September 2025
Behind the Cute Puppy Photos
With Christmas fast approaching, many families begin dreaming of a puppy under the tree — a gift for the children, a surprise for a loved one. But behind the festive sparkle lies a harsh reality: dogs are still being bought as presents, often on a whim, with no research into the breeder and no understanding of how to care for them properly.
Every year, animal rescues brace themselves for the inevitable wave of unwanted dogs shortly after the holidays. The truth is, dogs are not toys. They are not seasonal gifts. They are living, breathing beings who feel fear, pain, and abandonment.
Most reputable breeders and rescue organisations don’t operate during the run-up to Christmas — and for good reason. It is irresponsible to buy a dog or puppy as a surprise. Christmas is already a chaotic time, and a new pet may not be welcomed or properly cared for. Impulse buying is often followed by regret. If you’re truly serious about bringing a dog into your life, wait until normal routines return. Take time to research the breed and their needs — is a Springer Spaniel really suitable for a third-floor apartment? Puppies need constant supervision, toilet training, and patience. They chew, they cry, they make messes — and they need you to be ready.
The Hidden Cruelty of Puppy Farms
Many online adverts hide the grim truth of how breeding dogs are kept. Behind the scenes, mothers are suffering — exhausted, ill, and broken from relentless overbreeding. Some never see daylight. Some never see a vet. Their bodies are ravaged by disease, prolapses, and malnutrition. Their emotional wellbeing? Completely disregarded.
Technically, a dog can have up to 150 puppies in her lifetime. In the hands of unscrupulous breeders, she will — bred every season, with no time to recover. Just a machine. Just a means to make money.
And the puppies? Many are born with long-term health conditions due to interbreeding. Some are too sick to survive. Others cost families thousands in vet bills — a heart-breaking burden that could have been avoided.
The Rise of Unregulated Selling Platforms
Apart from the selling sites that continue to be unregulated, platforms like WhatsApp are flooded with dog-selling groups. “Cheap litters,” pregnant dogs, stressed mothers with their puppies — all up for sale. Many dogs are already on their third home before they turn three and bred from each time. Sellers lie, dodge questions, and remove anyone who probes too deeply. It’s a marketplace of deception.
Just recently, 60 dogs were rescued from a rancid puppy farm in the UK. Cramped into a filthy two-bedroom house, they lived in unimaginable conditions while the breeders made thousands. Chihuahuas, German Shepherds and other breeds — bred endlessly. Environmental health officers called it one of the worst cases of neglect they’d ever seen.
What You Can Do
Never buy a puppy without seeing the mother in her home environment.
Report sellers who refuse or suggest meeting elsewhere.
Avoid buying during Christmas — wait until life is calm and routines are stable.
Research the breed and your ability to meet its needs.
Choose licensed breeders or rescue organisations.
Think long-term — can you support this animal for its entire life?
This Christmas, choose compassion. Choose responsibility. Choose rescue.
Let’s stop the suffering. Let’s end the cycle. Let’s give dogs the love and dignity they deserve.
“Rescue a dog and it will save you back” Niall Harbison – Author