"Fake" Pedigree Puppies Sold Over The Internet

Dog-lovers are being urged not to buy cheap pedigree dogs over the internet.
The RSPCA has estimated that thousands of puppies for sale have faked pedigree papers and may carry diseases.

The charity claims that people are being conned by fake pedigree papers and vaccination forms when buying dogs at discount prices online.

It said that buyers should always check the paperwork and make sure that it shows dogs are protected from common diseases like parvovirus and hepatitis.

The RSPCA spokesperson said "The reason fake vaccination forms are a problem is to do with the conditions the puppies are bred in.

"If there are many dogs in a cramped space, they are likely to spread diseases."

A survey of over 3,000 people by the RSPCA shows that nearly a third would use the internet to buy a puppy.

The Kennel Club secretary, Caroline Kisko, reported that the problem of fake pedigree dogs being sold over the net was increasing.

"We have seen more and more websites springing up featuring cut-price puppies sold with fake pedigrees, often amongst those breeds that are the latest fashion,"

"Sadly, most of these puppies will come from puppy farmers, or from those dealing on their behalf, and may suffer ill health in the long term."

It advises people who plan to buy a pedigree breed to contact the KC for a list of accredited and reputable breeders.

In the UK pedigree dogs can fetch hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds.

"There's no cheap way to be a puppy owner," said the RSPCA's Justine Pannett.

"People thinking about buying a puppy don't just need to plan for the initial cost of buying it.

"They also need to consider the ongoing costs and commitment needed to care for a dog throughout its life."