Forum Topic

Illegal Dog Trade. BBC News Channel

Gross.

Philippa Bond ● 417d14 Comments

Somebody mentioned The Cinnamon Trust some years ago.  I thought the idea of helping someone to keep their pet while they were in hospital or recuperating was a great idea.https://cinnamon.org.uk/home/

Philippa Bond ● 410d

Caroline I left my name with a charity for a cat years ago and never heardfrom them, I took on a relatives cat instead he was 9 when he came to me and lived to the age of 22 plus he brought home a stray cat which I still have.  It may not be that you are disabled.

Janice Evans ● 410d

Absolutely appalling.  STOP BUYING PUPPIES!!! Adopt instead!!

Juliet Hogg ● 410d

I have been looking for the right pet for about 4 years.  At first I was just looking for a cat (I had my last 22 years)  You would think that would be an excellent reference for any cat charity but Battersea turned me down for a kitten because they said it would be too disruptive for the cat next door!  I then decided to look for a cat or dog, I have owned both and I am a bit of a savaunt with animals as I love them all. Only 1 of the UK animal charities took me on Mayhew.  But they have fewer dogs coming through than others and most are too large or have too many issues.  I have applied for deaf dogs blind dogs 3 legged ones 2 legged ones etc but got nowhere.  SO I researched animal charities abroad that had bases and people here and I applied to one and I am waiting for the appropriate pup. I believe a lot of the ignorance around disability out there is why I have been turned down.  I have spoken to many disabled people who have had the same reaction "why don't you apply for an assistance dog".  They don't know it is a 5 year wait right now and it is quicker to get a rescue dog and have the special training seperately via an assistance charity.  People have been turned down because of their age the fact they live in a flat, even ground floor with garden.  That leads them to buy a puppy from a dodgy breader or farmer and find they have thousands of pounds to pay in vet bills due to the state of terrible health these poor aniumals are in.  Then they want to give them to charities some of which charge them for it.  That's when they get left on the street and the charities have to house them for free.  There is no quick fix for this but some common sense and proper national dog registration would make a big difference. Some food banks are also taking pet food thereby ensuring pets are kept by their owners going through hard times.  More of this would mean charities will see less abandoned pets.  In the meantime keep your eyes open for a new charity matching people who want to enjoy the company of a dog but can't get one with people who are elderly or disabled and need their dog walked or trained.  If you are interested or know of someone who is give them my details.

Caroline Carney ● 410d

You sometimes have to be persistent.  Many are operating only with volunteer help and all charities are having to turn away animals given the huge numbers, particularly cats and dogs, being given up that were bought or homed during lockdown and people no longer have time for them and now with the cost of living crisis can't afford the time, food, insurance, vet bills etc.  I do hope that all those who are critical of/concerned about what is happening to animals are at least donating to good charities, or volunteering for them, or both.  The best way to assess how good a charity is is to volunteer for them, either doing home checks, being a trustee, admin work, supporting their events, fundraising or any other way you could assist, even if only for a few hours a month.

Claire Moran ● 413d

"perhaps more needs to be done by charities here."Indeed and a start would be to actually respond to those looking to take on a dog

Paul Fisher ● 413d

I'm sure there are some good charities and good prospective owners but there are also those who just want to and do buy pets with as little forethought and consideration as they might buy by waving a credit card on the spur of an isn't-it-cute-I-want-it moment.  These are animals just as we are and not simply fashion accessories.There is a lot of advertising of these 'rescues' and the farming of puppies in poor conditions and its connection to European criminal and drugs gangs is a reason to think again before buying.  We should all be aware of the circumstances that exist and how easy it seems to be to be duped by fake stories when you want to believe them.There are many dogs in this country already and perhaps more needs to be done by charities here.  The British people are well known for the great love for dogs!

Philippa Bond ● 413d

Not all, Philippa, there are some very good charities.  Unfortunately because many British charities try to ensure animals are rehomed appropriately, including often not homing dogs with young children, people who are out all day as they are concerned about the dog's welfare and possible subsquent behaviour an unsuitable home may provoke, for which they could be liable, people turn to overseas rescues which very often have far less strict criteria which means they don't always get matched appropriately and a lot end up back in British rescues, traumatised by their treatment in their home country, the journey over and subsequent treatment.  A lot of overseas rescues offer non, if any backup although some have shipped dogs that weren't working out back to the awful conditions they came from - poor, poor animals.  In my local park a newly adopted Romanian dog killed a beloved smaller dog a couple of years ago.

Claire Moran ● 414d

We got our dog a couple of years ago from Crete via an English Charity called Chimney Rescue and they were absolutely excellent to deal withUnfortunately we never received a single response from any British Dog Charity Centres despite being previous owners, one of us retired and a decent size garden when we enquired about rescuing a dog and that included Battersea and the RSPCAhttps://www.chimneyfarmrescue.com/

Paul Fisher ● 414d

You see these dogs from overseas being advertised in this country.  I've often wondered about them and why there were always so many but it was clear that they are being bred in farms just to be 'rescued'.

Philippa Bond ● 414d

And yet people still keep buying them when there are thousands in rescue already in the UK and hundreds being euthanised simply because they have no home.

Claire Moran ● 415d

Well I'm not a dog lover but the number involved in this trade are horrifying - both dogs and traders.

Philippa Bond ● 416d

"So many of them dying en route."If only you meant the traders.....

Richard Greenhough ● 416d

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001jxtn/our-world-inside-the-illegal-puppy-trade..."a criminal underworld of puppy traders trafficking dogs across Europe."So many of them dying en route.

Philippa Bond ● 416d