Why You Need to Be Very Careful before Buying a Dog As a Gift

Gift-giving season is never far away and when it arrives, people with the best of intentions often consider giving a four-legged present to somebody close. They're certain that the recipient will give the dog a loving and caring home and they think that such a gift is a lot "cooler" than something inanimate. Yet if you're thinking about this, where are you going to get the animal from and what do you need to consider, so that you make the most ethical choice?

What to Look out for

It's unfortunate, but many places that sell animals to the public get them from facilities known as "farms," dotted around the country. Many experts consider this to be a very inefficient system, where the animals are born and bred in facilities that are focused entirely on making money. Frequently, puppies here will be poorly treated and kept in largely overcrowded conditions. They will probably be taken away from their mother too soon and the veterinary care is likely to be rudimentary, at best. It's not surprising that many of them become ill due to living in poor hygiene from the day that they were born.

How These Places Exist

You may wonder how this type of facility can exist in the modern era, but the fact remains that local laws are very inconsistent (or in some cases nonexistent) when it comes to defining what they can or cannot do. Often, there is a complete absence of laws that can be legally enforced in order to take better care of the puppies within. Furthermore, many of these places masquerade as something else, as they don't have to define themselves in particular terms, or may hide away in particularly remote locations.

Not Always Easy to Spot

You may have no idea that you are helping to prolong this practice, if you buy from what appears to be an outwardly upscale shop. However, many of them are just a front for unregulated farms, or may have an "arrangement", which is meant to prey on well-meaning owners, such as yourself. These farms can often increase production when the gift-giving season approaches, as they know that there is a certain amount of impulse buying, as well.

Long-Term Problems

Remember, these animals can often harbour illness or disease from an early age and you don't want the new owner of the animal to have to deal with this. All too often, many of these poor creatures end up in shelters or roaming on the streets. Consequently, only select an animal that comes from a registered breeder, or where its origin is known and respected.

Doing the Right Thing

If you believe that an animal you've been offered may come from one of these breeding farms, get in touch with a dog lawyer, who may be able to take some action.

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