Scottish SPCA |
Scotland’s Animal Welfare Charity
PUP-AND-UP
Demand for puppies has soared during the pandemic but supply from responsible breeders has fallen. Coronavirus has created a perfect storm for dodgy puppy dealers to flourish. Our Special Investigations Unit leads Operation Delphin, the UK-wide partnership working to disrupt and stop the puppy trade. As we make inroads in to this multi-million pound, greed-fuelled industry, the criminals involved keep
Do you think you could tell the difference between a responsible puppy breeder and an irresponsible one? That’s the question we put to Scots back in June – and just 35% of people felt confident they could tell one from the other.
finding new ways to try and dupe people in to buying badly bred pups. So, it is no surprise so many struggle to separate the good from the bad. Our Chief Superintendent, Mike Flynn, says restrictions from coronavirus have not halted the sale of dogs. “Many badly bred pups sold in Scotland come from Ireland. The
trade died down back in March
one had terrible respiratory issues
and April when we were at the
and had to be put to sleep. This
height of lockdown, but there is no
poor pup is just one of thousands
doubt that since then it has been
who has perished in the name of
as active as in any other year.”
profit.”
“As ever, we have been keeping a
“We will continue to lead the fight
close eye on things and seized 13
against the trade, but it will take
dogs from a dealer at Cairnryan
a massive effort from the public,
port in May. A dozen survived, but
breeders and other animal welfare organisations to stop this. Without the demand, the supply disappears. People should look to adopt and, if that’s not possible, do lots of research and buy responsibly. It may seem like a mountain to climb to eradicate the trade, but I’m in no doubt we can do it.”
