescue being responsible rather than the dogs being unsuitable for rehoming.

The reality is that most rescued dogs just aren't suitable to be rehomed full stop

What a load of shit. It is incredibly rare for a dog to be totally unsuitable for rehoming.
Even ones with behavioural issues don't actually need long in foster. My own fosters were ready very quickly but as previously mentioned there aren't enough homes for the dogs in foster. I've now agreed that they will stay with me but that means one less foster home for the rescue.

When my children are grown up I will
be able to take some of the more difficult cases but dogs with anxiety/aggression issues aren't typically placed with families like mine

The reality is that most rescued dogs just aren't suitable to be rehomed full stop

Nope. Not true.

Haven't read the whole thread but...

I live in an area where everyone has a poodle cross of some sort, all my friends have poodle crosses or pugs.

I have a rescue lurcher. Everyone clearly thinks I'm mad.

'Doesn't he shed'
'You can't trust him surely'
'He might have health problems'

My common old rescue is extremely well behaved, doesn't jump, doesn't bark, doesn't 'nibble', has great recall. Yes he sheds, but you know what there is this amazing new invention that deals with that called a vacuum!

All the poodle crosses I know jump up, bite ('oh just push him away') have ZERO recall, and are clearly bored shitless (don't people research into the tempermemt of poodles? They need huge amount of stimulation, much more than just a quick walk round the block then being put in the crate all day).

And what upsets me the most is the blatant ignorance about puppy farms! These people are making a quick buck(s) out of cruelty to dogs.

And with all those saying we couldn't get a rescue.

I waited 6 months for the right rescue, and then we traveled 200+miles to get him (twice in fact to meet him first). I demonstrated to the rescue that we were responsible dog owners by organising dog walkers and training BEFORE he arrived.

Having a dog is a massive responsibility so if you want to be a serious dog owner you a)should not mind waiting for the right dog and b) be willing to travel to get one from a rescue from around the country. Oh and c) be willing to make the changes necessary to be good dog owners.

I will confess I very nearly bought a poodle puppy (I now realise was from a puppy farm) but after some research and some wise MN words realised it wasn't the right thing to do.

Please please please think carefully about getting puppies from Scumtree.

Oh dear I'm glad you didn't end up buying from a puppy farm. What on earth is it that people think you can't trust your lurcher with?
Is it to steal the sofa and hog the bed?

Sorry to go on but to also add...

Please don't be fooled into beleiving poodle crosses are good for allergies.

Not true. Go on any respectable dog breeding website and you will read that this is not true.

Wolf - its the farts.

Also he did steal a cup cake last week.

It was MY cupcake.

Bastard dog.

You weren't fast enough so it's his.
Plus cupcakes are bad for you. He's doing you a favour!

OhDear2000 I have to disagree with a lot of what you say.
My poodle cross is hypoallergenic. She's the only dog that doesn't make my DP sneeze all day. She also is very well behaved, has excellent recall and is very contented.

But not all poodle crosses are. Some will be poodle coated and some more whatever they're crossed with.
And no animal is actually hypoallergenic. Many people are allergic to the saliva rather than the fur.
It's idiotic to suggest people with allergies buy a cross breed as it won't affect their allergies.

Number - and I'm glad for you.

You are right I a, probably over generalising 😁

But I stick to my point about the fact that the vast majority of these dogs come from puppy farms. And people just don't care!

The issue I have about allergies and "hyperpollogenic" dogs is that there is NO GUARANTEE that they are going to be good for an allergy sufferer.

So what would you have done had your husband reacted to her all the time? You sound very responsible so you would have found a solution.

But would most people? Or would they rehome? Or take it to a rescue?

What if you get a poodlecross that sheds? Is it gone then?

We knew what we were doing re the coat and have been proven right. We have a wonderful ddog and it upsets me when people make sweeping statements about their character. You wouldn't dare do that about a staffy so please have respect for my much cherished, wonderful pet.

Wolf - 👍

Number - I've got mother against your well loved pet. I'm pleased for you!

I have an issue with puppy farms.

Do you?

Why would I defend the indefensible OhDear2200 ?

Also I accepted that I was over generalising.

Because instead of responsding to the main issue I.e the use of puppy farms, you pick up on the my (over) generalisation of poodle crosses and get upset about that.

So because I objected to one part of your post about poodles you think I am OK with the idea of puppy farms

It's a cross. You can't know what the cost will be like!
And as for their character? Every dog is different but avoiding poppy farmers and going for a dog that has had the best start will help.
I'm afraid too many people take on a poodle cross because they like the look of them or they're popular (ditto pugs) without thinking if they can actually provide what the dog needs n

Also you've not answered my questions about the allergies?

You were lucky about the allergy, you may have done all the research in the world but there is NO GUARANTEE (I say it again) that any dog is good for an allergy sufferer. And what worries me is the 'marketing' that is done on gumtree and such like that says 'good for allergy'.