A Dog Isn't Just For Covid

[pastafreak]

Tell that to the masses paying extortionate amounts for puppies. Meanwhile the rescue charities are turning applicants away because they can't keep up with demand.
I feel sorry for the dogs that will have no quality time spent on them.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8867545/Dog-charities-worried-dog-lovers-rushing-getting-rescue-dogs-lockdown.html

[AuntPollyGrey]

My 8 month old kitten Sparkle had an 'accident' while waiting to get 'fixed' and produced 2 kittens. I found nice (free) homes for them, gave the new owners some of the food they had been weaned onto and some kitten milk. The person I got
Sparkle from last year has just told me she's selling farm kittens for £100 each and she could sell them 4 x over! She said she's not getting her mother cat fixed now as she's 'raking it in'. Disgusting behaviour and I'm afraid I told her that...oops!

[iluvmargie]

Always poor animals that have to pay the price for the selfish acts of humans! Makes me so mad.

[barry1010]

£11000 for a dog. That amount of money could help keep a rescue centre going and contribute to the health and well being of many homeless dogs.

[pastafreak]

Good for you APG...I'd do the same. And I've noticed that ordinary moggies are being sold for even more. I fine paying for a garden variety cat...but id rather give the money to a rescue. Which is what I'm waiting on. I met a lady from a local rescue who's made it her mission to trap and rehome strays...getting them neutered and sorted medically. Apparently there are more strays, and rather that get food thrown to them from restaurants and takeaway...it's people's bins.

Barry, too true...and who is to know if they are even well established breeders with the right credentials. Maybe breeders should be required to give a % to local rescues.

[237SJ]

The more people will pay for animals, the more the market for stolen animals will be fueled. And that market seems to be doing very well at the moment. I also wonder how many of the people who are breeding cats and dogs and selling their offspring at a premium are actually paying tax on their earnings.

[pastafreak]

If they are selling through Gumtree, and other free adds, I'd worry that very little tax is involved. I'd hope many of these breeds can be obtained for less from reputable, registered breeders.

[Tilly2]

Reputable breeders are not breeding puppies to sell at this time of year.

[237SJ]

They certainly can. The Travellers who live opposite my friend's house in the SW are breeding and selling dogs. They claim to have "all the paperwork" even though they are illiterate.

[ladybirder]

The more I think about it the more I am convinced that my new little dog was stolen. He was sold on the internet by a travellers site yet acts as if he has lived in a home for years.

[pastafreak]

Is he microchipped, LB?

[237SJ]

Not all dogs are stolen by Travellers but.. we have a hard standing for Travellers fairly near here. To be fair, they don't impact on us and nor do we impact upon them. Recently though, I have seen the young Traveller boys walking some pretty expensive dogs up the road.
Great Danes, Huskies etc. Imagine a Great Dane living in a caravan. What do you think? Of course they are stolen. But that is what happens when people charge extortionate prices for a commodity.

[Tilly2]

A local boarding kennel was recently broken into and eight dogs were stolen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-54162401

Heartbreaking.

[david small]

When humanity has destroyed itself the world will be a better place.

[wolf63]

I just don't understand why people are willing to pay silly money for moggies and mongrels.

There have been stories of dogs being reunited with their owners up here in deepest, darkest Perthshire. I haven't really been following the stories but the Police were quick to react and have arrested someone. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/three-four-missing-perthshire-dogs-22908262

I saw a story of someone stealing a Rottweiller, I love big dogs but these thieves are usually cowards and if a Rottweiller decided to attack ...

The scum who steal furry family members just see ££££, they are sub-human.

[237SJ]

People will pay silly money for stolen goods. Gold is the thing to steal now. Not surprising in the current climate.

[ladybirder]

He is now Pasta, but he wasn't.

[pastafreak]

It's required for dogs, isn't it?
It should be for cats also. When I see ads for lost cats...pedigrees that should be indoors...I despair because someone will be selling them for sure.

[wolf63]

I got Frankie and Merlin microchipped when they arrived to take over my life, they are not outdoor cats but the can get out of the house or any time we are at the vet. Frankie is a timid lad and has no road sense. The thought of him being lost and scared is just too much to think about.

[jourdain2]

I'm quite startled (and shocked) by this because I am unsure that all these people understand what raising a dog entails. We have both had dogs all our life. Our current little chap is a French rescue dog (found chasing lorries on a motorway) and we suspect he is slightly brain-damaged; but he learnt English, tries hard and is very affectionate - kids are a joy to him - which has led us to love him despite his difficulties (and they are substantial, including nipping the heel of a postman when the door did not sneck behind OH.).

He is getting on a bit and we have been looking for a companion dog for some time - thought I'd found one not long ago, but someone else stepped in. We need a bi=tch (he's aggressive towards dogs) and are unworried as to age and breed except that we haven't got a lot of room and I don't think I or the garden can cope with another terrier.

I am getting nowhere with rescue sites. They don't answer queries. How come everyone else is snapping-up rescue dogs? So where am I going wrong? Experienced dog owners offering comfortable home.... zilch is the response. :(

[pastafreak]

I've been looking at a local rescue since before I lost Sally back in February. There are dogs that have been on since then, and others certainly since mid summer. Both local rescues seem to find homes super quickly for small/medium dogs. The big ones get overlooked which is sad. Of course, they are all the products of poor training, no time, no understanding of what's needed.
At least cats are usually given up due to their owners going into care, or their housing situation has changed...sad as it is. Or, they are strays/feral.