Tag: animal cruelty

Don’t get Petfished!

Prospective puppy and kitten owners  warned of risks of being ‘Petfished’ when buying a pet online following lockdown demand surge 

Vets, charities and animal-loving celebrities have joined forces with a government campaign to warn prospective pet owners against unknowingly buying puppies, kittens, cats and dogs from unscrupulous sellers amid a rise in demand for pets since lockdown.

An open letter, signed by celebrities including Kirsty Gallacher, Paul O’Grady, Amanda Holden and David Gandy, and supported by charities including Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the Blue Cross, Cats Protection, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA, is calling on the public to research sellers thoroughly online before buying. 

These warnings follow continued demand for pets since lockdown eased, with online marketplace Preloved reporting that the number of pet listing has increased by nearly 50% since March. They are anticipating a further boom in adverts throughout the summer.

Pets4Homes has also said that they are experiencing not only a six-fold increase in new user accounts, but an average of 155 views per new pet advert. Both Preloved and Pets4Homes are supporting the government’s Petfished campaign, which urges people to stop and ask: ‘Who’s the person behind the pet?’.  

Despite a huge 125% increase in adverts posted across online marketplaces during lockdown for puppies, kittens, dogs and cats, demand continues to outstrip supply. However, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has advised that vets are dealing with ongoing cases where owners have been sold sick puppies and kittens by unscrupulous dealers as a result of new owners not researching sellers before buying their new pet.

Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:  “Prospective pet owners must beware of sinister sellers out there who breed animals purely for profit with zero concern for their welfare. The devastating consequences include crippling vet bills and, in the worst cases, animals having to be put down.  

“It’s vitally important that people not only research the breed of animal they want but also the person selling it to them.”

Animal Welfare Minister Lord Goldsmith said: “At this time when more people are looking for pets it is more important than ever that buyers do their research and ensure they go to a reputable seller.

Following the introduction of Lucy’s Law earlier this year, everyone must now buy directly from breeders or consider adopting from rescue centres. So please look out for the warning signs and report any suspicious activity.”

TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher, who has two dogs, British bull dog Betsy and French bull dog Bertie, said:  “My dogs mean the world to me and pets bring joy to so many. It’s shocking to hear the lengths deceitful sellers go to when selling pets and sadly this can mean animals come from low-welfare conditions with distressing consequences.

“As pet lovers, we should take responsibility by always researching the seller before buying a new pet to ensure our four legged friends live happy and healthy lives.”

The letter, also signed by former international rugby players Chris Robshaw and Sam Warburton, is part of the government’s ‘Petfished’ campaign - a play on ‘catfishing’, where a stranger creates a fictional online persona to lure someone into a relationship - deceitful pet sellers use a similar tactic to ‘Petfish’ unsuspecting buyers.   

Following Lucy’s Law – meaning it is now illegal to sell a kitten or puppy you haven’t bred - the Petfished campaign calls for consumers to remain vigilant, always researching the seller before visiting, reporting suspicious adverts and crucially be prepared to walk away and report suspected cases of animal abuse to the RSCPA or, if witnesses, the police.  

British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) President Ian Ramsey said: “Vets are continuing to see many owners who have been sold very sick puppies by unscrupulous dealers simply because new owners have not researched the seller before buying their pet.

“As a result, vets see first-hand the distress and upset this can cause owners. We would urge anyone thinking of buying a puppy or kitten to check their pet is coming from a responsible seller before making a decision to buy.”

To avoid being Petfished, the public are being urged to spot vital red flags when researching sellers, with the help of the acronym S.P.O.T:

Seller

  • Put the seller’s name and phone number into a search engine – avoid those with multiple adverts.

Parent

  • Make sure you see puppies and kittens in their home with their mother.

Old enough

  • Check puppies and kittens are at least 8 weeks old before you take them home.

Treatment

  • Ask to see the animal’s health records and avoid sellers who can’t provide them.

Anyone looking to buy a pet can get tips and advice on the Petfished campaign website by searching ‘Get your pet safely’ or visiting  getyourpetsafely.gov.uk    

Dogs Trust launches ‘Don’t Be Dogfished’ campaign

  • Edinburgh visited on a national tour by the UK’s leading dog charity to warn dog lovers of deceitful puppy sellers online
  • The van, designed by dirt artist Ruddy Muddy, highlights the horrific reality behind many online puppy adverts, with some puppies travelling in awful conditions, malnourished, thirsty or kept in tiny cages away from their mum
  • More than one in 10 (12%) of puppy buyers in Edinburgh suspect they were lied to by the seller of their puppy according to new research by Dogs Trust

Dogs Trust, the UK’s leading dog charity, visited Edinburgh yesterday in a fake puppy smuggling van as part of its Don’t Be Dogfished campaign, to help stop dog lovers falling victim to the cruel puppy smuggling trade.

Members of the public in Edinburgh were invited to come down to the Grassmarket to speak to Dogs Trust experts about how to avoid being misled when buying a puppy online.

The Don’t Be Dogfished campaign, which launcheed on the 17th January in London, has taken to the road on a national tour with a fake puppy smuggling van that has been specially adapted for the campaign.

The van, which is based on those used by perpetrators, illustrates the hidden reality of puppies bought online and the cramped and filthy conditions they are often subjected to as they are illegally trafficked to the UK.

Celebrity dirt artist ‘Ruddy Muddy’ has created a heart-wrenching mud-art mural to bring the hidden horrors of smuggling vans to the surface for all to see. Likewise, the interior of the van has been dressed to depict the real-life scenarios some of the puppies rescued by Dogs Trust have subjected to.

Catherine Gillie, Regional Manager at Dogs Trust, said: “Today we’re launching a campaign warning people ‘Don’t be dogfished’ – to help stop people being duped into buying puppies that have been illegally imported into the country by devious dealers. 

“People think they are getting a healthy, happy puppy but behind the curtain lurks the dark depths of the puppy smuggling trade. Many of these poor puppies suffer significant health conditions or lifelong behavioural challenges, and sadly some don’t survive, leaving their buyers helpless and heartbroken – as well as out of pocket.

“This is why we are touring the country in a van like those used by puppy smugglers to educate the public on the shocking realities of the puppy smuggling trade and advising them how they can take action to avoid being ‘dogfished’. If it seems too good to be true, as hard as it is, walk away and report it.”

The tour comes as shocking new statistics released today by Dogs Trust reveals how unsuspecting dog lovers in Edinburgh may have been conned or ‘dogfished’ into buying puppies illegally imported into the UK, leaving them heartbroken and almost £500 on average out-of-pocket. (1)

The UK’s leading dog charity polled over 2,000 puppy owners to see how many buyers might have fallen victim to illegal puppy smuggling, where puppies are brought into the UK from central and eastern European countries to sell on for vast profits. Many described how sellers falsified paperwork, offered discounts for a quick sale or lied about the age and breed of the dog.

All is not what it seems 

Over a third (37%) of puppy buyers in Edinburgh were not allowed to see the puppy more than once while 25% were not allowed to see the puppy with their mum – two signs that all might not be what it seems.

More than one in 10 (12%) puppy buyers in Edinburgh said their seller lied to them about the dog they were buying, lying about things such as the age, breed and whether they had been vaccinated and microchipped. 29% said they had concerns, related to health or behaviour, about their puppy within just a few weeks of buying them.

Horrific conditions and unnecessary suffering 

Worse still some reported terrible conditions where their puppies were “locked in a small cage away from mum”, were so sick they “very nearly died”, or were “scared of their own shadow and very wary of humans”.

More than one in 10 puppy buyers polled in Edinburgh (12%) said within their first year their puppy had developed significant health or behaviour problems, such as diarrhoea and anxiety, causing terrible suffering for their beloved pet whilst costing them on average almost £500 in additional vet bills.

Some of those people even said their puppy had either died or had to be put to sleep, due to the severity of their condition.

Over 201,300  dogs were advertised online in 2019 on four of the UK’s biggest classified websites.

More than half (53%) of those polled in the city said they felt puppy smuggling was a big issue in the UK, yet 29% said they would not know they need to speak to their local Trading Standards if they suspected their puppy was smuggled, with contact details able to be found on the ‘Don’t Be Dogfished’ website.

The Don’t Be Dogfished campaign is asking potential new owners to take the following steps to avoid being misled when buying a puppy:

  • Always see puppy and mum together at their home and make sure to visit more than once.
  • Ask lots of questions and make sure you see all vital paperwork, such as a puppy contract – which gives lots of information about their parents, breed, health, diet, the puppy’s experiences and more.
  • If you have any doubts or feel pressured to buy, as hard as it may be, walk away.

The findings reveal the importance of puppy buyers insisting on these essential checks, as they are often avoided by shifty sellers who put owners under pressure to part with their cash or ‘rescue’ the puppies from poor conditions.

For more information about the Don’t Be Dogfished campaign and advice about how to avoid being misled when buying a puppy online, search ‘Dogfished’ or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/dogfished

New drive to curb online puppy sales

BUYERS URGED TO BOYCOTT ILLEGAL TRADE

People in Scotland are increasingly buying puppies online despite the risk of purchasing from illegal breeders, according to new research.

Almost half (45%) of people who bought a puppy in 2019 did so online, up from a quarter (25%) the previous year. One in five puppies bought through online advertising websites, where most illegal dealers operate, get sick or die within the first year, and one in four die before their fifth birthday.

The campaign is asking people to #LookBeyondCute and make three ‘Pup Checks’. They are :

• look for the puppy’s mother
• look for paperwork such as vaccination and microchipping certificates
• walk away if something doesn’t seem right

Launching the latest phase of the Scottish Government’s Buy a Puppy Safely campaign in Edinburgh yesterday, Minister for Rural Affairs and Natural Environment Mairi Gougeon said: “Puppy farms breed misery, and that misery is being fuelled by the huge demand for puppies and facilitated through online adverts and sellers.

“Last year’s campaign contributed to a 37% increase in the number of advice calls about suspected puppy farms to the Scottish SPCA’s animal helpline. As people increasingly look online to buy a puppy, it is more important than ever that they know how to spot the signs of illegal dealers.

“There are key checks that can help ensure you are buying safely. These include meeting the puppy’s mother with her litter and ensuring all the correct paperwork is in place. If something doesn’t feel right, walk away and report your concerns to the Scottish SPCA.”

Paulina Majerowska, a 25-year-old student from Clackmannanshire who bought a puppy online, said: “I spotted an online advert for a Chihuahua and phoned the seller who said he could drop the puppy off within the hour as he was already in the area.

“When he arrived it felt very rushed. He told us the dog had been vaccinated but he’d forgotten the documentation.

“I spent £350 and was told the puppy was 10 weeks old, but she looked quite unwell. We named her Daisy but soon realised things weren’t right. She died just five days later.

“The emotional turmoil we have been through as a family has been awful. My advice would be do your research properly and don’t rush into buying a puppy. More importantly, walk away if something doesn’t feel right.”

Animal Welfare toolkit

Scots want tougher controls on fireworks

Public concerns over animal welfare highlighted

A clear majority of Scots want to see tighter controls on the use and sale of fireworks.

A YouGov survey commissioned by the Scottish government and involving a representative sample of the Scottish population, showed 71% of adults supported tighter controls on the sale of fireworks to the public, with over half backing a ban.

And out of more than 16,000 respondents to a Scottish Government consultation on the issue:

  • 94% want to see tighter controls on the sale of fireworks
  • 93% want to see stronger regulations to ensure animals are not caused unnecessary suffering as a result of fireworks misuse
  • 92% feel there should be tighter controls on fireworks use
  • 87% would support an outright ban on the sale of fireworks

Concerns over the impact of fireworks on those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and autism were also highlighted.

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham said: “The results of our consultation and survey demonstrate overwhelming public support for a change in how fireworks are sold and used.

“While legislation on the sale of fireworks is reserved to Westminster, I will work with stakeholders to look at the powers we have to drive forward action to reduce the damage caused by fireworks misuse.

“The consultation also highlighted the wider harm that can be caused to members of our communities, including our ex-service people and those with underlying mental health issues. The serious distress and occasional injury caused to animals around times of celebration has also been highlighted as a specific concern.

“I will update Parliament shortly on our intended action to ensure fireworks are used safely and appropriately.”

Scottish SPCA head of education and policy Gilly Mendes Ferreira said: “We’re pleased so many members of the public have voiced their opinion and cited animal welfare as one of the reasons to restrict the public sale and use of fireworks. For years we have supported tighter restrictions on public use due to the stress and anxiety that can be caused to animals.

“Over the years the Scottish SPCA has received a handful of calls relating to an animal that has been injured due to the direct misuse of fireworks. The majority of calls relate to animals that have become injured through trying to escape the noise of fireworks.

“Incidents include dogs running on to roads and being hit by oncoming traffic, birds, such as swans, flying into electricity pylons and horses being badly injured after running through barbed wire fences. We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to improve animal welfare surrounding the use of fireworks.”

The Scottish Government’s consultation on fireworks ran for 13 weeks and received 16,420 responses from members of the public and stakeholder organisations. The process included 29 public events around Scotland.

A consultation on fireworks in Scotland: your experiences, your ideas, your views. Analysis of responses to the public consultation exercise

 

Animal Welfare Bill published

New legislation to strengthen animal cruelty penalties and improve powers for front-line enforcement agencies has been published.

The Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill will increase the maximum penalties for the most serious animal welfare and wildlife offences to five years imprisonment and increase the maximum penalties for various other offences.

The Bill will implement ‘Finn’s Law’ giving extra protection to service animals, and provide a process to allow animals that have been taken into possession on welfare grounds to be sold or rehomed quickly without the need for a court order.

Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon (above) said: “We want to continue to have the highest standards of welfare for our animals and to have the most robust and proportionate penalties available.

“Through increasing the maximum penalties available for the most serious animal welfare and wildlife offences, we are ensuring that those who carry out these heinous acts will rightly face the full force of the law, as and where appropriate.

“We also want to see more protection given to service animals such as police dogs and horses, so we will be enacting what has become known as Finn’s law. I believe it is only right that animals which work to keep us safe should be given the fullest protection we can give them in return.

“Animal welfare is a subject I feel very passionately about, and call on stakeholders and parliament to support these bold steps to further improve Scotland’s high animal welfare standards.”

Kirsteen Campbell, Chief Executive of the Scottish SPCA, said: “These exciting changes have the potential to be transformational for animals across the country and the Scottish SPCA.

“The power to rehome animals without a court order would be of massive benefit to their welfare. All receive incredible care from our expert teams, but this is no substitute for a loving home.

“Prosecution is a last resort for the Society, but we have long felt the penalties for animal cruelty are too lenient and inconsistent. We hope increasing the options available to Sheriffs will lead to fewer people mistreating animals in the first place.”

Cats Protection has welcomed the new laws. The charity’s Chief Executive James Yeates said: “Every week we hear of stories where cats, and other animals, have been subjected to horrific cruelty, causing them severe suffering, and often lifelong physical injuries or psychological problems. And sadly, we hear of many cases where cats have died after suffering appalling acts of cruelty.

“Animal cruelty is an abhorrent crime and Cats Protection welcomes this bill which will increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty from 12 months to five years.

“This increase reflects the importance that society places on protecting animals from harm and punishing those who are cruel towards them, ensuring Scotland is one of the world leaders on animal welfare issues.”

Cats Protection is the UK’s largest cat charity and during 2018, its 40 volunteer-run branches and four centres in Scotland rehomed 4,000 unwanted cats and neutered more than 14,000 cats.

Dozens of dogs were rescued after a raid on a suspected puppy farm in Moray yesterday. Two were pregnant and have since given birth, leaving the Scottish SPCA to care for 78 dogs.

Inspectors from the charity carried out the raid in an operation with police and Moray Council after concerns were raised about animals at a property.

The dogs are now being cared for by the Scottish SPCA’s dedicated animal care teams. Whilst 60 dogs were seized during the initial raid, two were pregnant at the time and Scotland’s animal welfare charity is now caring for 78.

Kirsteen Campbell, chief executive of the Scottish SPCA, said: “Sadly, many of the dogs we’ve taken are showing signs of disease and infection consistent with intensive breeding.

“Our animal care and veterinary experts have been selflessly working around the clock to provide care for these poor animals since the raid. Whilst it is an immense challenge, the main thing is these dogs are all receiving an amazing amount of love and care.”

“It costs an average of £15 per day to care for a single dog, but money is no object so long as these dogs are now in a safe place. Many of these dogs need ongoing veterinary care and we are going through a lot of food and supplies for the puppies. Any support members of the public can provide is most welcome.”

“We cannot comment further on the specific details of this case as it is a live investigation.”

Moray Council’s highly-trained and experienced Trading Standards officers acted when they spotted several similar adverts of puppies for sale on Gumtree.

The authority’s Trading Standards Manager said the multi-agency approach taken by Moray Council, the Scottish SPCA and Police Scotland was vital.

“Our officers’ remit is to deal with consumer protection, however a situation like this throws up many issues which requires the expertise of different agencies.

“I’m pleased that through collaborative working, we’ve been able to safeguard the welfare of the puppies and stop future customers from being exploited. The puppies are now in the experienced and able hands of the Scottish SPCA.”

The Scottish SPCA is in urgent need of Royal Canin puppy milk and cotton pads for toileting and cleaning puppies. Anyone who can help can purchase these through the charity’s Amazon wishlist or drop supplies in to their nearest centre or the Scottish SPCA’s headquarters.

 

Undercover investigation reveals magnitude of horrifying puppy smuggling trade

The UK’s largest dog welfare charity is calling on the government to take urgent action to stop the illegal importation of puppies into the UK as Brexit approaches. This follows an undercover investigation which exposes the magnitude and ease of trade routes into the UK for European smugglers. Continue reading Undercover investigation reveals magnitude of horrifying puppy smuggling trade

Jane Goodall speaks out against ‘shocking and inhumane’ treatment of primates

Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE (above), has described the treatment of monkeys used in research as “shocking and inhumane”, calling for a phase out of their use at the earliest opportunity. Continue reading Jane Goodall speaks out against ‘shocking and inhumane’ treatment of primates

Time to end lab animal secrecy and the hidden suffering of millions

Campaigners call for greater transparency to facilitate adoption of advanced non-animal methods

Home Office figures released yesterday reveal that 3,721,744 mice, fish, rabbits, dogs, rats, monkeys and other animals were used for research in UK laboratories last year. Continue reading Time to end lab animal secrecy and the hidden suffering of millions