- A quarter of owners admit their pet may have been purchased from a puppy farm
- The ease of buying a puppy is creating a ‘puppy welfare crisis’
Shocking figures show that a third of puppies bought on impulse become ill or die before they reach their first birthday.
Experts warn that the culture of complacency is fuelling a welfare crisis for puppies, with a quarter of owners admitting their pet was accidentally bought from a puppy farm.
The statistics, released as part of The Kennel Club’s ‘Be Puppywise’ campaign, show that a quarter of owners travel no more than an hour to collect their puppy and 29 percent spend less than a day researching their choice and the breeder.
This lazy puppy buying behavior has dramatic consequences for our country’s pets. Data shows that 31 percent of pets who bought a puppy within a day become sick or die within the first year.
Of the owners who spent less than a day investigating, nearly two-thirds experienced other complications with their puppies, including unexpected behavioral problems and high healthcare costs.
Experts warn the culture of complacency is fuelling a welfare crisis for puppies, with a quarter of owners admitting their pet was accidentally bought from a puppy farm.
The research also found that owners who travel just an hour to pick up their pet often miss important warning signs.
More than half reported that they had not seen their puppy interact with its mother and that they had not seen the puppy’s breeding environment.
About two-thirds had not seen their puppy’s vaccination certificate and more than three-quarters were not asked by breeders whether the puppy was suitable for keeping.
The research also found that impulse purchases may be fueled by the appeal of ‘puppy eyes’ on social media and celebrity-driven trends.
Nearly half of all puppy buyers in the UK said their main motivation for choosing a puppy was appearance or seeing the type of dog on television, social media or on a celebrity.
Charlotte McNamara, Chief Medical Officer at The Kennel Club, said: ‘This dangerous culture of complacency has become a cancer on puppy welfare.
Nearly half of all UK puppy buyers said their main motivation for choosing their puppy was appearance, either because they saw the type of dog on TV, social media or on a celebrity (stock image)
‘Getting a dog is a long-term commitment and a decision should not be made lightly, superficially or without effort.
‘If you are considering getting a puppy, we strongly recommend that you take the time to do thorough, careful and extensive research to ensure that the puppy is right for you. We also recommend that you learn to recognise the signs of a bad breeder.
“Be willing to wait and go the distance for the well-being of your new family member. The more time you spend, the more likely you are to bring home a happy, healthy puppy, instead of causing untold suffering and heartache.”
She warned that if she doesn’t, “shady, rogue puppy sellers will be allowed to flourish and operate with little oversight.”
The findings are based on a survey of 2,610 dog owners conducted this month.