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.

[AmICrazyorWhat2]

Oh, he’s adorable! I agree on reporting and hope things go well at the vet’s today.

Tbh, I’m just relieved that you took him out of that situation and he’ll be properly cared for from now on.

[Soubriquet]

Oh he’s just gorgeous

I agree he doesn’t look 9 weeks bless him.

Hopefully the vet was able to help

[Sexnotgender]

Please report them.

Poor wee scone doesn’t look 9 weeks 😔 I hope he’s ok.

[RainbowRaine]

Harrington's Grain free puppy food will be fine for him.

As you know vet needed ASAP.

[Suzi888]

Get insurance, really good insurance- wait appropriate length of time. Take pup to vets.
Report the breeder!
Looks very cute by the way

[MadCatLady71]

Fortiflora will help settle his tummy - though you need the vet to confirm his likely age before giving him anything. A really simple diet of boiled chicken and rice could also help if he is struggling to adjust to a change in diet and environment.

Most important thing is to get him to the vet. And I totally, totally understand your impulse to get him out of there.

(I’m currently adjusting to life with a 9 week old puppy, too - born 04/07 - though I think my boy had a much luckier start in life than yours. We picked him up already wormed, chipped and having had his first round of vaccinations.)

[RunningFromInsanity]

Shame on those saying get insurance and wait the required time before taking him to a vets. Usually it’s around 15days. A 9 week old puppy can go downhill very very quickly in just a few days. I’ve seen puppies for of worms/D+ in just a few days.

Fancy prioritising money over welfare.

[SJaneS48]

I have to agree @RunningFromInsanity, I can’t imagine there is a policy out there giving immediate cover and from what the OP has said, he needed a vet check pretty immediately!

[picklemewalnuts]

Oh goodness, I'm only here for updates and cute photos. Gosh goodness. Bless him.

[picklemewalnuts]

And tell everyone at work about the poor puppy.

[LunchBoxPolice]

Yes please don’t wait for insurance to kick in. Poor thing needs looking at ASAP.

[DeliciouslyFemale]

@Thesuzle

Oh my good god.
Report the breeder.
Buy very very good pet insurance before you take it to the vet (leave some time in between)
So the pup needs further jabs before you can take it out and about, what age is it, do you believe the breeder

Please don’t do this. If you delay taking your pup to the vet, you could lose him. Imagine having a distended tummy due to worms or some other illness and being made to wait weeks before getting treatment. Take him to the vet and ask for her/his advice. They should be able to point you in the right direction. Ps, photo please. Poor wee love.

[DeliciouslyFemale]

Sorry, I got distracted while typing. Such a wee darling.

[im5050]

I haven’t read the whole thread
But if he has a dodgy belly & pooh Then Chappie Original dog food in the can is a good alternative to chicken & rice
It’s very bland. It’s practically dead .
But I’ve used it for years on the recommendation of my vets when I told them I couldn’t cook chicken & rice ( I really can’t cook😂) and it’s never failed to settle my dogs stomach
No policy will cover you for 14 days for any illness
But I would still get it set up anyway
Bought By Many are very good. Relatively cheap ( unless you live in a bad postcode and have a french bulldog 😀)
And the policy is very simple to understand no silly hidden clauses
He’s adorable and I hope he gives you lots of fun

[SJaneS48]

Just a thought but if he’s not had his jabs would he even be eligible for insurance? A lot don’t seem to cover un-inoculated dogs I think? Whatever food you do use OP, any new brand has to be introduced over a couple of days mixed in with the old. You can use Pro Kolin (pro biotic paste) on puppies to hell settle a stomach.

Do come back with an update. As you can tell, a few of us doggy types are now worried about this pup!x

[Motorina]

I can't add anything intelligent to what's already been said, but please come back to us with updates.

[Pumpkintopf]

Hope it went ok op?

[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.

[SJaneS48]

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

[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.

[gubbbbbddaaaa]

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

[SionnachRua]

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

[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'

[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.

[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.