Have you ever seen a puppy or kitten for sale in a shop window? Don’t be tempted to buy – even the one with the waggily tail.
Today MPs will debate the irresponsible and unethical breeding and sale of dogs and cats - and it’s a discussion that can’t come soon enough.
Often, the puppies and kittens that you see for sale on shop shelves have been produced in intensive breeding operations You may have heard the term ‘puppy farm’ but these places, where pets are brought into the world, are free from any sort of husbandry.
Breeding animals and their offspring are often kept in pens meant for livestock and are unlikely to experience any of the five freedoms as detailed in the Animal Welfare Act 2006, including freedom to behave normally, and freedom from pain, injury and disease.
Profit is prized over welfare and some pets never even see the light of day.
Commercial cat breeding is less visible to both authorities and the public than commercial dog breeding, but we know it is happening.
We see sellers breed multiple litters from the same cat when we moderate websites that advertise pets for sale as part of our work for the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG).
The lack of regulation means this intensive cat breeding goes on under the radar so it’s impossible to make sure breeders are meeting even basic animal welfare standards.
Up for sale
Pet supermarkets are prime retail outlets for selling commercially bred puppies and kittens, and life on the shop floor is no place for these young animals either.
Early socialisation is really important for making sure a puppy or kitten will grow up into a happy and healthy pet, but spending the first few weeks and months of life in a shop environment means these pets miss out on positive early life-forming experiences.
Vets at
Blue Crosshospitals and pet care clinics across the UK examine and treat many sick puppies and kittens that have been left vulnerable to disease after starting life in these unacceptable conditions.
Anyone who has ever had a sick pet will know the devastating emotional toll it can take on a family, let alone the financial fallout.
Supply and demand
Not only can a retail environment compromise an animal’s welfare, but putting pets on display can also encourage people to make impulse purchases.
In our opinion, the UK pet market is already saturated.
Blue Crossrehoming centres take in unwanted dogs and cats every day, those that were bought on a whim or abandoned and left to stray.
Unscrupulous and irresponsible breeding is putting unsustainable pressure on animal welfare charities s and we need something to be done urgently.
Blue Crossis backing the Pup Aid campaign, spearheaded by celebrity vet and animal welfare campaigner Marc Abraham, to ban the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops.
We must act now to stop the stream of poorly bred dogs and cats.
Blue Crosswill always recommend that people rehome a pet rather than purchasing from a breeder. We have many kittens, puppies, cats and dogs at our rehoming centres just waiting to meet potential new owners, however
Blue Crossdoes understand that some people prefer a particular breed.
In this case we’d urge people to do their homework and research thoroughly their preferred pet before choosing a responsible breeder that has put health and welfare above profit
You can help stop the trade by choosing a rescue pet and never purchasing a dog or cat from a pet shop, garden centre, or commercial breeder.
If you’re thinking of getting a new pet, read our advice on how to choose the right one for you and visit our rehoming pages to meet the many dogs and cats at our centres who are ready and waiting to become part of the family.