17% Of Puppies Bought Online Dies Within 6 Mo

[sandgrubber]

http://www.telegraph...six-months.html

One in five puppies bought online 'die in six months'

Almost one in five puppies bought over the internet dies within six months of its purchase, research has found.

By Claire Duffin

6:31AM BST 01 Sep 2013

The Kennel Club, which carried out the survey, said almost a third of puppies were now bought online and that it was concerned the trade was becoming dominated by "unscrupulous" puppy farmers.

The organisation and other animal welfare groups say conditions on such "farms", where puppies are bred in large numbers for profit, are often very poor, with animals subjected to overcrowding and a poor diet, meaning diseases are rife.

As a result, a large proportion of puppies are dying from health complications within months of being bought or require long-term veterinary treatment.

The Kennel Club survey involved 2,026 dogs owners. They were asked about their experience of buying a puppy - including where they purchased it from - as well as about the animal's subsequent health and any treatments required.

The report found that 12 per cent of owners who bought from sellers they had found advertised on the internet, on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, reported their dog did not have good health and required long-term veterinary treatment.

see original article for more

Edited September 2, 2013 by sandgrubber

[mita]

Paralleling that is US research that looked at puppies from the same source-type as that British study. Puppy farming. The US study tracked dogs sold thro' pet stores, but sourced from such places. Much higher health and especially behavioral problems were noted in those that had been sourced from puppy farms. Such problems would make the dogs much higher risk for early death, either from natural causes or as a consequence of those behavioral problems.

Reported in the journal of the American Veterinary Association.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201305/behavior-differences-in-dogs-pet-stores-versus-breeders

Edited September 2, 2013 by mita

[Christina]

Is there any info on what percent of puppies die in the first 6 months that are bought or obtained by other methods ?

It may be more ?

Do the remaining 83% all live ?

Another different 2000 people interviewed may yield a different result.

Needs much more research to form a true opinion despite online without a personal visit not being a good way to buy. Online with a personal visit is fine.

Edited September 6, 2013 by Christina

[Aleksandra 157]

Unfortunately in N Z many purebred dogs are hard to obtain,so if you want a particular breed ,as I did,you have to buy online.I have been lucky but if I buy again I will definately visit first.

[Dame Aussie]

I found my Aussie online and then visited the breeder to pick her up.