Many consumers may be planning to purchase a puppy this Christmas, but are you aware of the risks associated with buying a puppy?

Unfortunately, buying a puppy is not as straightforward as many of us would think and sadly, many dog lovers fall victim to puppy traffickers.

Puppy traffickers breed puppies in mass quantities, often with little regard to the puppies welfare. As a result, many of the animals become sick or worse.

It’s very important to understand the hidden costs (e.g. veterinary bills) if you decide to buy a puppy without knowing where it has come from.

Here are some of our top tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of the puppy traffickers:

1. Make sure that you always see the mother of the puppy in the place where it was bred
2. Get as much information as possible about the breeder
3. It is very important to check vaccination records carefully and ask to see the vaccination card. Many puppy traffickers create fake versions so if the veterinary surgeon’s contact details are not visible, or has an address from outside the UK, the card may be fake.
4. Also be aware that pedigree certificates are not a guarantee for the condition of your puppy, and may not even mean you are being sold a pure-bred dog.
5. Don’t ever buy from someone who offers to deliver your puppy, or who arranges to meet you somewhere