Puppy Farming

Campaign News

February 2011

Local Authority Survey on Stray Dogs and Dog Breeding Establishments

Early Day Motion 1281: Puppy Farms and Animal Welfare

MP Briefing

Towards the end of 2010, we launched a major new campaign to bring an end to the neglect and suffering endured by thousands of dogs living in filth and squalor.

These poor dogs are merely viewed as machines that continually churn out litter after litter of puppies, so that the evil puppy farmers - who have no regards for the dogs' health and wellbeing - can rake in as much money as possible on the back of their suffering.

This has to stop NOW!

We have a lot of work ahead of us to bring about the changes that we are proposing, but we are confident that with your support we can and WILL make a difference for these poor dogs. In the meantime, if you, or anyone you know has a story you would be prepared to share about your own experiences with puppy farmers, please end an email to: debbie@naturewatch.org

This is no place to raise puppies! Alarmingly, both photographs were taken at Licensed Breeding Premises! Image right: This is the only view this poor dog and her fellow cell mates have (you can just see a dog's face peering through!). Up to 10 dogs live in this hell hole - this is no existence. It will be stifling hot during the summer and bitterly cold in the winter, and there will be no lighting. Could you imagine living like this?

With thanks to Puppy Love Campaigns for the lefthand image and Puppy Alert for the righthand image. Scroll to bottom of page for more shocking images.

The Facts:

It is estimated that 23% of the British population own dogs. That amounts to over 8.3 million dogs in the UK¹, although some people suggest that the figure is nearer to 10 million². National animal welfare organisations are reporting an increase in the number of dogs that are in their care, and this has had a knock on effect, resulting in an increase in the number of dogs that have been euthanised.^{3 4}

Despite this, the vile trade of puppy farming continues unabated, churning out 1000's and 1000's of puppies each year, whilst the breeding bitches that produce them are condemned to a life of misery, deprivation, neglect, suffering and more often than not, solitude.

High profile celebrities are constantly being photographed with their 'designer puppy' as the latest 'must have' accessory, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are being hailed as the 'weapon of choice' for inner city youths to boost their image. Is it little wonder then that the demand for puppies is higher than ever?

As you read this, behind closed doors throughout the UK, puppies are being born in dark and barren cages to satisfy demand; elsewhere perfectly healthy dogs in animal shelters are being destroyed. It's time to redress the balance. References:

¹ Pet Food Manufacturers Association 2010

² RSPCA - Improving Dog Ownership - The economic case for dog licensing 2010

³ Panorama programme about Battersea Dogs Home 2nd August 2010

⁴ Stray Dog Survey 2009 - Dogs Trust

Naturewatch will be lobbying the Government to:

Review the existing laws regarding the breeding and sale of dogs
Ensure stronger enforcement of these laws
Introduce mandatory codes of practice for inspections
Introduce mandatory micro-chipping for all puppies BEFORE they leave the breeder, all breeding bitches and all stud dogs
Educate the public about what to look out for when buying a puppy
Implement tough new measures for advertising puppies.
We want to see the introduction of a compulsory information banner in ALL papers that advertise puppies for sale, highlighting what to look for when buying a puppy and warning consumers about rogue breeders. We will be contacting all papers encouraging them to implement this on a voluntary basis initially. We will also be contacting all websites that advertise puppies for sale in the UK encouraging them to do the same.

What you can do to help

Download, print and distribute the Campaign Leaflet to as many people as possible, and help us spread the word about this vital campaign. [pdf]
If you, or anyone you know, has a story you would be prepared to share about your own experiences with puppy farmers, please send an email to debbie@naturewatch.org. We will shortly be publishing a list of the MPs that have yet to sign Early Day Motion 1281. If your MP is on the list, we'd like you to contact them and urge them to come forward and sign up. See 'Campaign News' box at top of page for further information about the EDM.

With thanks to the Celia Hammond Trust for the Yorkshire Terrier images and to Puppy Love Campaigns for the others.