[Vent] Backyard breeders!!

[jesses_girl]

Ok, so obviously i don't have a problem with people who breed dogs responsibly. Theres a girl on my fb who almost everyday posts something about puppies for sale. I thought she was posting for friends etc, but their all hers. Every second day there is a litter of puppies for sale, the youngest i've seen in 2 weeks old. She posts them for free or something like $20. I was curious so i posted asking if i could buy one of the puppies (Bull arab, staffie and kelpie) I asked if they've had their shots and if shes a licenced breeder. She said as if i would sell puppies for $25 if i gave them their shots. I asked why does she always have so many puppies for sale she told me that because she own 8 female dogs who come on heat at different times and 3 male dogs. None of them desexed. I'm in two minds as to report her or not, i'm pretty sure its illegal to sell a puppy under 6 weeks old. WWYD?

[Teeki]

Yes, I'd be reporting her - that is not responsible breeding. There could be any number of problems for those female dogs if they're constantly having puppies.

And selling 2 week old puppies?? I'd hope she's just looking for interest and not selling until they're ready. Not giving them shots or anything either, I'd say she's not getting them checked at all, who knows what you're getting when you buy one of those pups.

Also, isn't it illegal to own that many dogs? Where I am it's no more than three, and she has 11 if I counted right!

[skybie]

That is absolutely disgusting!

[Cranky Kitten]

I'd report her to the RSPCA personally. Or the local council, as with 11 dogs as Kaytee has said, she's got to be breaking some sort of local council laws, quite aside from the fact that breeding so many puppies without guaranteed homes for them is just downright irresponsible!

There was a case recently here in WA where a woman was banned from selling dogs as the majority of her pups had serious health issues and would be sick/almost dying when the new owner collected them, resulting in hefty vet fees. I don't know about selling a 2 week old pup being illegal, but any vet will tell you that it seriously comprimises the dog's health to do so, and could be considered animal cruelty.

[~ Mylitta ~]

Definitely report her! I can't begin to tell you all how much I despise backyard breeders. In all my time as a vet nurse I've seen way too many horrible outcomes from backyard breeders and puppy farmers (and with the turnover of puppies she has I'd class her as a puppy farmer!).

And don't even get me started on "free" or "cheap" puppies. Do you know the type of people that want a "free" or "cheap" puppy? People who don't want to spend, or can't afford to spend any money on the puppy once they get it. Not shots, no desexing, no medical treatment if it's ill...

Ok, now I'm just ranting because I'm so passionate and emotional about the subject.

Jesses girl - Thanks for being so observant and noticing what she's doing. And for caring enough to ask her about it and consider reporting her. Personally I'd call the police, her council (if you know it) and the RSPCA too.

[Astrid]

8 weeks minimum for pups and kittens. Some websites and newspapers now having warnings in classified section about it.

I would be tempted to report her. There are too many dogs out there that need homes and I would be seriously concerned about the health of her animals.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Well done for noticing. I'd be calling the RSPCA too as well as the council/police.

[Ginger]

Please report her to the RSPCA. Please

[Miss.September]

Yep, I'd report her too. The RSPCA will find homes for all of them and look after them the way they should be looked after.

I went into our local pet supply place last week and they had a dog behind the counter, shivering and staring. I got talking to the lady working there and she said the dog was suffering from severe separation anxiety from her owner - who was just in an aisle in the same store, restocking it. She said the dog had been put through litter after litter, just churning them out. The dog was rescued and now they're trying to teach her that the world is an okay place. She's half the size of what she should be for the breed of dog she is and when she first arrived, she would howl if her new owner was out of sight for a second.

Backyard breeding and out of control breeding is so wrong, in so many ways. We had a spoodle, bought from a specialist store who assured us they only dealt with reputable breeders, who was vicious. Started snapping at hands at 8 weeks old and no amount of training made it stop. We put him down at 21 months old after he bit me and didn't let go. This is the result of backyard breeding. The trauma that we went through, firstly from our puppy behaving in a way no dog ever should right through to having to put down a healthy dog that wasn't yet fully matured, was so painful not only for us, but for my mum who we lived with at the time. There is no guarantee that these pups will be okay, physically or mentally. They need worming as well as their first lot of shots and this usually happens before they go to their new home.

ETA - The council here has a bylaw that states that we cannot have more than two dogs registered at the property unless we have written approval.

[LionsandBears]

Please report her. That's so disgusting, it's distressing.

Those poor poor dogs

[misty]

I loath backyard breeders. Definitely report her to the council and the RSPCA. It is an abhorant practice - people just wanting to make a quick buck without care for the animals in questiong. Disgusting.

[Babyluv]

That's so horrible, pls report her, those poor animals

[Ginger]

Maybe contact the people at oscar's law as well (google it) and they may be able to help you out with this.

[helle]

I would. I think there are limits on the amount of times a female can have puppies within a year, for their own health. How terrible. How does she look after them all? I have images of those puppy breeding factory's from ACA in my head.

[~me~]

Sounds like a puppy farm. I would report her to the RSPCA and also her local council. It's cruelty.

[LuluHB]

I'd report her to everyone I could think of. That is just horrible. Poor dogs and poor puppies. How can her neighbours not have complained about it? I can't imagine 11 dogs and a constant stream of puppies are noisy and smelly!

I really think it should be compulsory for all dogs and cats to be sterilised unless you are a registered breeder. If you can't afford to pay the price for a pup from a breeder, then you can't afford a dog.

[Ginger]

Absolutely agree luluHB. Puppy farmers and byb should be against the law. I want oscars law!

[~ Mylitta ~]

I really think it should be compulsory for all dogs and cats to be sterilised unless you are a registered breeder.

That's already in place in many council areas. It came into place in the area my vet clinic is in about 3-4 years ago. Never heard of anyone getting in trouble for not desexing though. The people who want to avoid desexing just don't register the dogs, so the council can only find out about the dogs if someone dobs them in, or if they query people in public, but I doubt many puppy farmers are taking their dogs for walks...