You’re Not an Arsehole, Are You?
Published on March 3, 2009 by Ryan O'Meara · 13 CommentsHow 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).
Highly Recommended: This could be the most important link you EVER click as far as your dog’s life is concerned – see why….!
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!!
"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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
Cheers, I say what I think because puppy farms stink.
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
total agreement i breed labradoodles and recently a well know pet shop asked if they could buy 6 of my puppys i wont bother you with my reply as it would probaly be banned any way sufice to say that a young couple who wanted to buy two boys for company with each other and the fact that they fell in lov with two pups had to under go a series of tests before i allowed them to take two nevr buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it never buy from a pet shop NEVER BUY FROM A PET SHOP
Hello ryan can you tell me where i can get my hands on enough dosh so i can fight puppy farming full time ????? we are curently trying to raise £35000 know any celebs that might like to champion our cause?? keep up the good work
These are posts from another site which may be of interest to anyone buying from a puppy farmer
I know of this man I found him on the Internet under seigreichkennels but also noticed he had adds with the name of amber drop and various other names Iwas going to buy a puppy from him but when it came to me seeing the puppy he asked me to meet him somewhere in Liverpool which seemed very strange as it wasn’t his house so I decided not to go a head with the sale. I was also told after checking out this man that he had lived in wales and ireland, so if anyone is thinking of buying from this man Dont!!!!
jeannie
0 topics 1 posts
Quote DeirdreFox wrote about 1 month ago
i also have had dealings with this man.he sold me pup in an apallling condition. i felt so sorry for her. her beautiful white coat urine stained at eight weeks old and terrified of people .these so called human beings need to be stopped. he can call himself what he likes but we know what they look like
DeirdreFox
0 topics 1 posts
Quote carolxcx wrote about 1 month ago
i also have had dealings with this man, i do have one of his dogs, which i bought from him as a puppy fortunatly he is a healthy and happy boy, although he did have socialisation problems at the start, with hard work and love we have overcome this.
Marcvet isee from your post that you would prosicute if he was to return to the uk, well i can state that he does regulaly return to the uk, from Ireland to compete in championship shows, the last one being the Birmingham National on the 6th May where one of his dogs was placed 1st in a PG group. Maybe you should maybe start to look at the shows to find your man and put a stop to his dealings. If i can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to ask.
carolxcx
0 topics 2 posts
Quote karen wrote about 1 month ago, Modified about 1 month ago
Sir he is living in Greystones Ireland He is calling himself Amber as in Amberdrop Havanese, I washed my hands of this naughty boy over a year ago thankfully.
Sadly many people dont know of him or how he treats his animals and his wife , well she is just the same.
karen
9 topics 21 posts
Quote marcvet wrote about 1 month ago, Modified about 1 month ago
Thanks to those who have confirmed what we found with these people, I will now be contacting the Kennel Club and also we shall be watching for UK show entries , if we see you there we shall have the local police arrest and detain you both.We are now conversing with Norwegian Veterinary Authorities , French and Greek authorities and we shall be requesting that every dog sent by you be euthanised. We also did not sign any export pedigree certificates for these dogs to leave the UK yet another fraud you have committed using the name of our surgery. The list gets longer and longer with fraudulent activity committed by you and those with whom you cohabit.
marcvet
2 topics 4 posts
Quote marcvet wrote about 22 days ago, Modified about 7 days ago
We have today visited two properties using County Court Bailiffs to serve Mr Zoltan Gabor Joo and Mrs Tunde Belanyi Joo with papers to attend Court to answer for what they did, Countries involved with their illegal activity with illegal export of dogs from UK to : Norway , Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Romania, we note by your internet use that you are still attempting to sell your illegal dogs.
We will pursue you and can confirm that the Irish Police have also been informed of you and your friends the Tasnadis illegal activity.Any person who has one of your dogs should have those veterinary examined as we have found 6 dogs in the UK that require correct vaccines, and 5 of those dogs have either cataracts, patella luxation, severe tooth decay due to continual scraping by you another illegal act. One with severe mental health disorders due to being beaten as a puppy, Since found by our own enquiries that you Zoltan Joo are banned from many European canine societies such as that in Croatia , UK.
2 topics 4 posts
Quote mika wrote about 23 hours ago
We have saying in our home by pak lah
To develop the human capital, we want our citizens to be fully equipped with knowledge, practice good moral values, have a broad mind, love the country and possess the physical and spiritual strength,
vet man thanking you for giving us the informations. for all may the sun shine bright to the futures
mika
0 topics 8 posts
Quote Edit Mark wrote 20 minutes ago
I was attracted to this site through the posts . I must add something here. My wife and I searched for a Havanese for over 12 months in the UK. We saw lots of free ads from breeders , well in the end we had no choice but to go through one of those free ads. It was a huge mistake and was very upsetting for my wife and children. We bought what we were told by the breeder Zoltan Joo and his wife to be “the best quality champion bloodline in the UK”, we paid £950 for a dog that at first glance was not very forthcoming, best described as shy. Thought it was normal, Took home 4 hrs drive. Once home looked at the terrible puppy package they gave us it has a plastic bag of dried food , hand scribbled note saying Bozita feed 10g per day no more. A cheap toy and a very cheap brush. Dog was unsure . Monday took for vet appointment , he said 1) Poor teeth dirty which is unusual for puppy an unacceptable formed mouth ,teeth all over the place 2) Coat was grubby and smelly kept in dirty surroundings 3)Eyes have disorder need further examination very runny and squinting 4)Food was inadequate for a growing puppy and is negligent to feed such a low amount.We also thought a vet had given our dog its first vaccine which is what Zoltan had said, we since found out that was a lie and all the paperwork had been poor , he states in his ads that they are health tested , our vet said that is untrue. NO health certificates we ever given to us. We contacted Zoltan to tell him we were unhappy and would bring the dog back, he was rude and very nasty From his emails : “All English Vet is the stupid peoples not true Vet, this dog is from Champion Blood line All English breeder have not such quality they want my dog for the breedings”
We drove back to 1 Lonsboro Road and were met by his wife and him who were cool and repeated the dog is very healthy and the vet is stupid, We got our money back and left feeling abused by this breeder, we did get a dog from another breeder who was considerate and the house and dogs were a joy in comparison.
The home was clean unlike Joos. So if anyone is a very poor breeder it is Zoltan joo. Never before had we seen a breeder whose dogs were scared of them and ran away from them not to them, should have gone then.I reported him to the Kennel Club and the RSPCA. It was disgusting and there had to be 100 dogs in that house .
I like Ryans tone, after all you are making a comment, which as far as I am aware is what a grabbing headline should make you do. The more people respond the higher the rank via the net thus the more attention the subject matter receives. Anything that draws attention to the plight of thousands of dogs being bred by absolute scumbags can only serve dogs and not those making money from them.
Ryan I love your slogans, because all people that breed dogs are thick! There are no “GOOD” breeders, all I ask breeders is WHY do you breed dogs? it’s nothing to do with blood lines or other crappy excuses like that, simply it’s because they earn shit loads of money from doing it! it’s immoral! I work in a rescue centre, you should try it sometime and then you ALL might change your mind about breeding, And dont get me started about in-breeding! JUST EVERYONE STOP BREEDING DOGS!!!! Go to your local rescue centre and help give a dog a lovely home they deserve.