As a rescue that takes in around 9,000 unwanted and abandoned animals every year they frequently see the consequences of people buying puppies and kittens on a whim without thinking of the long term commitment of pet ownership.
 
Battersea has now joined forces with vet and animal welfare campaigner Marc Abraham to ask the Government to change its current legislation and prevent puppies and kittens being sold without their mother being present.
 
Chief Executive Claire Horton said: “Battersea wholeheartedly supports Marc Abraham’s campaign for a better future for Britain’s dogs and cats. Over half of the dogs taken in by our three rescue centres are under three years of age and we are always concerned about how people are being sold these dogs in the first place. Sadly many pet shops will put profit before animal welfare so we’re joining the call for a ban on the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops. Such a move will also safeguard new owners, giving them greater confidence that their new pet is healthy and properly socialised.”
 
Vet Marc Abraham said: “On behalf of my Pup Aid team we’re absolutely thrilled that Battersea have joined the fight against the UK’s cruel puppy farming industry and support a ban on the sale for profit of puppies in pet shops. When choosing a dog you should always consider adopting from rescue, or if buying a pup, always ask to see it interacting with its mother. With only these two options available to prospective dog owners it would be extremely difficult to end up with a puppy farmed pup, this cruel trade would be starved of business, and better still, more rescue pets would find their loving forever homes.”
 
Eight week old Cocker Spaniel puppy Craig arrived at Battersea's Old Windsor centre earlier this month having been found on a country lane. The puppy should barely have been allowed out at such a young age, and it seems likely he was abandoned by an owner who changed their mind, or a breeder unable to find a sale. The puppy is one of around 400 dogs currently hoping to find a loving new home. Craig should soon find a home, but other dogs at Battersea’s centres have now been waiting for that special owner for over a year.
 
As well as improving the welfare and future prospects of puppies and kittens the Pup Aid campaign aims to bring an end to mass breeding of dogs, prioritising profit over welfare of puppies and their parents. Battersea encourages MPs to join in a Parliamentary debate, due on 4th September, which will further highlight the plight of these animals and move towards a greater crackdown on unethical sellers and irresponsible breeders.