Is this legal?

[9.3]

In our local Gumtree, there is a guy using a bunch of different aliases to sell very young puppies, and advertising them as if they were his family pets. He is obviously a dealer for possibly what could be a puppy farm. On any given day he is probably advertising 30/40 puppies.
Is what he is doing legal or is it just unethical?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/saluki-puppies/10830...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/aylestone-bulldogs-p...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/pedigree-labrador-pu...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/springer-poo-s/10822...

etc etc.

[bexVN]

Even worse he could be importing them. We ate seeing an increase in pups coming from abroad.

Either way trading standards should be informed of him and poss the Rspca.

Technically he may not be breaking the law but it does seem dodgy and misleading.

[izzzzythedog]

simply put needs a license

[BillPeart]

9.3 said:

In our local Gumtree, there is a guy using a bunch of different aliases to sell very young puppies, and advertising them as if they were his family pets. He is obviously a dealer for possibly what could be a puppy farm. On any given day he is probably advertising 30/40 puppies.
Is what he is doing legal or is it just unethical?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/saluki-puppies/10830...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/aylestone-bulldogs-p...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/pedigree-labrador-pu...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/springer-poo-s/10822...

etc etc.

I've just hit the Report button against one of his ads and added as the reason the following:

Is this repeat seller - e.g.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/saluki-puppies/10830...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/aylestone-bulldogs-p...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/pedigree-labrador-pu...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/dogs/springer-poo-s/10822...

a dealer for a puppy farm (or worse, importing dogs) and if so should he not reveal it?

The posting rules for pets define 'breeding services' as not being allowed."


I'd encourage others equally concerned to do the same. As per the last line, if, as seems highly likely this is a breeder/agent then the ads shouldn't be allowed. Nor should the evil of puppy farms imho. If he isn't, then he can justify that to Gumtree if they intervene.

[9.3]

Thanks for the replies, interesting reading.

[9.3]

Thanks for the replies, interesting reading.

[UnderTheRadar]

If he/she is misrepresenting I'd have thought Trading Standards. They can then call in the big guns.

[Martin_M]

Perhaps you could forward the details to the RSPCA. If you had the time, you could go and view one and do some detective work of your own...if he is some sort of puppy farmer.

[V41LEY]

Apologies as I'm well behind the times having been an ex-pat for the last 4 years. I had no idea of the scale of dogs for sale on Gumtree.
Sure it's a marketplace but I find it pretty depressing that so many 'puppies' are on there for rehoming due to new babies / house moves /
divorces etc etc. Lots of 'pitbull' sorts as well which probably doesn't bode well. All very depressing expecially with Xmas coming up and
a whole new tranche of badly thought out pet purchases on the way.

[moorx]

Some good advice here:

https://cariadcampaign.wordpress.com/let-the-buyer...

and here:

http://safepetsuk.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/reporti...

Although I don't think either mention reporting to the local Council Dog Warden, which might also be a good idea.