Illegal dog breeding – is that what you want to support? – South Coast Herald

Due to the economic downturn, some people are breeding dogs for massive financial gain.

I’m not against breeding – I’m against blind dog draining.

All purebred breeders must be registered with the Kennel Union of South Africa (KUSA).

KUSA is able to track certain practices such as the number of litters produced by each female each year. Unfortunately, KUSA cannot control everything the breeders do. Females should not be bred every time they are in heat. If a breeder is not registered with KUSA, the buyer will have little or no recourse if the puppy has genetic defects.

If a puppy purchased from a registered breeder is diagnosed with hip dysplasia or hereditary eye disorders, for example by a qualified veterinarian, you as the legal owner have the right to report that breeder to KUSA, who will take the necessary measures The breeder could be asked to produce a certificate from the veterinarian on the state of the hips and the eyes – of both parents of the puppy.

KNOW WHERE YOUR PUPPY COMES FROM:

If you are looking to buy a specific breed of dog, the safest route to take would be to speak to your veterinarian or contact KUSA who can tell you where to contact a reputable breeder. This way you won’t be supporting indiscriminate breeding such as puppy mills/animal breeding.

Make an appointment with the breeder:

If the breeder won’t give you an appointment to see the puppy or the parents, walk away, they’re not the breeder you should buy a puppy from. If you are granted an appointment, ask to see both parents and all puppies in the litter. If you observe any type of lameness or aggression in either parent, don’t buy the puppy, you’re setting yourself up for vet bills and heartache. Report what you observe to KUSA, who will take whatever action they deem necessary. If the conditions in which the dogs are kept are in any way unsanitary and the dogs do not appear to be well cared for, report this to KUSA.

Breeders have the right to sell you a puppy with breeding restrictions. Any responsible breeder will not allow a buyer to breed with a dog unless prior arrangements have been made. In this way, the breed is saved, as well as the litters of unwanted puppies. Usually, a breeder will not release the dog to the buyer until proof of sterilization has been received by the breeder.

MILLS/PUPPY FARMS

Anyone who has not witnessed the horrific conditions of a puppy mill cannot imagine the cruelty to which these dogs are subjected. The females are bred whenever they come in season, they are kept in small cages which are never cleaned, the dogs and puppies are in poor health and they are never vaccinated against dog diseases. When the females are too old to produce puppies, they are given away, mostly to people who don’t really want them and end up in animal shelters.

ALSO READ: WATCH – SPCA pounces on Port Edward puppy mill

TO AVOID SUPPORTING PUPPY MILLS:

NEVER buy a puppy from a roadside vendor.

Either from a third party unless the third party undertakes to provide the details of the breeder. If you are able to see the parents and are satisfied that they are in good health and the conditions are respectable, then only should you buy the puppy.

Don’t buy a puppy advertised on social media – you could be supporting a puppy mill.

We can all help end this mindless reproduction and cruelty, by not supporting it.

Factual.

Recently a puppy was purchased by a couple. They had always loved this specific breed and saw one advertised for sale. This puppy was sold to them by a third party and no details of the puppy’s history were available. At the age of six months, the dog was sterilized. She didn’t seem well and a visit to the vet confirmed that she had an immunodeficiency disorder.

These owners have paid high vet bills, the dog is no longer going to school due to illness, and the breeders of this dog will continue breeding and selling puppies as they are unknown and the third party will not disclose who are the breeders. Breeders and the third party are, MAKE MONEY by selling puppies, a sad situation.

Immunodeficiency is a congenital disease, meaning a dog is born with the disease. (Ref: www.petmd.com)

Do the responsible thing, KNOW WHERE YOUR PUPPY IS FROM.

Greetings

Yvonne ACDIPCBM (UK)

Please see the following website for more detailed information on puppy mills:

www.thedodo.com

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