Avoid Buying Farmed Puppies: Why and How to Spot Puppy Farms

Pictures from: https://www.puppylovecampaigns.org/

A puppy farm, sometimes known as a puppy mill, is a commercial dog breeding operation focused solely on mass-producing puppies at minimal cost and effort, prioritising profit over animal welfare. In many ways, puppy farms are the canine equivalent of intensive battery farming for poultry, where the living conditions and care for the dogs fall far below acceptable standards.

In the UK, any commercial dog breeder must be registered with the local authority and hold a breeding licence. However, many puppy farms operate illegally without registration or licensing. Even where licences exist, the standards required are often not rigorous enough to guarantee responsible breeding or high welfare. Local authority registration should therefore never be the only assurance when deciding where to find your new puppy.

Why Avoid Buying a Farmed Puppy

Puppies bred by responsible breeders are produced with the welfare of parent dogs (sires and dams) as the highest priority. These breeders operate on a small scale with care, health testing and socialisation at the forefront, and they continue to care for their dogs well beyond their breeding years.

By contrast, puppy farms exploit their breeding dogs as mere 'cash cows', making them produce litter after litter with little regard for their health, happiness or longevity. Once a breeding dog’s health deteriorates, they are often discarded—abandoned, given away, or euthanised. Puppies from such environments usually lack adequate veterinary treatment, and live in cramped, unsanitary conditions, which can cause lifelong health and behavioural issues.

Farmed puppies are significantly more prone to inherited diseases and behavioural problems due to poor early-life care and genetics. Puppies unsuitable for sale are sometimes abandoned or fall into the hands of unscrupulous individuals for purposes such as dog fighting.

While it is understandable to want to “rescue” a farmed puppy by buying one, doing so unfortunately supports the continuation of these cruel practices. A better approach is to get involved in raising awareness and supporting organisations fighting against puppy farms, which can create change without perpetuating demand.

How to Identify a Puppy Farm

Many puppy farms are adept at hiding their operation’s poor conditions. Here are key warning signs to look out for:

• Sellers offering multiple breeds or types of puppies for sale simultaneously.
• No formal breed paperwork or certification, or suspicious use of Kennel Club papers without genuine registration.
• Premises with many outbuildings, caravans, or isolated rooms housing dogs.
• Being shown puppies singly, often without the mother or siblings present.
• Young dams with little knowledge or bond to the puppies or the seller.
• The seller is uninterested in assessing your suitability as a new pet owner.
• Puppies caged or crated during viewing.
• The seller quickly offering alternative puppies or litters if the one you came to see is unsuitable.

Judging Puppy Provenance and Where to Buy Safely

It’s important not to assume that seeing puppies in a seller’s home or a pet shop guarantees their good origin. Puppy farms often sell through third parties or pet shops, obscuring the puppies’ true source.

• Avoid buying puppies from pet shops. These often source puppies from farms and cannot guarantee their health or welfare.
• Always view puppies with their dam and littermates at the place where they were raised.
• Ask for valid identification and registration documents and verify they correspond to the premises.
• Never buy puppies in unsuitable public locations such as pubs, markets or from car boots.
• Be prepared to walk away if anything feels suspicious or uncomfortable.

Checking Breeders and Legal Considerations

In the UK, breeders producing five or more litters annually must be licensed by their local council. This involves inspections to assess living conditions and health standards. However, having a licence alone does not guarantee responsible breeding; it is essential to research the breeder’s reputation, including reviews from local veterinarians and fellow dog owners.

If a breeder cannot provide a valid licence or registration proof, it should be regarded as a red flag, and the breeder avoided.

What to Do if You Suspect Puppy Farming

Suspecting a puppy farm? Here’s what you can do to help:

• Do not purchase any puppies from the suspected farm; this stops supporting the cruel industry.
• Report suspicious adverts to trusted platforms like Pets4Homes for investigation.
• Notify local authorities if a breeder operates without a licence or breaches conditions.
• Contact the RSPCA for concerns about animal welfare or neglect.
• Report criminal activities like abuse or dog fighting to the police urgently.
• If you have unknowingly purchased a poorly bred or sick puppy, seek legal advice from a solicitor or organisations such as Citizens Advice and Trading Standards.
• Report breeders to independent campaigns like C.A.R.I.A.D., which fight puppy farming in the UK.

The C.A.R.I.A.D. Campaign

Puppy farming is a nationwide issue affecting all dog lovers in the UK. The C.A.R.I.A.D. campaign, launched in 2011, works to raise awareness, lobby for improved breeding regulations, and support welfare reforms.

To learn more about puppy farming, find resources, and discover how to get involved, please visit the C.A.R.I.A.D. website.

Choosing to adopt or buy from reputable breeders helps improve dog welfare and reduce demand for farmed puppies. Responsible ownership starts with knowing where your puppy comes from and supporting ethical practices.