Soapstars, TV personalities and sporting heroes are joining together to support Puppy Farm Awareness Day in Brighton on 19 September, which will include the World’s Biggest Puppy Party and fun-dog show to raise awareness of the cruel practice of puppy farming in the UK.

Social petworking website www.ThePet.net is inviting puppies and dogs of all ages to come along, take part and enjoy all the fun at this unique event, which will see all profits go to doggy charities and at the same time highlight this serious animal welfare issue.

Supported by Eukanuba, the day will include a funky doggy shopping area, live music, facepainting  and a fun dog show, with judges including Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre), The Bill’s Chris Ellison (DCI Frank Burnside), and ex World Champion Boxer Michael Watson MBE judging Best Boxer Dog! Local politicians will also be present to discuss legislative changes that could be made to protect the health and welfare of puppies in the future.

This event will be supported by a second puppy party organised by the Kennel Club, and open to all puppies that are entered into Darlington Dog Show, at Newby Hall and Gardens, Ripon. It will be spearheaded by Kennel Club Accredited Breeders, who all commit to responsible breeding practice, and will be an opportunity for people to learn more about how they can buy from such a breeder, and not unwittingly fall into the hands of puppy farmers.

Puppy farming is a big and ever growing trade in the UK. The puppy farms mass-produce puppies, keeping them in poor conditions in order to increase profits.  The pups are usually removed from their mothers too early, transported across the country to dealers, who then sell them from the internet, pet shops, free newspapers or even motorway service stations.

As a result the puppies are often not socialised and commonly suffer from fatal health problems including pneumonia and parvovirus, as well as dangerous infestations of fleas and worms, often requiring hundreds of pounds of veterinary or behavioural treatment to fix. Breeding bitches are usually kept in cages or small pens, rarely see daylight or touch grass, and are mated at every heat - just being fed enough to keep them producing pups, with little or no veterinary care at all.

The Kennel Club and Thepet.net co-founders, TV vet Marc Abraham and social media guru Andrew Seel, want people to know the truth about where badly-bred puppies come from and help them choose a happy and healthy puppy bred by a reputable breeder, rather than a sick or diseased farmed one. 

Kennel Club Veterinary Advisor and TV vet, Marc Abraham, said: “I am treating more and more puppies that have come from puppy farms than ever before.

“Puppy buyers often don’t know how to spot the signs of an irresponsible breeder and so continue to unwittingly line the puppy farmers’ pockets, fueling this cruel trade.

“It is imperative that prospective puppy buyers buy from a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder and that they sign the Kennel Club’s petition to get the principles and standards of this Scheme made mandatory for all breeders. These breeders love and care for their puppies, agree to follow certain standards and agree to allow a Kennel Club inspector access to their premises. Here are my top tips for choosing a puppy:

1.      For a pedigree puppy always contact the Kennel Club first for their list of reliable and reputable Kennel Club Accredited Breeders.

2.      Ask to see the puppy’s mother, who should always be with the pups.

3.      Always see the puppy in its breeding environment and ask to look at the kenneling conditions, particularly if they were not raised within the breeder’s house. If you suspect the conditions are not right, then do not buy the puppy.

4.      Be suspicious of any breeder selling more than one or at most two breeds.

5.      Be prepared to be put on a waiting list – a healthy puppy is well-worth waiting for.

6.      Ask if you can return the puppy if things don’t work out. Responsible breeders will always say yes.

7.      Never buy a puppy because you feel like you’re rescuing it. You’ll only be making space available for another poorly pup to fill.

8.      Consider alternatives to buying a pedigree puppy like getting a rescue dog or pup, and remember that every breed of dog has its own breed rescue society.”

People can sign the Kennel Club’s petition, which asks the government to enforce a mandatory set of standards for all breeders, based on those already followed by Kennel Club Accredited Breeders and that put the puppies’ health and welfare first and foremost.

To sign the Kennel Club’s petition or to find a responsible breeder visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/stoppuppyfarming. To register your dog for the Brighton puppy party or to find out more about which celebrities are judging the competition visit www.thepet.net.

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