Ricky Gervais is supporting a campaign to ban the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops.
Deadly virus
Pup Aid has secured a debate in Parliament on 4 Septemberafter itlaunched ane-petitionlast year to help stop puppies and kittens being sold in pet shops, unless their mothers are present.
It has so far received 110,000 signatures – which makes it the second largest animal welfare petition of all time.
According to research by the Kennel Club 16 percent of people have bought a puppy from a pet shop, which equates to almost 1.5 million puppies. Others buy from the internet (three percent) or free newspaper adverts (five percent), without making contact with the breeder or puppy before buying.
Many of these pets come from puppy farms and are four times more likely to contract the potentially deadly parvovirus.
Filthy conditions
According to Marc Abraham, Kennel Club veterinary advisor who started the campaign, this is because of the “filthy conditions” they are kept in.
“It is no surprise that so many pet shop pups are contracting this disease, as they frequently come from puppy farms,” he said. “Puppy farmers will not want you to see the puppy’s mum, who will probably be unhealthy and overbred, or see the pup’s home environment and will go to great lengths to keep you away.”
The research carried out by the Kennel Club is for its annual Puppy Awareness Week (1-7 September). It also found that 31 percent of people never see their puppy with its mother, while 65 percent do not get health certificates for the parents.
Horrific industry
“Puppy farming is a horrific industry that can only be halted if puppy buyers get wise to where puppy farmers sell their pups and the kind of corners they will cut, which is why we created Puppy Awareness Week,” said Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary.
“We urge people to do their research before they buy a puppy and to always go to a Kennel Club Assured Breeder, rescue home or a breeder they know they can trust – otherwise they will pay a high price financially and emotionally, further down the line.”