16th Dec 09
Dog lovers warned about counterfeit puppies online
by Sally Davies
Dog-lovers are being cautioned not to purchase cheap pedigree breeds over the internet as the RSPCA estimates thousands of the animals are counterfeit breeds that could possibly carry diseases.
Customers are being conned by fake pedigree papers and vaccination forms when buying puppies at discount prices online, the charity says.
It also said customers should always verify vaccination paperwork and ensure it shows the dogs are protected from all common diseases such as hepatitis and parvovirus.
Spokeswoman for the RSPCA, Sue Royle, said the reason fake vaccination forms were a problem is to do with the conditions the puppies are bred in, if there are many dogs in a cramped space, they are likely to spread diseases.
A survey of almost 3,000 people by the RSPCA indicated that nearly a third would use the internet to find a puppy.
The UK’s largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs, The Kennel Club, said the issue of fake designer dogs being sold over the net was on the rise.
Secretary Caroline Kisko said that more and more websites were springing up featuring cut-price puppies sold with fake pedigrees, often amongst those breeds that are the latest fashion.
It is strongly advised that those planning to purchase a pedigree breed to get in touch with The Kennel Club for a list of accredited and reputable breeders.
In the UK pedigree puppies fetch hundreds of pounds, with British bulldogs up for sale for about £2,000 each and Chihuahuas fetching £1,000 per puppy.
Our Stories
- SuperGroup issues profits warning
- Summer bookings boost for TUI Travel
- Consumers cut back in January following Christmas surge
- BT to introduce ultra-fast broadband
- Retail veteran warns of high street death spiral
- Tesco exec who sold shares moved from role
- Tesco market share slips
- UK consumer confidence recovers
- Gary Speed talked of suicide before death
- Tesco scraps carbon-label pledge
- UK university applicant numbers fall 8.7%
- Stelios blasts easyJet bonuses
Popular Topics
afghanistan al qaeda Apple ASDA bank of england barack obama BBC british airways china david cameron Debenhams Egypt facebook george osborne Google India ipad iphone ivory coast japan Libya London M&S Marks & Spencer Morrisons nhs North Korea Office for National Statistics pakistan protests russia sainsburys Sainsbury’s South Korea terrorism Tesco Tunisia UK UK retailers UK retail news UK shopping us Waitrose Wikileaks x factorArchive
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- January 2009
