UK dog lovers are being urged to avoid buying cheap pedigrees over the internet, as the Kennel Club and the RSPCA believe that thousands of dogs are ‘counterfeit’ breeds that may carry diseases.

The puppy buying public are being duped by fake pedigree papers and vaccination forms when buying dogs, with many sellers claiming that the dogs are pedigrees and ‘approved’ by the KC.
The report also said that customers should verify vaccination paperwork and make sure it shows dogs are protected from common diseases like hepatitis and parvovirus.

Sue Royle, an RSPCA spokeswoman, told a news programme: ‘The reason fake vaccination forms are a problem is to do with the conditions the puppies are bred in.If there are many dogs in a cramped space, they are likely to spread diseases.’

A survey of over 3,000 people by the organisation revealed nearly a third would use the internet to find a puppy.

The Kennel Club said that the problem of fake designer dogs being sold over the net was increasing. ‘We have seen more and more websites springing up featuring cut-price puppies sold with fake pedigrees, often amongst those breeds that are the latest fashion,’ said Caroline Kisko. ‘Sadly, most of these puppies will come from puppy farmers, or from those dealing on their behalf, and may suffer ill health in the long term.’

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