THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT CROSS PARTY GROUP ON ANIMAL WELFARE
News Release - Thursday 6 December 2012
MSPs SAY BUYING PETS ONLINE IS NOT THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
The Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare is warning people in Scotland not to impulse buy pets as Christmas presents. The situation is particularly urgent at this time of year as 'gifted' animals are more likely to be abandoned or need re-homing come January, when the novelty wears off.
The Group stresses that people should especially beware of buying a pet online. Many unscrupulous breeders take advantage of the Christmas season to make money and what people see on a website is not always what they get in real life - if they receive anything at all. Hundreds of cases have been documented of puppies and kittens being sold online that turned out to be underage, sick or not properly socialised. There have also been cases of illegal dog breeds, such as pitbulls, being advertised online, or breeds of cats with inherent welfare problems.
The Group stresses that people should especially beware of buying a pet online. Many unscrupulous breeders take advantage of the Christmas season to make money and what people see on a website is not always what they get in real life - if they receive anything at all. Hundreds of cases have been documented of puppies and kittens being sold online that turned out to be underage, sick or not properly socialised. There have also been cases of illegal dog breeds, such as pitbulls, being advertised online, or breeds of cats with inherent welfare problems.
Christine Grahame MSP, Convener of the Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare said:
“Christmas is the worst possible time to introduce a young, vulnerable animal to a busy household. Once the holidays are over, reality kicks in and the responsibilities of caring for a pet can be too much for some people, with tragic consequences.
“The Group has received information about the severe animal welfare problems related to buying pets online, and we will continue to highlight this trade in the New Year. Many puppies and kittens are bred for the Christmas market and advertised online. Buying on the internet, without doing proper research and seeing the new pet with its mother, can be buying into needless suffering.”
NB:
The Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Animal Welfare http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/41364.aspx brings together MSPs from all parties and almost fifty associate members and groups with a shared interest in animal welfare including Professor Nat Waran from JMICAWE. The Group’s office bearers are: Convener – Christine Grahame MSP; Vice-Conveners – Claudia Beamish MSP and Alison Johnstone MSP; Secretary – Libby Anderson, OneKind.
For more information, contact Christine Grahame MSP – Christine.Grahame.MSP@scottish.parliament.uk or 0131 348 6084
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