You’re Not an Arsehole, Are You?
How do we stop puppy farming in the UK?
An interesting topic for discussion. I fear we (I’m talking about we as in us, the media) have possibly skirted the heart of the issue on this one. I also fear we’ve been too kind and too soft on the main underlying cause of puppy farms in the UK. So, let’s try and get it out in the open shall we….
…the reason we still have puppy farms in the UK is because there are still significant numbers of would-be puppy buyers who plain don’t care where they get their dog from or what route that dog has taken to make its way to their home. They, quite simply, want a dog and they want it now.
Let’s think about it for a second; if people didn’t purchase from puppy farms and from pet shops, there’d be none.
So why do people do it?
Some of them are misguided, misinformed. OK, I accept that. But even so, in 2009 with ALL of the wealth of information that exists about how to obtain a dog responsibly, is it REALLY a valid excuse any more? I mean, really?
And for everyone who accidentally, unintentionally winds up putting money in to the pocket of puppy farmers, there’s certainly more folk who do it and who couldn’t really care less either way.
Whilst it is an ongoing disgrace that puppy farms are allowed to thrive and propser in a country where laws, legislation and enforcement of such establishments have never really been properly crafted to a point where they have been forced out of business, whilst the demand exists – the puppy farmer will thrive.
If puppy farming is to be defeated, the first point of action needs to be in changing the attitude and behaviour of purchasers.
Look at this way; if there was ZERO demand for cocaine, would the governments of the world even need to make laws and spend BILLIONS on trying to combat traffickers around the globe? Of course not! No demand means the supplier is automatically redundant. And let’s establish one thing, for the record, puppies are NOTHING like cocaine. So our failure to combat puppy farmers is interlinked, exclusively, with our failure to convince enough people of the right and wrong ways to acquire a dog.
How can we change this? How do we push for a culture change?
It’s going to be hard and I feel it’s going to take something big. But I am 100% convinced that even if we were to bring in laws that would legislate against puppy farms, if there is still a 10 or 20% demand from the same sort of people who acquiring their dogs from puppy farmers today, the laws themselves won’t be enough.
Which is the low hanging fruit with this issue? Do we push hard for tougher laws first and then hope for the best in terms of people abiding by them? Or do we go for a major push on trying to affect a change in the way people think about acquiring dogs, in particular puppies?
I am, increasingly, more inclined toward the latter.
I thought of some slogans. But please bear in mind these are slogans straight from the gut. I have little time for anyone who contributes to the suffering of puppies and I do feel that sometimes too much sympathy is extended to folks who purchased from puppy farms only to ‘realise their error too late’. Maybe the kid gloves need to come off?
1) Thinking of getting a puppy? Don’t buy from a puppy farmer, dunce!
It’s unsubtle, straight to the point and uses one of the most effective forms of peer-based persuasion; ridicule.
2) Thinking of getting a puppy? First make sure your supplier isn’t a total scumbag!
Now, you see, I’m getting straight to the point with these slogans. A distinct theme is emerging.
3) Thinking of getting a puppy? Only a turd-for-brains would buy from a puppy farmer! Are YOU that person?
It’s insulting, yes. I stand by it.
4) Would you wear a fur coat made from Labrador puppies? Then don’t fund sick puppy farmers, silly!
It’s not quite so insulting.
5) Only an arsehole supports puppy farmers! You’re not an arsehole, are you?
Again, to the point. Sums up my feelings.
6) If you purchase from a puppy farmer, your knees will fall off – Ouch!
OK, bear with me. I’m thinking, some of the puppy farmer’s key customers come from the demographic that marketers describe as ‘incredibly stupid, oafish morons’ – so I’m working on the assumption that they might actually believe this. Maybe even link it to some sort of ’scientific study’.
Bottom line here, we have GOT to make a change. Somehow, some way we need to influence buyers. There was a programme on BBC last week which set out to ‘uncover’ puppy farmers, in one scene people were turning up to buy puppies even whilst there was a camera crew ‘exposing’ the place as a puppy farm. What does it take to get people to understand?
The media who carry adverts for puppy farmers, they are guilty as sin. Some big names out there profiting from the misery of dogs. I think it’s about time they were named and shamed. I’m more than happy to take up that mantle. Why should a company be allowed to make even £100 from the abject suffering of a single dog? Let’s get this in perspective, if the demand end of this relationship is stemmed, the supply end automatically dies – those who are involved in the perpetuation of the demand end, they should be held to account.
What do we need to do? How can we start to affect a real, genuine, long term change in culture and attitude?
It absolutely CAN be done, make no mistake. There is enough evidence to prove that culture change and buying habits CAN be influenced dramatically – and in many cases, it only requires one, very loud, very direct message to hit home with the ‘right’ audience.
It’s no good me ranting about this to you, you’re reading this blog – I already know you’re not, therefore, stupid enough to purchase from a puppy farmer. So without wanting to preach to the choir, want I do want to do is try and discover how best to deliver the message.
(Oh, and for the record – my personal pick would be:
5) Only an arsehole supports puppy farmers! You’re not an arsehole, are you? – I’d be prepared to make this in to a full page poster and national advertising campaign. And no, I’m not kidding).
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Don't breed for greed is the motto us, the responsible breeders should live by, those puppy farmers have nothing in mind other than their profit, I breed my dogs but I wouldn't even dream of keeping them in the appalling conditions that those sicko puppy farmers keep theres in, they should be indoors with the ones they love not outside in all weathers, I have been up all hours of the night with a pregnant bitch, soothing her and aiding her every step of the way, but puppy farmers just leave them outside to suffer.
A message to those who are thinking of breeding dogs:
If you are thinking of breeding your dogs for profit and profit alone, then slap your self.
and a message to puppy farmers:
They are family pets NOT money making machines!!!
Well said Ryan, breeding is O.K. but NOT farming!!, farming is bad very bad!!
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"Let’s think about it for a second; if people didn’t purchase from puppy farms and from pet shops, there’d be none."
Are we jumping to conclusions here and assuming that pet shops use puppy farms? I know a lot of retailers that take puppies from good breeders or rehome animals from animal shelters. Let's not tar them with the same brush as areshole puppy farms.
Absolutley agree on all other points though. Big fan of "don't breed for greed" as well, that's a winning slogan.
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Dave the Dog Reply:
March 4th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
"I know a lot of retailers that take puppies from good breeders"
No, sorry, a GOOD breeder would not sell puppies or dogs to pet shops.
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Jack Russel Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Cheers, I say what I think because puppy farms stink.
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Ryan I have read your blog and the stance you are taking on the issue of puppy farming. Frankly I am very dissapoited at your approach which I feel is very unprofessional and amateurish in the terminology used for suggested slogans. Who are you trying to attract to the cause, it is almost as though you percieve that the people that buy from puppy farmers, pet shops are low life and will only understand the type of language you are suggesting in your slogans. A very dissapointed approach to tackle a very serious and despicable issue it does need a far better approach with more professionlism than you are suggesting.
Frankly very dissapointed.
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Frankly Pat, I really don't care – that's not be faecistious, it's my true feeling and I will gladly take this one, final time to explain why.
I have a right to an opinion and I have a right to express it as I see fit. I am sick to the back teeth of seeing this issue bickered over – it sticks in my throat and I will draw attention to the issue and will express my feelings toward those who support puppy farms however I see fit. I wish you the best with your own endeavors but if I was to point out the blindingly obvious to you and criticise YOUR method of doing things, based on MY experience of being able to draw attention to serious animal welfare issues, I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate it. So I won't. Needless to say – you go about it however you see fit, if you wish to criticise others who are fighting for an end to puppy farming, up to you.
If you had read the article you would see I'm not trying to 'attract' anyone to any cause. I am putting out a wider message to a broader audience than you are perhaps familiar with. Let it be known, in 2008 alone my company delivered attention to the issue of dog adoption to more than 35m people, nationally and internationally – in the month of August alone, thanks to our National Dog Adoption Month, we increased the number of dogs being rehomed via DogsBlog.com by 227% – that is a real, tangible effect on a particular problem using methods which we have spent a decade perfecting. My own approach to delivering focus on to issues about which I care is entirely that, mine. So whilst you are quite entitled to line up and bicker and criticise and snipe about my methods, my suggestion is you focus your energies in a more constructive way because I'm absolutely not going to spend another second bickering about how to gain attention to important issues when it's something we manage to do year in, year out. It would seem to me that you are likely to drive people away from 'your' cause because of the energy misdirected at others who are actually working toward the same goal. So whilst you have a complete right to do that, I have now taken to the time to explain that we will continue to fight on issues using messages and delivery of messages which we have been successful with. Today I got in my car and spent several hours promoting rescue dogs, yesterday I spent time talking on the radio about breed specific legislation. I put the leg work in on ALL of the issues about which I care and frankly I am not going to sit here and listen to gutter sniping about HOW we choose to fight on the issues we happen to care about without putting you straight. The issue of puppy farming, believe it or not, is not exclusively 'yours'. If you are able to deliver results your way, great – well done, I applaud it. But it seems to me that were I to wade in and explain to you that you have so far been unsuccessful in actually influencing large numbers of people from purchasing from puppy farmers, that would be pointing out the obvious.
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Ryan, my comments, if you care to read them again related to the use and suggested terminology for the wording of the slogans, nothing more and nothing less, that was what I was making reference to and did not agree with.
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I agree with Pat. I wholeheartedly support Ryan but I just didn't like the swearing.
I think there should be more of an in your face campaign to educate the public about puppy farmimg, along the same lines as the recent Pedigree Adopt a Rescue Dog Scheme. On the telly in between Emmerdale and Corrie in your face the realities of what these low life scum do for profit. Even though there is a wealth of information out there I still know a lady who bought a puppy she found advetised on e-pups which was brought to her "for convenience" at a services on the M1. She's a lovely lady, quite intelegent and luckily the puppy is healthy, socialised and well adjusted. She now knows it could have been a disaster but it's her family's first dog and she didn't know anywhere else to buy one. E-pups was recommended to her by her vet who told her not to go to a pet shop, so she thought it was safe.
(I am not saying that all puppies advertised on e-pups are from puppy farms – but it was obvious to me that the lady I know got her's from a dealer).
Katie
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