Please help - I've accidentally acquired a puppy of dubious provenance

[Puppyhalp]

I've namechanged as I'm fully prepared to be flamed, but tonight I accidentally bought a puppy. Essentially - my mum lost her old dog a couple of years ago and has been going round the houses about getting a new dog ever since. What breed, maybe now, maybe not now, maybe rescue an older dog, maybe a puppy etc etc. She's really missing having one but basically can't make a decision. Anyway I was talking about this at work the other day (apropos of someone else telling us about their new dog) and an acquaintance mentioned that her cousin's dog had had a litter and they were ready to go, right sort of size, heinz varieties but a mix of nice breeds. So I arranged to go to look at them this evening, with the idea that if I thought they looked promising I'd tell DM about them and she could think about it and go and look at them.

So anyway I pitched up tonight and 'them' turned out to be one solitary puppy, the others have all gone. And the place I'm reasonably sure was a very domestically-scaled puppy farm . I did see his mum with him but they were mostly being kept separate for weaning. I was genuinely shocked as work acquaintance made it sound like a family pet having a one-off litter before spaying. But maybe that's what she thought too. In any case I'm sure that wasn't the situation. I know I should have walked away and reported to whoever - is there even anyone I can report to? The other dogs didn't look in awful condition or anything, just clearly being used for breeding - but I couldn't bear to leave him there. He was all grubby and was on his own in a little pen with giant biscuits too big for him. So I forked out several hundred pounds and brought him home, via a trip to the supermarket for puppy food. He's currently snoozing on my legs. I'm fairly sure he's got worms - the 'breeder' said he'd been wormed but his belly's very distended and he's had two lots of diarrhoea (though maybe just different food?) and I think he's limping on his left back foot. He's very friendly with me (after initial wariness) though he was notably scared of DH's voice and wouldn't go anywhere near him until he'd sat quietly on the rug for about 15 minutes.

I don't know what to do - should I report the breeder to somebody? And what should I do about the puppy?! We have a vet for our cat and I'm actually taking him in the morning because he's due his annual check - shall I take the puppy instead and beg them to do an initial check-up? Or should I try to call someone tonight? He seems mostly well in himself but I'm worried about the diarrhoea. In terms of homing him I'm 90% sure my mum will have him, and if not he can stay with us - we were planning on getting a dog (though not a puppy 😑) this year, and are shift workers so someone's home all the time.

I'm just in a massive flap and furious with myself for ending up in this situation and for funding a puppy farmer. And resigning myself to a night on the sofa with one eye open. Also the cat is NOT going to be pleased when he gets in from his night-time prowl...

Halp.

[MaryLennoxsScowl]

Oh, the poor wee thing! I hope he continues to feel better and your mum sounds like she’ll give him a great home. Let us know how he’s doing - and well done you!

[Hovverry]

One good thing (apart from you getting him) mongrels are much cheaper to insure. Ours was supposed to be breed A crossed with breed B but looked very much like breed C. I told insurers that he was at least 3 breeds and the price went way down.

[Bobbybobbins]

Oh my goodness what a little sweetie! Well done so far OP!

[NorbertMeubles]

He is sooooooooo cute. Well done for rescuing him!

[sillysmiles]

@Puppyhalp how did you get on reporting this?

[moosemama]

@SJaneS48. I know, I’m an idiot. I should have just hidden the thread and moved on like I usually do.

It just bothers me when people ask for much needed help and advice and then get dumped on, even moreso when they admit they know they’ve messed up, but have still been brave enough to ask anyway. If others see that happening, they will walk away, not ask for help and situations which could have been improved or resolved can get worse. I’m hiding the thread now.

[SJaneS48]

I think it’s hard to find any topic on Mumsnet free of judgyness, @moosemama!

[moosemama]

@fivedogstofeed.

Ok, so you’ve given good advice which, having focussed her efforts on getting the pup to the vet and sorted yesterday, the OP said in her update she will act on today. In which case, there’s no need to then do a second post, which is purely designed to put the boot in.

[fivedogstofeed]

If you read back @moosemama I was actually one of the first to reply to this with what I thought to be helpful answers.
I don't deny judging though.

[moosemama]

OP has has said they are going to get onto reporting today. Their first post makes it clear they know the situation is far from ideal and they have been given all the information and contact details they need to report. I don’t understand whY people come on a thread just to cast judgement rather than help.

I haven’t been back in The Doghouse for long. Was here for years, but left when the general tone became nasty, judgemental and unhelpful - not towards me, to others. I’ve thought about posting for advice myself a few times over the last few weeks, but haven’t because I don’t want to wade through the judgements to get to the helpful suggestions and advice. I think I might just leave again.

[fivedogstofeed]

If you don't report the breeder, and keep reporting, you have become part of the problem.

[TryAnotherNickname]

@Puppyhalp I hope my cat story will make you feel a little better. I made an appointment with a breeder to see the pedigree kittens advertised in my Vet’s window. On arrival at her tiny basement flat, I was assaulted first by the smell and then a tiny kitten who climbed the furniture to play clown to me. This little comedian followed me through the stench to the garden where at least 25 cats (adults and at least three litters) scrambled about. It sat on my lap while the breeeder tried hard to interest me in the much older litters she was desperate to unload, but there was no way I was leaving without this one. I took her and a litter mate home after paying a fortune and being promised the immunisation certificates on the Monday. As soon as we got home, lively comedy kitten just collapsed with snot trailing out of her nose. Took her to breeders vet in the Monday and was told that this litter hadn’t been immunised and that the kitten was sick and unlikely to make it / should be returned.
Of course by that stage, there was no chance and 19 years later she remains as fit as a fiddle (as does her litter mate) and I thank my lucky stars I ignored the vet. The comedy routine I put down to her instinct that she’d be rescued from that hideous cat farm if she put in the charm!
I hope you have the same experience with your little scrap, but report the “breeder”

[Floralnomad]

That’s all good news then and it’s nice that your mum is happy with him .

[moosemama]

Sorry, last link failed:

Not a huge fan of the RSPCA generally myself, but if there were obvious welfare issues then you can report here.

[moosemama]

These links are useful for reporting:

<a class="break-all" href="https://naturewatch.org/campaign/puppy-farming-in-the-uk/puppy-farming-covert-investigations" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">naturewatch.org/campaign/puppy-farming-in-the-uk/puppy-farming-covert-investigations Hotline4puppies, Naturewatch]]

CARIAD

[[https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/puppytrade Not a huge fan of the RSPCA generally myself, but if there were obvious welfare issues then you can report here.]

[SalvatoreMaroni]

One of my friends had a deposit down on a mongrel pup someone was selling via Facebook. When the pups were 4 weeks old she received a message from the lady selling the pup asking if she wanted him now as he was eating solid food and hardly bothering with his mums milk! My friend explained that she shouldn't he separating the pups from each other and their mum before 8 weeks minimum and the breeder got really defensive and told my friend to find a pup else where. Safe to say she was reported. I don't know how people can breed pups without doing even a tiny bit of research, or using any common sense. They just view them as cash cows.ao sad. I hope the little guy is OK

[moosemama]

So pleased to hear he’s been to the vet and is doing ok. I am sure your Mum is going to spoil him rotten.

We ended up taking in a puppy farm pup a verrry long time ago, when we were told of a ‘last-in-litter, about to be drowned’ scenario. This was decades before crossbreeds became popular and being a crossbreed, the pup concerned wasn’t worth anything to the owner. It’s a difficult situation, as you don’t want to fund them, but you don’t want leave a pup in a dreadful situation either. All the official advice seems to be to leave the pup where it is and report, but we just couldn’t do that. We, like you, took the pup on and reported, not only to the Local Authority, but to multiple rescue charities, who all then also reported and the place was shut down a few months later. Not sure if that was entirely due to our report, but it can’t have hurt.

[Newuname199987]

Really glad he’s been to the vet and you didn’t wait 2 weeks for any insurance to kick in. Awful people to breed and sell puppies that are so young. Trouble is there’s money to be made especially this year when prices have increased 4 fold for a puppy. Sounds like he will be loved and looked after now so he’s fallen on his feet. Definitely report to as many authorities as possible.

[Veterinari]

@Puppyhalp
Did vet check for a microchip?
It's illegal to sell a pup without one.
Please report to the local authority and trading standards they are responsible for licensing breeders and ensuring 'quality'

[SionnachRua]

Poor little guy, so small to be taken from his mum Hope the rest of the litter went to good homes too.

[gubbbbbddaaaa]

Omg he is sooo cute .. well done for saving him!! 🥰🥰

[FAQs]

The Vet can also report did they not offer to do that?

The Cariad link on the first page amwould be good as they do a lot of campaigning and would def report them.

[SJaneS48]

Nice to read and sounds like he’s fallen on his feet!

[Puppyhalp]

Sorry very belated update - I had pretty much no sleep last night and when I finally got home today I conked out.

We went to vet, who confirmed he's almost certainly not 9 weeks 😑. Thinks dodgy tummy yesterday may be more to do with car trips and change in food thankfully, as it was better today. He's had flea and worm treatment and is going back for first round of jabs next week.

Then took him over to mum's - thought a face-to-face introduction would be best, though in retrospect should probably have given some warning... She's somewhat bemused by him as has previously been the owner of the sort of puppies you're on a 3-year waiting list for, but she's keeping him and therefore within a few days he will probably be the most spoiled puppy in the country. He's still nameless - I think he's definitely a Lucky given where he's ended up - but waiting to hear what DM's come up with tomorrow.

In the morning going to turn my mind to reporting.

[Pumpkintopf]

Hope it went ok op?