Dont get bitten when buying a Puppy Buying

Don’t get bitten when buying a Puppy Buying an illegally imported dog can be a very costly mistake with costs running to over £ 1000 How can you avoid buying an illegally imported puppy? • - • • • Do your research, find out as much as you can about the seller Does the seller own the mum and dad? Can you see the puppy with it’s mum and siblings? Ask to see the paperwork and microchip details. Remember all dogs must be micro-chipped by 8 weeks of age or before transferring ownership whichever occurs first. Do not be pressurised into buying a puppy – sellers may use pressure tactics in adverts, claiming that they only have one puppy left or they are re-advertising one puppy due to ‘time wasters’. Sellers may also insist that you pay a deposit to secure a puppy before even meeting the buyer. A responsible seller will want to know that the puppy will end up in a good home. If the seller shows you a puppy passport with a rabies vaccination and they’ve advertised the puppy as under 15 weeks – Walk Away. This suggests that either the puppy has been illegally imported or they have lied about the dogs age in the advert. Rabies vaccination must NOT be given before the puppy reaches 12 weeks and the dog must have waited 21 days after the vaccine before being transported to the UK. The dog must also have been given an Echinococcus worming treatment 1 -5 days prior to arriving in the UK. All of this information should be evident in the Pet Passport and should be accompanied by an official vet stamp and signature.