Campaigners address the brutal treatment of dogs at puppy farms as they host a protest in Cardiff
Campaigners protesting against puppy farming at the Welsh Government Office
Dog lovers and their pets gathered at the Welsh Government Offices in Cardiff at the end of October to protest against puppy farming.
The foundation CARIAD (Care and Respect for All Dogs) campaigned at Bute to spread awareness about the issue. Puppy farming is a process in which profit driven farmers breed high volumes of puppies with minimal regard for their health.
Linda Goodman, the founder of CARIAD, says that puppy farming has been a matter of concern in UK since the past three decades. Thousands of suffering, sick and dying breeding dogs and puppies are sold in Wales yearly, usually via third parties.
Distressed dog rescued from puppy farm
“Puppy farming is not illegal provided someone has a licence. This is what is most shocking of all.”
“The reason dogs and puppies suffer is because licensing criteria is weak and enforcement is virtually non-existent for a variety of reasons: Lack of resources, lack of expertise since licensing officials are not animal welfare experts, they also licence taxi firms, for example, and lack of will, and in some instances, corruption,” says Miss Goodman.
Even though puppy farms are usually set up in rural areas and counties where activities go unnoticed campaigns take place in Cardiff, London and other urban areas because dealers buy these puppies from West Wales and sell them to pet shops in the city.
Tortured and bruised dog from a puppy farm
At the campaign, dog owners shared personal stories of rescuing their canine companions. Lauren Clark rescued two dogs from puppy farms. She found one of her beagle, Phoebe in a malnourished condition with severe bruises, “she was terrified of men and she even use to bark at my boyfriend when he came around to see me. She just panicked every time she saw men she didn’t know very well,” says Lauren.
Lauren Clark sharing her dog Phoebe’s rescue story
“She’s generally quiet scared of people carrying anything over her head and if I made any kind of sudden movement she would get very worried and back away from me.”
Despite tighter regulations, regular campaigns and media coverage, the issue of puppy farming has escalated over the years. In a survey conducted by the organisation it was found that 77% of dog owners paid cash for their puppies and 80% bought them directly from the breeders.
Campaigns and charities such as CARIAD, RSPCA and PupAid encourage people to adopt canines rather than buy them. They suggest that new dog owners should demand to see the puppies with their mothers and assess their conditions. These groups also encourage citizens to report any sightings of animal cruelty and battery farming.
Website link: https://cariadcampaign.blog
