Where Do Puppies Come From?
Where do puppies come from? Simply question, it may seem, but not a simple answer!
Where puppies come from
Puppies come from many different sources; some ethical, some not. But how can the prospective puppy owner tell the difference and do they even care? These are all potential sources of puppies:
Breeders
Breeders are usually (but not always) registered to an organisation. They may produce dogs to conform to show standards and pass their surplus on to public or may produce solely for pet owner supply.
Pet shops
Pet shops obtain puppies from various sources including pet owners, shelters, puppy farms, breeders. Some stores are members of associations and adhere to recommended guidelines e.g. Pet Industry Association Australia (PIAA). In some countries, dogs and cats cannot be sold from a pet store.
Shelters
Shelters rehome puppies (or puppies from pregnant bitches) relinquished into their care.
Puppy Farms
Puppy Farms* are small to medium to large scale commercial operations who produce dogs that are currently in demand.
Dog owners,
Dog owners who have either:
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- let their dogs have a litter (or two) to see how they are as mothers/stud dogs or to let their children have puppy access
- fail to desex their dog and have an ‘accidental litter’
Regulations vary in countries and regions or states
In Australia, there are State differences in regulations. In NSW, for instance, pet shops must adhere to the Animal Welfare Code of Practice for Animals in Pet Shops and breeders The Animal Welfare Code of Practice in Breeding cats and dogs.
Where individuals, companies or organisations do not comply with the regulations, they are behaving illegally. There are however, very many grey areas where operations are legal but perhaps not acceptable or deemed ethical by animal lovers.
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