‘Very concerning’ puppy trend a quarter of Aussies are falling for

Aussie pet buyers have fared poorly in a global survey which reveals a concerning puppy trend heaps of us are falling for.

Australian pet owners and buyers have fared poorly in a global survey which has revealed we do the least research into breeders, spend the most on new dogs and often purchase pups illegally young.

Australia is the lowest among all nine countries surveyed to conduct research on breeders or sellers before buying, with 27 per cent not researching the supplier of the puppy. Evidently, the ACCC reported that over 2021, Aussies lost $4.2 million dollars to pet scams, a 1000 per cent increase over two years.  

Forty-two per cent of Australians spent between $1500 and $4399 on a puppy in 2022, with 13 per cent paying between $4400 and $8800.

Of survey respondents in the UK, only 18 per cent of buyers paid more than $A3083 for their new dog.

Perhaps, the most concerning of the results was that more than a quarter of Aussies bought puppies less than eight weeks old, with 13 per cent of those stating their puppy was six weeks or younger.

In most Australian states, selling or purchasing dogs under eight weeks old is illegal.

Four Paws says conditions at puppy farms can be substandard. Picture: RSPCA

The Savanta research agency, which worked with Four Paws on the survey during 2022, received responses from 3037 people across Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Belgium to compile the results.

In October, news.com.au was made aware of puppy and kitten advertisements on Gumtree that were offering them to buyers under the eight-week age requirement.

Gumtree removed a list of several ads sent to them by news.com.au, which were uncovered after just a brief search.

In response, a spokeswoman from Gumtree said the site used filters and safeguards to remove non-compliant ads but also used a “report and take-down process” to encourage users to flag any concerning ads.

Animal welfare advocacy group Four Paws is urging Australians to research and be aware of “puppy farms” offloading pups too young.

The group claims a spike in demand for puppies through Covid, coupled with the Christmas period, has led to a rise in puppy farm practices, underage puppy sales and online scams.

National director of Four Paws Australia, Rebecca Linigen, said puppies advertised online were more than likely from puppy farms – urging buyers to do their research.

“They are bred in poor conditions in puppy farms with mothers forced to produce litter after litter, and the puppies are taken away from their mothers far too young,” she said.

“By the time they are in your arms, they could be sick or go on to have behavioural problems due to lack of socialisation.”

A Japanese Spitz was among the numerous breeds of dogs found at four alleged puppy farms by the RSPCA in recent years. Picture: RSPCA Queensland

The survey also found that as a result of such purchases, 21 per cent reported the puppy had health issues, including allergies, behavioural problems and diarrhoea – likely linked to early mother-pup separation.

“Doing the right research and asking the right questions can help Australians avoid falling victim to the cruel puppy trade,” Ms Linigen said.

Emma Hurst, an Animal Justice Party member of the NSW Upper House, said puppy farming was legal in most states and territories but labelled it a “cruel industry that has been allowed to run rampant due to government inaction”.

“Nobody wants to buy a dog from a puppy farm – but right now, members of the public are being duped by dodgy operators,” she said.

Emma Hurst from the Animal Justice League. Picture: Tim Hunter/News Corp

“This was exposed in a recent NSW parliamentary inquiry, where it was revealed that even individuals who had tried to research breeders were still accidentally purchasing from a puppy farm and having to spend thousands on veterinary treatment for their sick new family member who probably came from squalor.”

According to Four Paws, red flags for buyers include sellers with multiple accounts on a single classifieds site, the same seller advertising multiple litters of puppies of different breeds, no mention of the mother, or not allowing the buyer to see the mother dog and where she lives for themselves.

A Daily Telegraph investigation found at least $1.5 million worth of pups in NSW were sold online with fake microchips.

Pictures revealed the shocking conditions some of the dogs are living in at these puppy farms before they’re sold.

The organisation says a responsible breeder will likely quiz the buyer on their lifestyle and living space to ensure their home is the right fit for the puppy.

Four Paws Australia has recently launched its new campaign, ‘Cute. Quick. Sick’, which highlights the dangers of buying animals online and how operators sometimes deceive people looking to buy a puppy.

The animal welfare organisation encourages people looking to add a furry friend to their family this festive season to consider adopting, but to always remember – a pet is for life, not just for Christmas.