PupAid 2011 Raising Awareness of Puppy Farming

We’ve been a couple of times now and were looking forward to checking out some of the local bands who play, scoring some much needed hangover food (it was Sunday morning) and watching every kind of canine on parade. Because that is what dog lovers really like to do – check out other dogs! You’ll usually approach anyone who owns the same breed as you first, discuss size, age and the mad traits, you’ll find out the other dogs name and age without even probably looking at the other owner or asking their name too! (Its rare to find a dog owner reluctant to talk about what’s on the end of their lead with a fellow dogoholic). Then you’ll start pointing out the big dog, the small dog, the cute dog and the dog you might like to own if you didn’t already have one… It’s an absolute pleasure.

But its not all about happy dogs, PupAid is actually a fund-raising and awareness-raising event. Its aims are to highlight the cruelty of the UK’s puppy farming industry. Everyone has heard of battery farmed chickens but did you know that dogs are also being used as battery farmed animals? Unscrupulous ‘breeders’ are keeping hundreds of thousands of female dogs in dark and harsh conditions to be endlessly mated and mass produce an unlimited amount of puppies. These puppies are sold to unsuspecting new owners unaware that their new charges are probably diseased, unsocialised and possibly dangerous. They usually become ill, generate huge vet bills and never acclimatise to a family home. They invariably die young. The only people made happy by this barbaric system are those that make money out of it.

If you want to buy a puppy or a new dog steer clear of newspaper ads, websites or pet shops. look for a reputable breeder or consider a rescue dog – who’ll have been brilliantly looked after and only passed on to a suitable home so you know you’re in good hands. Always make sure you see your pup with its mum, dad and brothers and sisters, and if you’re not sure about any dog or litter you see then keep away or you could end up regretting it in the long run. The purpose of the day really hits home during the parade of bitches saved from puppy farms, beautiful dogs rescued from a horrific, abusive existence that shortens their lives.

We had a brilliant time! You can do a bit of celeb spotting, try your dog out on the agility course, eat a massive cake, enter into one of the fun categories, buy some new treats for your pooch or just hang out and listen to the live music. Even a bit of rain doesn’t dampen your spirits, as compere Annabel Giles commented: ‘Come on, we’re dog people, rain doesn’t affect us’. PupAid is the brainchild of local vet Marc Abraham, a campaigner for Puppy Farming Awareness. For more on the campaign have a look here: http://www.pupaid.org/

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