Companion Animals

Puppy Farming and Welfare Crisis

Puppy farming involves intensive breeding of dogs in poor conditions for profit, causing widespread suffering.

Key Facts

UK puppy farms house breeding dogs in barren cages with minimal social interaction throughout their lives
Breeding dogs in puppy mills often suffer from untreated health problems and poor nutrition
Puppies sold through pet shops or online are frequently from puppy farms regardless of documentation
Introductions of Lucy's Law have banned the sale of puppies and kittens through pet shops and dealers in the UK
Online platforms remain a significant route to market for puppy farm puppies

Welfare Considerations

Puppy farming causes severe chronic suffering to breeding dogs who spend their entire lives in cages producing litter after litter. Puppies from puppy farms are often sicker and more behaviourally disturbed than those from ethical breeders. Consumer choice and legislation to close sales routes are the most effective interventions.

What You Can Do

Always adopt from a rescue shelter rather than buying a puppy
If buying a puppy, see it with its mother in the home it was born in
Never buy puppies advertised online without meeting the breeder in person
Report suspicious puppy sales to local councils and the RSPCA
Support organisations campaigning for stricter enforcement of puppy farming laws