This blog is about the importance of getting your new puppy from a reliable source.
It is so important to get your new puppy from a reliable source. These extracts from Sharon Shannon’s article in the Irish Independent Weekend magazine of 11th April 2015 give some very sound advice on the dos and don’ts of finding a new puppy.
“Puppies and dogs bring out the good in us and teach us to be better people by showing us so much kindness, love, happiness, gratitude, endless patience and pure adoration. My dogs and cats are all rescued animals that I got from various animal rescues all over the country. Most of them were saved from being put to sleep at the dog pounds. Over 50% of litters of puppies are unplanned or unwanted. The obvious answer to this issue is for people to spay and neuter their dogs. If this isn’t reason enough, neutering also has the added benefit of reducing the risk of some cancers in male and female dogs.” Neutered pets also live longer.
“Many people do not realise that Ireland is the puppy farm capital of Europe. The ISPCA estimates that there are 250 puppy farms in Ireland, some with up to 800 breeding bitches who are forced to live their whole lives in cramped and often filthy diseased conditions and left untreated by vets for horrific infections, diseases and injuries.” Just last week a puppy farm in Carlow was shut down. According to the Irish Independent, this puppy farm alone had 52 dogs seized. These dogs lived in conditions described by the ISPCA as absolutely horrendous and truly shocking. Many of the dogs required immediate vet treatment for various ailments, and others needed expert grooming to remove painful matted fur. A puppy rescued from the farm sadly lost its fight for life shortly after.
“Regardless of where you get your pup, if it is not Kennel Club registered, the chance of it being bred by an irresponsible breeder rises dramatically. It is up to you, the potential puppy buyer, to educate yourself and to avoid being part of the backyard breeder problem.”
“There are many devoted and conscientious breeders who care greatly about the pups they occasionally produce and they will have carried out all the necessary health checks and will ask you to contact them if you have any problems or wish to re-home your dog.” We would recommend when getting a pup to always ask to see the parents, to see the pups bedding and where they are being kept. Never agree to collect a pup at the side of the road or in a parking lot. Only ever buy a pup with the condition of them being checked out by your own vet first so they can be checked out fully for any health conditions or parasites.
“Another amazing dog to consider adopting is the beloved greyhound. They are gentle creatures that make excellent family pets. They are wonderful with children. They require little exercise and sleep about 17 hours a day! They are essentially couch potatoes. There are thousands of young healthy greyhounds destroyed in Ireland every year. Many are killed inhumanely. Many more are surrendered into dog pounds where they are kept for only a few days before being destroyed. Often greyhounds are not even kept that long, as the people at the dog pounds know no-one will want them.” There is a greyhound charity based in Kerry called Homes for Unwanted Greyhounds or HUGS. According to their website; http://homesforunwantedgreyhounds.ie, there are thousands of young healthy greyhounds destroyed in Ireland every year. Many are killed inhumanely. Many more are surrendered into dog pounds where they are kept for only a few days before being destroyed. Often greyhounds are not even kept that long, as the people at the dog pounds know no-one will want them.
“One of the reasons why young dogs get surrendered to the pound or abandoned is that the owners of the new puppy gets frustrated with the animal because they don’t know how to house train them or look after them properly.” As the old saying goes, a good start is half the battle. Lay down ground rules with your puppy as soon as it comes to your house. Help is always at hand, City Vet is here to help you with any questions you may have about training your puppy.