Puppy farms and kitten mills contribute to 90,000 euthanised dogs and cats a year in Australia alone. These helpless pups and their parents (the breeding animals) are kept in dirty, squalid enclosures or cages, lacking the basic conditions for their welfare and comfort such as healthy food, proper veterinary care, a warm bed, or enrichment and toys.

Over the holiday season, companion animal sales skyrocket with a lot of Christmas purchases occurring on the internet to save time. 

Animal welfare campaigner Jeroen van Kernebeek, Country Director at FOUR PAWS Australia, says that consumers need to be very cautious when buying animals on online trading platforms. One of the major concerns is that the buyer cannot see whom she or he is buying from and how the animals are treated before they are given a loving home.

Jeroen has shared the top five things to be aware of if you are considering buying your new family addition online in the lead up to Christmas.

1. “Think about it – Anyone considering adding an animal to the family should ask themselves if they are ready for the commitment. Being a guardian of an animal is a wonderful thing, but it takes a lot of work and responsibility, and is something that should be taken seriously. Make sure you have the space and the time to take care of your new animal friend, not just today or tomorrow, but for the long-term. Animals should not be considered as Christmas gifts or as a novelty item, but with the care and consideration of this lifelong commitment. Christmas can be taxing enough without adding a stressed animal to the occasion.”
   
   
2. “Adopt – We strongly recommend that Australians first consider adoption from an animal welfare organisation. When welcoming a new companion animal into your life, choosing to adopt an animal from a shelter or rescue group not only saves the life of that animal, but also positively contributes to the ongoing fight against animal overpopulation and homelessness. Thousands of wonderful animals are brought to shelters every year not because of something they have done, but because their owners have had a change in situation such as moving home, which leaves these once beloved pets in desperate need of a new forever home. That’s why FOUR PAWS always recommends adopting an animal rather than buying one. And yes, you can do that online too: www.petrescue.com.au.”
   
   
3. “Do your research –If you are buying online, ask yourself how you can ensure that the breeder you’re thinking of buying from is ethical. Unfortunately, the online trade is poorly regulated. All online trading platforms, including the popular Gumtree and Trading Post, are missing important systems such as seller identity verification to ensure the animals sold through their sites are offered by reputable breeders. You can really only ensure that you are about to buy a happy and healthy animal when you visit the breeder personally and insist on seeing where the animal was born and what the living conditions of the mother and father are. Too often we have seen cases where a puppy has come from truly horrendous conditions, suffering from disease and behavioural issues, due to treatment by bad breeders.”
   
   
4. “Avoid – Make sure to avoid puppy farms and backyard breeders. These breeders focus on producing high volume animals and making money. The conditions on these farms are terrible and inhumane. Females are used merely to breed and are treated very badly. As most of the animals are continually made pregnant before fully recovering, their offspring can be predisposed to disease. Such breeders are immoral and their practices are cruel to both the parent animals and their puppies. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t realise that online pictures don’t always tell the whole truth.”
   
   
5. “Don’t be afraid to ask – Asking the breeder all the right questions will help you find the perfect animal to join the family. Ask as many questions as you can, such as about the microchip and vaccination papers. What can they tell you about the breed? Does the animal require a lot of exercise? Is the animal child-friendly? Essentially, people need to listen to their instincts. If something feels off, then find another option.”

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