Puppies as Christmas presents 'encourages cruel breeding' says Laois SPCA Chair

The Laois Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Laois SPCA)  have asked the public to avoid buying pets as presents this Christmas season. 

Laois SPCA Chairperson Finn Ryan has called for people to ‘adopt, not shop’.

“If there is a big market for puppies at Christmas, you're encouraging people who may not be excellent breeders to break into this market,” said Ms Ryan.

The Laois charity have closed off adoptions from December 14 to January 6 to help prevent their animals being gifted as presents this winter, and have driven the theme of ‘adopt, don’t shop’ across their social media platforms.

“You can’t surprise someone with the gift of an animal, you need to set your life up to settle that animal in, it's particularly not a good time with the lack of a schedule over the Christmas period,” Ms Ryan said.

“You'd want to think when is a good time, you would need to take time off to settle a dog into your home. It's a stressful transition, animals are going to their forever homes.”

The Portlaoise-based charity currently has 94 cats and kittens in their care, along with 9 dogs and 11 puppies.

Ms Ryan has said that people generally forget the amount of time and work that goes into taking care of pets.

“You have the crazy puppy stage where they are getting into everything, and you are up half the night toilet training them,” she said.

“It’s always better to adopt an adult dog, generally they are already toilet trained.”

The charity chair has also pointed out that over the Christmas period, you have people calling unannounced, which can be stressful for animals too. 

"Generally Christmas is not a great time to introduce an animal into your life, it's a better time to move an animal into your life in a quieter period,” she said.

“The whole idea of gifting puppies at Christmas just encourages breeders to breed bitches to that date, which can lead puppies being removed from their mammies too early to be in time for Christmas,” Ms Ryan said.

“A lot of people buy their dogs off breeders that seem lovely and genuine, but you are still supporting a market where dogs are being bred, where people may use it as a cash incentive.

“Even though you are attending an ethical breeder, you have to acknowledge your part in contributing to the market, there are criminals who see this market and the money attracts them into it,” Ms Ryan said.

“When breeders see a waiting list for their dogs, it's very easy to slide into unethical territory. You're just feeding the market then, when you see your neighbour’s Cockapoo puppy and want one yourself. By spending a lot of money on a dog you're just encouraging it,” she said.

“No matter who you are buying from, by paying for a dog, you are contributing to a market where these bitches are ethically bred dogs, but when a breeder has a waiting list, this dog will end up having 10 litters. 

“There is organised crime in dog breeding. When you get caught coming into the country with a van full of drugs, you're in trouble. With a van full of puppies, you only get a slap on the wrist,” she said.

“People are prepared to pay thousands for these dogs, dogs that are being bred with health problems to appear a certain way,” Ms Ryan slammed. 

Ms Ryan saw many puppies bought throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and has seen many surrendered to the care of Laois SPCA when lifestyles returned to normal.

“These dogs were surrendered and still continue to be surrendered,” she said.

“A puppy won't last five hours without going out to the loo. A dog loves company, so it isn't fair to leave a dog on its own for that length of time,” Ms Ryan explained.

The Laois SPCA member also addressed that pet owners should consider what they will do with their animals when they must travel somewhere.

“Buying a dog from a breeder is just creating more suffering down the road,” Ms Ryan finished.

Laois SPCA have recently launched an appeal for office wardrobes with shelves, to keep their animal feed supplies rodent-proof.