Puppy farms are a growing problem across Nottinghamshire says RSPCA.
The RSPCA has revealed today that complaints in Nottinghamshire about puppy farms have soared by 308% in the last decade.
New figures show that last year (2018) was the worst yet for complaints about the puppy trade in England to the RSPCA, with 4,357 complaints received by the charity's cruelty line last year - a 390% increase on ten years ago when it took just 890 reports.
In Nottinghamshire, the charity received 24 complaints in 2008 compared to 98 last year.
RSPCA dog welfare expert Lisa Hens said: “It is distressing that we are still seeing so many reports about puppy farms but part of this increase is probably due to people being more savvy about what to look out for when getting a pet.
“We know there’s a spike in people searching for puppies and buying dogs at the beginning of the school holidays but we’d urge families to carefully consider whether getting a dog is right for them. Dogs are a huge commitment and need lots of time and attention, even once summer is over and the kids are back at school.
“If you do have the time and money for a dog, then we’d urge you to consider rescuing instead of buying a puppy. Not only will this give a rescue dog a chance at finding his forever home but it’ll also save any potential heartache caused by unwittingly buying a dog from a puppy farm.”
The RSPCA is now issuing advice to prospective dog owners, as puppy farms continue to be a growing problem and complaints have increased by 390% across England.
Lisa said: “After the RSPCA campaigned for years, the Government last year finally introduced tougher licensing regulations around the selling of animals - including breeding and selling dogs - which we hope will help crackdown on this multi-million pound industry.
"The Government has also committed to a ban on the third-party sales of puppies and kittens which, alongside tougher licensing conditions will also help to tackle puppy farms and dodgy dealers.
"However, we also need to educate the public to ensure that they only buy puppies from responsible breeders who prioritise the health and welfare of their dogs over profit.”
The RSPCA has released these top tips for families buying a puppy this summer:
- Do lots of research and make sure you can commit to a new dog before looking for your new family member;
- Adopt don’t shop - visit your local centre to see if you can offer a rescue dog a home;
- Use The Puppy Contract - a guide to how to responsibly source a puppy which can help you find a happy, healthy dog;
- Always visit more than once and the see the mum and puppies interacting together. Be wary of any breeder who won’t let you or pressures you into buying;
If you’re concerned about something you see at a breeder then walk away, do not buy the puppy and report your concerns to the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999, Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or to Newark and Sherwood District Council.
