Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Written evidence submitted by Dogs Today Magazine

Evidence of Insufficient Moderation of Websites Selling Dogs

1. It is illegal to breed Pit Bulls. I am not a Kennel Club spokesperson, but assume they would not be happy to have their name linked with training or registering an illegal breed. Gumtree’s computer-based system, which picks out specific words, hasn’t picked this up. (See advert below found on Gumtree website.)

Kc Trained American Pitbull Terrier puppies for sale £350 Manchester

We have lovely three American Pitbull Terrier puppies for sale. Two males and one female and they are well home trained puppies, now ready for a new home that is going to buy and take good care of any one of them and we are giving each for 350 pounds contact us for more details and photos.

2. The Jack Russell advertised below on www.preloved.co.uk, was born after the date when docking the tail of a non-working dog became illegal. The Preloved website had not seen or asked for any documentation to prove this dog’s tail was legally docked.

16 month old jack Russell girl for sale. Lovely little dog. Used to living outside, not spayed, tail is docked. Good home wanted for this girl.

3. The advert below claims these German Shepherd puppies are “ready” for their new homes. This advert was found on 6th August 2012. This makes the puppies 21 days old. The youngest age recommended for pups to leave their mum is eight weeks, excepting some breeds in some circumstances where pups may leave at seven weeks.

German Shepherd puppies for sale 250.00 Sheffield

3 boys 2 girl born 15 July ready to go now. Black n tan. All been wormed and fleed all 250.00 each. good family dogs fantastic with children.

(a)At three weeks a pup will have to be bottle-fed and would need help with defecation/elimination. Pups start to walk at about 21 days. Rapid physical and sensory independence occurs at this stage, so pups are still reliant on mum to learn.

(b)Socialisation doesn’t begin until four weeks, during which time they learn to play and learn to understand social behaviours.

(c)There are cases where the mum dies and breeders react quickly by finding a foster bitch who has recently had a pup. Those breeders who go to the trouble of finding a foster mum clearly have the pups’ welfare at heart. Those selling on pups at three weeks, arguably, do not.

4. Fox hunting with dogs. (See advert below found on Gumtree website.)

Wanted working lurcher bitch bull x only Lisburn, Belfast

I’m looking for a bull x lurcher working and all to help bring my pup on bull x only won’t even look at anything else so don’t waste ur time asking bull x bitch no dogs must be on rabbits and fox.

5. Facebook admits it is completely self-regulated. Dogs are sold as commodities alongside CDs and mobile phones. There are many, many other examples of this. Please do not hesitate to contact us if Dogs Today can be of any further assistance.

September 2012