Why puppy farming is still a problem

Last month the Kennel Club ran its Puppy Awareness Week Campaign; their research found that one in three people may have bought from a puppy farmer and of the puppies bought online or in pet shops — outlets often used by puppy farmers — one in five ends up needing long-term veterinary treatment or dying before it is 6 months old.

I continue to see puppies needing help because they were born on a puppy farm and hear tales of distressed owners seeing their brand new puppy die because they bought them from a puppy farm, through a free newspaper ad, over the internet, or from a pet shop.

The key to ending puppy farming is to stop people buying from puppy farmers in the first place. By stopping the demand, we stop the trade, so we need to raise awareness. I always make sure everyone I come into contact with is informed about the horrors of puppy farming, and even run an annual event to help get the word across called Pup Aid. With this event and the publicity surrounding it, I am able to get the message across to the thousands of people, as well as raising money to go to rescue shelters and charities that help stop, or deal with the consequences of puppy farms.