OBTAINING A NEW DOG OR PUPPY - IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER
Pets are
very rewarding and loyal companions. However,
before taking on a new pet, it is important to be fully aware of the extra
responsibilities that owning a pet will involve, such as obtaining
veterinary treatment for the animal if it becomes sick or injured and
arranging for it to be properly cared for while you are away from home.
Every year, thousands of dogs and cats are abandoned or suffer from
neglect because owners do not, or cannot, provide correct care. Pet owners must also understand and know how to care for the
pet and realise that this responsibility is for the whole of the animal’s
life.
Before
obtaining any pet, a decision needs to be made as to what type of pet would
be most suitable for your particular lifestyle and whether your lifestyle
will accommodate the needs of a pet.
If you
are considering obtaining a pet dog, remember that dogs are very endearing,
but do require a lot of time, effort and money to look after properly.
If you do not think that you will be able to provide life-long care
for a pet, you should not acquire one.
Pet insurance is strongly recommended and it is recommended that you
ensure that the policy cover is effective as soon as possible after
acquiring your new pet.
Many
families with young children tend to decide upon a puppy as a new pet,
believing that these pets are safer, easier to train and more adaptable
than older, larger pets. However,
this is not always the case. Puppies
require extra time and care and are prone to play-related scratching and
biting, so they may not be appropriate for a household with young children.
Adopting a friendly, calm, adult animal that has a known history of
socialising well with young children may be the best choice for your
family. Before making a
definite decision, talk to your local veterinary surgeon or the animal
shelter adoption staff who can help you select the right animal for your
family.
Consider that an adult dog may be a better choice than a puppy because the adult dog will probably already be housetrained, more settled and have passed the ‘chewing’ stage of its life. However, as an adult dog, it may have already developed some habits, both good and bad! Remember that an adult dog will reflect its previous up-bringing, so there may be some behavioural problems to overcome. If deciding to obtain an adult dog, consider the animal rescue centres and breed rescue organisations. If visiting an animal charity or shelter, please be guided by the staff as they know the animals in their care very well and have a lot of experience matching the right dogs with the right homes. The ultimate aim of rescue centres is to find loving, long-term homes for dogs that have often been unfortunate victims of circumstance.
Another
factor to consider before obtaining a dog is which breed type would best
suit you and your lifestyle. There
are many books providing information on breed differences hence it is
highly recommended that you thoroughly research your choice before making
any decision or commitment. Remember
to consider cross breed dogs as they can also make wonderful companions.
Once you
have taken all of the above points into consideration, including looking
into the extra responsibilities that dog ownership will bring, you will
then need to decide whether your lifestyle would be more suited to either a
puppy or an adult dog.
Ideally,
if choosing a puppy, it should be obtained directly from the home in which
it was born. Meeting the
mother (and the father if possible) may be helpful in judging the kind of
temperament the puppy may develop and for dogs, importantly, the size to
which it may grow. Also by
seeing the rest of the litter, you can see if the rest of the puppies
appear healthy and are of the correct age when you take them home.
However, there will be occasions when this is not possible, such as
when choosing a puppy from a rescue organisation, if, for example, the
puppy was brought into the rescue centre as a stray.
Puppies that have been handled from a very early age tend to be gentle and readily accept human company. Older puppies that only meet people for the first time at 8 weeks of age can be timid and will need extra attention to help build their confidence and overcome their apprehension. If possible, meet with the litter of puppies from which you may purchase a pet before they are weaned, when they are at their most out-going stage. Commonly puppies are taken into their new home at approximately 8 – 10 weeks of age.
Puppies
should have been fully weaned and, like adults dogs, should have been
wormed, treated against flea infestations and vaccinated, as appropriate
for their age. Remember to ask
for a copy of the vaccination certificate and the record of worming at the
time when your take your new pet home. If the puppy or adult dog is not yet
vaccinated, contact your local veterinary surgery as soon as possible to
arrange for a health check and for the necessary vaccinations to be given.
If
buying a dog or puppy from a breeder, it is good practice to request a
written agreement stating that purchase is subject to a satisfactory
examination by your veterinary surgeon within 72 hours of the purchase.
Find out as much information as possible about your individual chosen pet before you take it home, for example, what food it has been fed on. Other things to enquire about, especially if obtaining an adult dog, is whether the dog is friendly towards cats and other animals, how the dog behaves away from the home environment and whether help and advice is available should any behavioural problems arise after you have taken the dog.
If considering purchasing a puppy, always remember that it is important to meet the mother of the pups and, if possible, see the rest of the litter.
Often
adverts may be seen in newspapers informing the reader of a variety of
different breeds of puppies for sale.
These types of adverts should be viewed with suspicion.
A variety of different breeds advertised by one vendor may have been
bred at a so-called ‘puppy farm’.
Recent
years have seen the advent of ‘puppy farms’, where puppies bred in
these establishments have been found kept in poor conditions.
They are called ‘farms’ because they often involve many
different dog breeds, which are kept by the owner and bred continuously for
financial gain. The resulting
puppies are usually sold through agents.
Puppy
farms may advertise for trade through newspapers and there have been many
cases where people whom have unknowingly purchased a dog from these puppy
farms are devastated to find that their new dog or puppy has behavioural or
even serious health problems.
Puppy
farms are often unlicensed and produce puppies through in discriminate
breeding, in less than ideal conditions.
Due to the poor living conditions, many of the puppies may suffer
from ill health. Careful
breeding, especially for pedigree puppies, is needed to minimise the risk
of hereditary diseases occurring; many of the pedigree puppies bred in
these farms are at risk from suffering from these hereditary diseases.
Therefore,
if you are considering buying a puppy or dog, try to ensure that the animal
is purchased from a licensed or recognised breeder or outlet and ask to see
the puppy with its mother. The
majority of breeders are caring dog owners, dedicated to, and enthusiastic
about, their favourite dog breed and keen to establish themselves as
respectable dog breeders.
Tough regulations and annual inspections of dog breeding premises may help to improve the welfare standards of these dogs found in ‘puppy farm’ situations in the UK. This will be reinforced with the introduction of a new UK Animal Welfare Law which comes into force in the UK in April 2007 and which introduces a duty on owners and keepers of all animals to ensure the welfare of the animals in their care.
Remember:
Before
obtaining any pet, make sure that you are fully aware of the
responsibilities involved and understand the needs and requirements of that
particular pet, any special needs a dog’s particular breed may require,
as well as it’s housing, care and feeding requirements.
Remember, your responsibility for caring for your pet is for the
whole of the animal’s life.
Anyone wishing to obtain a dog or puppy should contact the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter, the local Kennel Club or his or her local veterinary surgery for further advice
JSPCA
working to
“prevent
cruelty, promote knowledge, provide for aged, sick, lost and unwanted
animals.”
Jersey
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Inc.)
Founded
1868 – Incorporated 1936
89
St Saviour’s Road, St Helier, Jersey JE2 4GJ
Tel:
01534 724331
Fax: 01534 871797
E-mail:
info@jspca.org.je
Website: www.jspca.org.je