Take a look at this adorable little puppy - how could you not just fall in love with it? It’s a pity that not everyone sees this gorgeous little bundle as a living, breathing little baby that just longs for some care and attention.

There was an article in a newspaper I read the other day that was talking about some dog kennels in the USA. These kennels were mass breeding puppies for the general market.

The article said that Two Shih Tzus were shaking and cowering when people walked past their dog cages. A Rottweiller was suffering from eye, ear and skin infections and would require surgery for a sore on his foot which was caused from lying on a cold cement floor. There was no dog bed in sight. A Lhasa apso had gone blind in her right eye but the cause was not known and a pregnant Doberman pinscher was suffering from severe mange and was underfed.

These apparently were just some of the conditions that afflicted a number of animals from a kennel which was termed as having deplorable living conditions.

Worryingly, there are stories like this one in the UK . It is very unfortunate that there are a number of disreputable dog breeders out there who are in the business just for the money.

Responsible breeding is quite an expensive business when done properly and puppy farmers cut the costs as much as they can so that they can make the maximum profit. They are irresponsible, callous people who just don’t care about the suffering they are causing and are not bothered if a few puppies die in the process.

Cost cutting can include breeding from bitches too often and from too young an age. This causes problems both for the mother and her puppies. Dogs are often crammed into unsuitable dog kennels or dog cages with no warm, cosy dog beds to curl up in and the dogs are only fed enough for them to survive and breed. They are not given proper veterinary care or vaccinations and the pups are sent off for sale when they are far too young to leave their mothers which makes them very vulnerable to infections and illnesses.

When people buy puppies from these places they can easily end up with one suffering from physical defects, severe parasitic infections, hereditary diseases, behavioural problems and the worst scenario is that your puppy may die within a few days from a serious illness such as parvo virus, distemper or gastroenteritis.

An example of this is a gentleman in the UK who spoke to a local newspaper and said he will never forget the day he bought a West Highland white puppy from a “so-called breeder” as a birthday present for his 12 year old daughter. The dog fell ill within two days and had to be put down. His daughter was heartbroken.

The moral of the story ? Always check the breeder out before purchasing the puppy and ask to see the parents. Check that the parents look healthy and ask their age. Look carefully at your puppy’s surroundings - are they clean? Is it kept in the home and socialised? Make sure it has been vaccinated accordingly and take a trip to the vet immediately upon purchase to have your new pup checked out.

If you hear of puppy farming in your area then inform the police and the RSPCA - let’s stamp out this cruel practice for good.