Poor puppies abandoned in broad daylight by a “master manipulator” breeder

Three adorable Labrador puppies were abandoned in Renfrewshire, Scotland, on Tuesday at 4pm after an illegal breeder abandoned them in broad daylight for allegedly contracting the parvovirus

When buying a new puppy, it’s so important to do your research and avoid being tricked by illegal breeders.

A man has been called a “master manipulator” by animal welfare chiefs for allowing the spread of parvovirus – a highly contagious and deadly virus.

Three adorable Labrador puppies were abandoned Tuesday just before 4pm in broad daylight by the unknown black market breeder.

The poor pups were spotted in Renfrewshire, Scotland, and taken in by the Scottish SPCA – who received a tip about a similar pup that had died days earlier.

The pup’s microchips matched those of the rescued litter and are believed to have been abandoned after the virus was found to pose a risk.

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The seller had convinced an unsuspecting owner to meet in a public place with two other puppies and a dog he claimed was the mother.

But when the illness became apparent, the buyer had to spend thousands to try and save the pet’s life.

An undercover inspector from Scotland’s SPCA Special Investigations Unit said: “We suspect these puppies are linked to prolific, low welfare puppy traders operating in Scotland.

“We have seen similar cases in the past where puppies were given away as soon as they became unprofitable because they were ill.

“We cannot stress this enough: the supply of poorly bred puppies will only disappear when public demand stops.

“Each year thousands of puppies die as little as days or weeks old to spur the trade.

“We will continue to fight the puppy trade at every turn, but we need every single person to do their part to help us stop it.

“There are thousands of ads on sites like Gumtree for puppies, but there is no guarantee that you are buying from a responsible breeder when you shop online.

“Under no circumstances should anyone meet a breeder to purchase a puppy or have a puppy for sale.

“Don’t accept an apology, no matter how plausible it seems.

“These people are master manipulators and will do anything to make you believe they are legitimate and responsible breeders.

“We urge the public to be vigilant when purchasing a puppy and not accept an excuse not to see the puppy with its mother.

“We would always advise adopting a pet, but those who have made the decision to buy a puppy should do their research and ensure they are buying from a responsible breeder.

“Even if you have to wait a little longer, you get a happy and healthy dog.

“The Scottish SPCA is committed to fighting the illegal puppy trade.

“If anyone has any information regarding this incident or is concerned they may have purchased a puppy from a low welfare breeder, they should call our confidential animal hotline.”

Do you have dog advice to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.