Why you should think about your Christmas puppy

There are well-known potential animal health and welfare issues involved with buying puppies, particularly from unscrupulous breeders who treat the females as breeding machines and the puppies as commodities to be sold for the maximum profit. These issues have been exacerbated by internet sales of puppies and reported smuggling across the borders of European countries to meet customer demand, with many of these animals uncared for, unvaccinated against disease, and sold before they are ready to leave their mothers.

Animal welfare charities in the UK have been investigating puppy smuggling, and have pointed out the increased risks of bringing diseases into the country, including rabies. Rabies is an almost invariably fatal disease, and the symptoms cause great suffering to the victims before death. The UK has been free of dog-transmitted rabies for over a century – the result of stringent measures taken to protect its citizens and their animals. It would be a tragedy if this horrendous disease returned.

At Christmas time, when many puppies are bought and sold as presents, we should keep in mind that they aren’t toys, and responsible care of animals is needed throughout their lives. This responsibility includes understanding the requirements regarding dog registration and vaccination against disease as well as providing them with suitable food, shelter, exercise and companionship.

Once you’re sure that you can give an animal a lifelong home, adopting one from a known shelter instead of buying from unknown and potentially unreliable sources can protect your family from disease and potential heartache – the unvaccinated status of many of these animals bought over the internet leaves them more susceptible to disease, and they may be carrying infections when they come in to the country. Aside from this, when you adopt from a shelter you are not only taking home a healthy, well-behaved animal, you are also usually provided with advice and aftercare to help make your new family member settle in more easily. At Christmas, what can be more heart-warming than providing a dog or cat with a loving home?

Find out more about vaccinations available for your dog here.