What to do if you find a puppy farm

[GSDOWNER]

Advice from Dogs Trust.

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/informat...ectapuppyfarm/

If you suspect you have found a puppy farm...

1. Without entering the property or putting yourself in any danger, get as much information about the farm as possible - the name of the farmer, phone numbers and the full address. Clip out advertisements for the farm if they appear in your local paper. Where did you first hear about the farm? How many breeds do they offer? How regularly do the ads appear? If you notice a van or truck coming and going from the farm, record the licence plate number. This information may help Dogs Trust, the RSPCA or your local authority, if a prosecution or investigation goes forward in the future.

2. Find out if the farm is licensed to breed and sell puppies by contacting your Local Authority. The licensing department of your LA will know if the farmer has been granted a license. They are the only legal licensing officials. They will also know how many breeding bitches the farm is allowed to have. They may not be very forthcoming with information, but you are allowed to lay a complaint if you think the farm is breeding irresponsibly.

3. You can also ask when the farm was last inspected and what the results of the inspection were. If you are not satisfied with the answers you are given you may lay a formal complaint about this also.

4. You are entitled to ask questions!

Who was the attending vet at the last inspection?
What was the name of the LA officer or Dog Warden who inspected the premises?
Has the farmer been keeping adequate records?
Are they aware that complaints have been made about the premises?
If it is the case, are they aware of poor conditions seen on the farm?
If it is the case, are they aware that pups bought from this breeder have fallen sick or have died?
Have other complaints been made?
What do they intend to do about them?

If Local Authority officials know people are interested in the way they conduct their licensing procedure, they may be more inclined to enforce the law more rigorously.

5. As with the information about the farmer, keep records of your conversations or correspondence with the LA or Dog Warden. It may come in handy later.

6. If you have bought a puppy from a breeder and the puppy is ill or has died, you are within your rights to get your money back and hit the farmer where it really hurts ? in the pocket! Contact your local Trading Standards Commission. You can lay a formal complaint with them and they will help you begin proceedings to recoup your money. They will also put pressure on the farmer.

Please be aware however, that as long as the puppy is still alive, you will have to return it to the farmer if they refund you.

7. You may like to make yourself familiar with the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999. You may also like to read the Animal Welfare Bill which is currently before parliament. The breeding Act currently governs the roles of local authorities in monitoring and licensing breeders. If the Animal Welfare Bill becomes law in the future, it will protect animals before any cruelty has happened.

8. Finally: be very careful. Puppy Farming has a lot on common with organised crime. There is a lot of money at stake and Puppy Farmers may do almost anything to protect their ?businesses?. Do not attempt to remove any pups from the property illegally and do not trespass on the property. The law will not be on your side.

But this doesn?t mean you can?t do something. Your local authority has an obligation to you and to the Law.
Be aware that any ?surveillance?, obstructions, repeated phone calls, or repeated requests for information may be construed as harassment by the law. Dogs Trust does not condone any activities such as this.