Countless defenceless dogs are forced to repeatedly produce litters of puppies by unlicensed breeders. Profit is put before the welfare of the dogs, that are then callously abandoned once they have served their purpose.
At Battersea we want to tackle irresponsible ownership and the breeding of dogs for profit. It affects the poor dogs that are bred over and over again; it affects dog owners who pay the price for poorly bred dogs and it affects greater society including charities like Battersea who pick up the pieces for dogs suffering from this practice every day.
At the moment it's difficult to put an end to backstreet breeding as current legislation doesn't do enough to safeguard dogs and their new owners. The rules around the breeding of dogs are ambiguous. The law states that breeders require a licence for their fifth litter in a year, but Battersea believes this is easily ignored, and that it should be lowered to a licence for an owner's second litter in 1 year. Battersea is also calling for a closing of the loophole that allows dogs to be sold before they are 8 weeks old, so they can have the vital time they need with their mother.
Veterinary nurses can play an important role in helping to tackle backstreet breeding by providing advice to clients planning on getting a new pet. It is important to discuss how a new puppy will fit into their lifestyle and careful consideration should be taken rather than buying a dog based on its looks, as a status symbol or a fashion accessory. While puppies are obviously appealing some owners may not have considered the additional cost, time and effort required raising a healthy and well socialised puppy. Battersea and other rehoming centres are always looking for new homes for adult dogs that may already have some basic training in place and had initial vaccinations and neutering.
Prospective owners should be advised to be more aware of where they are getting their dog from. Even the most well-meaning owner can fall into the trap of contacting an online advertiser and taking a puppy on without seeing it with its mother or in its home environment. When obtaining a puppy from a charity such as Battersea a new owner can be reassured that they will have received a full veterinary examination and behavioural assessment as well as follow-up support and advice once they have rehomed their new dog.
It's so important for any new owner to make sure they're getting the dog they think they are by seeing the puppy with its mother and making sure it's at least 8 weeks old. New owners should expect a new puppy to have received its first vaccination, flea treatment, worming and a microchip (from 6 April 2016 it will be a legal requirement in the UK for all dogs to be microchipped by 8 weeks of age) before purchase. Not only will this ensure their new puppy has been protected from infectious disease and parasites but will also ensure that the puppy has been seen by a vet. This could help to discourage unscrupulous breeders purely looking to make a profit as this preventative care would have to be paid for. This is also an important opportunity for vets and veterinary nurses to examine puppies for any signs of neglect.
Neutering is an important consideration for any responsible owner to make. If more dogs were neutered, the number of stray animals and unwanted litters coming into rescue centres would almost certainly be reduced. Discussing neutering should be a routine part of the second vaccination consultation. By encouraging owners to neuter their dogs as soon as they are old enough the risk of them becoming part of the backstreet breeding cycle is removed.
Backstreet breeding operates under the radar to a significant degree, and we believe that we can start to spread light on this practice to the public, throughout the animal welfare world and to politicians. Together we can make a real difference.