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Original poster

Did I buy a puppy farm pup?

351 replies

Caross · 09/05/2020 21:33

Hi all. I am a bit concerned that I might of bought a puppy farm pup!!
I responded to an add for a specific breed of pup that I have been looking for, they are also really hard to get, very popular breed.
I thought all seemed well as I got sent a photo of mum and the testing results from the dad. Then I got videos and photos of my pup whenever I asked, in one or two videos I seen the rest of the litter. Although, the breeder allowed him to be picked up at 7 weeks 3 days old, which was unexpected.
We had to use a pet transportation service due to the current restrictions on travel so we weren’t able to pick him up. The breeder would of been allowed to bring him to us but said she wouldn’t so we had no choice but to hire someone to do it. Turns out that all the other pups had gone home a day or two before ours and he was the last one there.
Someone else contacted me on Instagram asking who I got my pup from. I gave them the information, they came back and said they decided not to go any further with our breeder as there was another litter due in 5 weeks and they suspected it could be a puppy farm.
I feel really foolish. I was under the impression that our pup was born from her family pet. I had no idea she had another dog, (or potentially the same poor dog) who is expecting another litter.
Another reason I thought it seemed really safe was that she has a very public dog walking and boarding business.
Does this sound suspicious to anyone else or could there be a innocent explanation?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
bluefoxmug · 09/05/2020 21:36

sorry, totally sounds like farmed

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 09/05/2020 21:43

It sounds like a puppy farm to me. How do you know the photo and the testing results were genuine?

KitchenConfidential · 09/05/2020 21:46

Yep sounds totally and utterly like one.

Mindmedley · 09/05/2020 21:47

Does the breeder have a website/Facebook page? Are there any online reviews about them? If you search in google it might show up if the breeder is advertising on multiple sites as well.

Clymene · 09/05/2020 21:47

Sounds like it. He's too young to be away from his mum Sad

Syrrup · 09/05/2020 22:02

I'm sorry but yes, no responsible breeder would have let the pups go so early and I doubt most would be happy to let them be picked up by a stranger rather than deliver them. Did you ever see any video of your pup interacting with the mum? That's a warning sign, puppy farmers will usually hide mum away. Either way there are lots of indicators of puppy farm here.

Not all dog walkers and boarders can be taken at face value either - there are always people out to make a quick buck.

ponchek · 09/05/2020 22:06

What county was he from?

Original poster
Caross · 09/05/2020 22:07

😔 really upset. I was hoping people would have some innocent explanations but seems not. I’m not on Facebook but when I google her name, an article from her local newspaper comes up, about her dog walking and boarding company that she started. There is a Facebook page link to her business in google. No mention of breeding though.
I wish I’d spotted the signs sooner but things didn’t appear unusual until right before we got him/after we got him.
Obviously our dog is a lovely little thing, but I hate that our honest, hard earned money could of gone towards animal cruelty.

OP posts:
userxx · 09/05/2020 22:07

Yep, you've just bought into the puppy trade. Everything about it sounds wrong.

KingJarvis · 09/05/2020 22:08

Well, if it’s from a puppy farm, surely you are rescuing it?

Original poster
Caross · 09/05/2020 22:09

Ugh, I feel terrible.

Ponchek -I got him from a breeder in England.

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NiceTwin · 09/05/2020 22:12

Sadly yes, it sounds farmed. I'm guessing it's mixed breed?

@kingjarvis no it isn't being rescued. By buying from a farm, it just increases demand so the poor bitch has to bear another litter to line the owner's pockets.

If nobody bought from them, they wouldn't have a business.

ponchek · 09/05/2020 22:13

At least he's with you now. He's lucky you saved him 💕

vanillandhoney · 09/05/2020 22:14

It's illegal to sell a dog under eight weeks of age in England.

So no, this pup didn't come from anyone respectable or decent.

rossKemp · 09/05/2020 22:15

Did you not stop to think when they said you could have the puppy from less than 8 weeks old!?

rossKemp · 09/05/2020 22:16

@KingJarvis Well, if it’s from a puppy farm, surely you are rescuing it?

This has got to be one of the most ignorant comments I’ve read in a long time

Clymene · 09/05/2020 22:20

Please report the breeder. You presumably have evidence that she sold you the puppy before he was 8 weeks. Prosecution is the only thing to stop these people.

Original poster
Caross · 09/05/2020 22:20

@rosskemp yes I did find it strange. That was only the first sign that made me wonder if there might of been an issue. We were expecting to get him once he turned 8 weeks, but she contacted me and gave me a few days notice that I could have him sooner. She would of actually given him to me a day earlier if I’d been able to get him picked up sooner. She said it was due to the first set of vaccinations already being done and that the other pups were going to their homes too. Plus I’d paid the deposit at this point.
Anything else I should look out for/mention to the vet when he goes? The least I can do now is make sure he is a healthy happy doggo. I’ll have to let the vet know about this. He is apparently microchipped and I had to go online and register myself as the owner on the microchip... is that normal?

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Moondust001 · 09/05/2020 22:21

Contact their local council. If they are a legitimate breeder they must be licenced. If not, dob them in as it will mean the council start watching them to catch them. It does sound suspicious yes. But simply being seven weeks old doesn't absolutely and totally prove anything. My border collie pup came to me, with vet approval, at 7 weeks. Because it was the week of bonfire night, and anyone who knows how sound reactive border collies are will guess why. I spent a week taking him to every bonfire /firework display with travelling distance because, at 7 weeks, a pup has no fear reaction at all. He's now 4 years old and thinks fireworks are mildly interesting! So yes, seven weeks is a little young, but there might be a good reason. I've seen it happen where a mother has struggled - like humans not all dog mums are good mums.

Original poster
Caross · 09/05/2020 22:28

Thank you @Moondust001 I have sent an enquiry to RSPCA to speak to them about it. I will contact the council too.

It’s a concern to report things. I wouldn’t be allowed anonymity If I went ahead with police, and the person has ALL my details, address, bank details, contact info, knows that I have children here from our conversations. I have been burned before when a person local to my old flat assaulted his girlfriend, I gave a witness statement, then they wanted me to go to court. I was scared because the person was obviously violent and once they seen my face in court, he would know where I lived with my newborn baby. Police didn’t care about that. They said it’s the defendants right to know who is giving evidence against them.
Obviously this has made me cautious about reporting crime now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Caross · 09/05/2020 22:36

Ok so the breeder DOES have an up to date breeding license on their council website.

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LochJessMonster · 09/05/2020 22:41

Not farmed but sounds like a backyard irresponsible breeder.

MN gets puppy farms mixed up with BY and irresponsible breeders a lot.

Puppy farms are a large scale commercial illegal business where the bitches are literally kept stacked in cages or in small pens in barns. They are mated constantly, and the puppies taken to a nice family house which acts as a front. It’s a huge scale business and not as common as MN makes out.

Backyard and irresponsible breeders are much more common. It’s when inexperienced people breed from their pets, not following the rules etc. It’s not good but it’s not puppy farms.

Your puppy sounds like it’s come from a BY or irresponsible breeder who is mating multiple bitches at the same time. Not a puppy farm.

LochJessMonster · 09/05/2020 22:46

Just seen your update. Having a license is a good step, it means they have to have spot inspections, all enclosures have to meet required standards in terms of size, heating, ventilation, light etc, vet checks are carried out, bitches will only have 3 litters, at least a year between weaning and the next litter, and none after 8years etc
Lots and lots of welfare conditions.

Licensed breeders may have multiple bitches and therefore litters available close together, but each licensed premises will only be allowed a certain number of breeding bitches at a time.

The dogs may not be treated how we would treat our own pets, but they won’t be ill treated.

The mum and dad you saw will be the parents.

Original poster
Caross · 09/05/2020 22:49

@lochjessmonster thank you. While that’s obviously not ideal, I feel a bit better.

OP posts:
GreyGoose1980 · 09/05/2020 22:50

Never by a puppy without seeing it with its mum. Also no genuine breeder would sell a puppy to you without meeting you (even over Skype) and asking a series of detailed questions to check you were a safe and kind owner. No pup should leave it’s mum at 7 weeks. It’s easy to check this information on the internet. Anyone can look up kennel club or RSPCA advice or do a basic google search. These cruel places exist because people buying pups from them are thoughtless. No puppy farm puppies are rescued - you just fuel the cruelty trade.