A family was left devastated as the puppy they bought from a breeder on Pets4Homes died a week later. The puppy was underweight with other health issues and died despite veterinary treatment. The family was left with a hefty vet bill and the children are heartbroken. Not a nice way to start the Christmas season!
This is unfortunately one case among many others and a reminder not to buy puppies and other animals from online breeders and other advertisers. Even if you see the mum, there is no guarantee that you are not funding a puppy farm and no guarantee of a healthy pet. Those people are good at lying and can create a fake homely scene to fool you!
By offering free advertising to everyone, Pets4Homes attracts unscrupulous breeders. At this time of year, they are out there to line up their pockets for Christmas.
And it shows!
Every day I report ads of animals advertised for Christmas. Mainly puppies and kittens advertised for hundreds and thousands of pounds. Pets4Homes are still letting those irresponsible ads go live. This afternoon I reported ‘Kittens Christmas Babies’, ‘Christmas puppies’, ‘Chihuahua puppies ready for Christmas’, ‘Chow Chows Great gift for Christmas’ etc. A couple of days ago I reported ‘Christmas Long Hair Kittens’ with the description ‘So adorable and so fluffy, the perfect Christmas present for your kids. You can actually pick them up on Christmas Eve’.
Despite having a clear policy against pets being advertised as gifts on their website, Pets4Homes is allowing those ads to go live. It shouldn’t be my job or anyone else’s job to report those ads but Pets4Homes don’t seem to be able to comply to their own policy!
Pets are still advertised as Christmas toys and it needs to stop!
Pets4Homes should also STOP ALL BREEDERS ADS in the run up to Christmas!
How you can help:
Please keep on sharing this petition and the updates.
Email Pets4Homes: support@pets4homes.co.uk
Write on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Pets4Homes
Tweet them: @pets4homes
The ad pictured is from the seller of the puppy who died. It was reported to Pets4Homes who deleted the ad. However, as is often the case, there is a high chance that the breeder reappeared under a different name. Breeders and frequent advertisers on Pets4Homes should also be displaying their breeder’s license number but this is not enforced.
This sad story was shared by Puppy Love Campaigns who work hard to stop puppy farming. We thank them as well as C.A.R.I.A.D. and all other organisations and supporters who have shared this petition so far.
Pets are suffering. Pets are dying. Don't encourage this trade. Adopt, don’t shop!
Isabelle Rineau
@babbacampaign