Dear person who breeds puppies

Dear Person who breeds puppies

I came across your advertisement recently where you indicate that you have puppies for sale. I am a supporter of a group known as Pug Rescue South Africa, and it is with that in mind that I feel compelled to write to you.

I am sure you only want the best for your puppies. Happy family pets who live out their lives appreciated and loved. I want to help you do that. There are a few things you can do to help prevent your puppies from ending up in the SPCA, where it's almost definite that they will be put down, or in the hands of people that will mistreat them. Many purebred dogs end up in shelters, many of those are pugs. This is a sad part of our society, it cannot be ignored, especially not by people who are breeding.

Please don't sell your puppies before they're at least 8 weeks old (12 is better). During this time with their mom and siblings, they learn a lot about not biting too hard and about playing nicely with others. A lot of dogs end up at the pound because they bite people or other dogs, so this will go a long way to keeping them in their homes.

Many people who breed dogs sell them through pet shops. At a pet shop, the puppies spend long hours in a fairly boring enclosure, but, more importantly, at a pet shop, they're likely to be bought by people on impulse. Puppies are hard work, very many puppies bought on impulse end up at the SPCA between six and eight months of age. This is so sad, and you can help prevent this by selling from your own home. The little bit of extra effort people have to do to come to you and view the pups help eliminate true impulse buys. I'm quite sure the pet shop would let you put your advertisement up at the shop, especially if you promise to refer people back to the shop for collars, bowls and food.

Get to know the people you're selling your puppy to. Do they have some idea of what it will mean to care for a puppy? Can they take care of vaccines, deworming and so on? I am sure that you already won't sell your puppies to an obvious scumbag, but a lot of people seem nice enough on the surface yet plan to lock the poor dog in a room and breed him or her constantly, until they die.

Many people who breed for shows have people sign a contract when they buy a puppy to make sure that puppy is neutered or spayed. This helps keep dogs out of shelters by simply making sure there are less of them out there. It would be a good idea to do the same with your dogs, to make sure irresponsible people don't use your puppies to simply make money.

It is also definitely a good idea to keep in touch with people. In this way, you can see how your puppies grow, and often, you can get lovely pictures, perhaps over a facebook group. This way, if people ever cannot keep a puppy you would know, and ideally, that puppy would come back to you. Breeding dogs, in an ideal world, places the responsibility for those puppies with you, forever more. If this is not possible, it may be possible for you to assist them in finding another good home for the dog. Another way to make sure your puppies don't end up put to death in shelters (or unloved or even abused) is to make sure that everyone has the contact details of our local pug rescue. Pug Rescue South Africa does fantastic work to make sure pugs that don't have a home finds both a good home, and gets the health care they might need.

I've included links below to that will hopefully help, firstly, to a spay/neuter contract sample. Then, to Pug Rescue South Africa's contact details. I hope you will consider what I said above - far too many dogs end up unwanted and unloved, in small, bare cages, their lives cut short before their time. Let's be part of the solution, not the problem!

Kind regards,
Nina Worthe

Sample spay/neuter contract:
http://curioussniffle.blogspot.com/2013/06/spayneuter-contract.html
Pug rescue contact details:
http://www.pugrescue.co.za/index.php/contact-pug-rescue.html

Spay/neuter contract

Spay/Neuter Contract

_________________ agrees to sell the following puppy to _______________ for the sum of _______   

BREED: ___________________     
SEX:  M / F
SIRE: _________________ 
DAM: _________________
DATE OF BIRTH: _______/_______/______
COLOUR/MARKINGS: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Spaying/neutering by a licensed, reputable Veterinarian is required on above puppy by ___ months of age. Proof of this, in the form of a Certificate of Spay/Neuter from the Veterinarian, must be forwarded to (breeder's name/kennel name) by the time the puppy reaches the age of 9 months old. If this is not received by (breeder's name/kennel name) within this time frame, (breeder's name/kennel name) has the full legal right to come take the puppy from your person or property with law enforcement officers and you must turn the puppy over at that time, without any refund of purchase price for said puppy. Buyer will be responsible for all costs incurred for the return of said puppy, including, but not limited to distance traveled, fuel, tolls, lodging, food, and all court and legal fees incurred for the safe return of said puppy.  

It is understood at the time of sale that this puppy is not considered to be for show or breeding, it is a representative of its breed and is structurally and temperamentally suited as a companion and/or sport dog, and is being sold as a pet, without show or breeding rights.  

If at any time, the above dog must leave permanent ownership of the buyer, the seller must be notified and said puppy must be return to the seller without any refund given, or surrendered to an appropriate rescue organisation.

Failure to follow this contract will entitle the seller to the return of said puppy as a result of breach of contract and any legal fees associated with legal actions or collection of fees. Including all expenses incurred for safe return of said puppy.

Buyer has received a copy of this contract. Buyer has read, understands, and accepts the terms of this contract. Buyer understands that by signing this contract it is legal and binding by the laws of South Africa and shall be resolved under South African law. Buyer also understands that by signing this contract the buyer is surrendering certain rights under South African law.  

Seller 1:_____________________________________________________ Date:______________

Seller 2:_____________________________________________________ Date:______________

Buyer 1:_____________________________________________________ Date:______________

Buyer 2:_____________________________________________________ Date:______________

If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions shall continue to be valid and enforceable. If a court finds that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, but that by limiting such provision it would become valid and enforceable, then such provision shall be deemed to be written, construed, and enforced as so limited.