Lockdown Puppies 2: The Sad Story Of Bay

I blogged just a couple of days ago about the danger of impulse buying a puppy during lockdown. I have a very sad example to share of the consequences.

Bay was a beautiful Cocker Spaniel puppy who had been training with me. She showed immense potential. Her owner had been looking for a working dog for a while. He is responsible for animal welfare at an airfield and needed a good dog to flush birds and keep the runways clear. I had spoken to him about choosing the right dog. Unfortunately, he went against my advice and purchased a puppy during lockdown from a litter that was not health checked or KC registered.

Last weekend, Bay was suddenly taken ill. My client took her to the vet and was told she had an enlarged heart, a genetic problem that would have been picked up at any health check. Sadly, Bay died only 48 hours after becoming ill.

My client has asked me to share this very sad story with you. Please be careful when purchasing a puppy. I would go so far as to say, don’t buy a puppy for the next few months. My client paid £1000 for an unregistered Cocker that normally would be £350 – £400. He has been back to the breeder to tell them about the genetic defect and they were not interested. These people are unscrupulous and the welfare of the dogs and their new owners is suffering as a result.

If you are waiting to collect a puppy in the next few weeks, please call me before you do.

Posted: July 2, 2020