Actor and TV Presenter

Celebrating. Informing. Changing lives. The Kennel Club’s National Puppy Awareness Week (PAW) is a celebration of the joy that puppies bring to our lives and aims to give potential puppy owners the information they need to ensure that the relationship they have with their new family member is a happy and fulfilling one.

Puppy farming is the mass commercial production of puppies purely for profit and without any thought for the health, welfare, or happiness of either the pup or breeding dogs. Kept in horrific conditions, then sent long distances cross country and sold en masse - usually poorly and riddled with painful disease - to pet shops, websites, and private dealers; these puppies often die within days of arriving in their new home.

According to a recent Dogs Trust survey, 95% of dog owners say they wouldn't buy a dog from a puppy farm yet as many as 900,000 people may have done so without even knowing.

TV Vet Marc Abraham says:

'Most dog owners say they'd never buy a dog from a puppy farm, yet a large number will due to common scams especially by private dealers. This is exactly why Pup Aid have launched this e-petition. We need 100,000 signatures from the nation's animal lovers to make the Government listen and hopefully end this needless and preventable suffering for good.'

'The Government must ban the sale of young puppies and kittens unless their mothers are present; as an absent mother is a clear compromise of both health and welfare for these animals and often a big clue indicating puppy farming.'

Pup Aid believes prospective puppy and kitten owners should always:

Ask "Where's Mum?"
Insist on seeing the puppy/kitten and mother interacting
Be aware of scams e.g. fake or no mother present at all
Pup Aid aims to educate and raise awareness about the cruel trade of puppy and kitten farming helping the British public to only buy from reputable and honourable breeders e.g. Kennel Club Assured Breeders, or consider adopting a dog from a local rescue centre. Pup Aid hope their campaign and e-petition will curb the demand and supply for farmed puppies and kittens and help tackle the horrific practice of puppy and kitten farming in the UK.



The week will help people ensure they buy a puppy responsibly, helping them to spot the signs of a puppy farm and highlight the need to go to a good breeder, such as a Kennel Club Assured Breeder. PAW aims to put an end to cruel puppy farms by empowering puppy buyers with vital information that will ensure that they are not one of the one in four people who are potentially buying their puppies from a puppy farm.



Puppies bred on puppy farms are bred purely for profit, often kept in horrific, dark conditions and are often riddled with diseases that cost thousands of pounds in veterinary fees, sometimes even resulting in early death. There are simple signs to look out for that will help people to sort the good breeders from the bad. In order to help STOP Puppy Farming the Kennel Club is asking people to: Spot the signs of an irresponsible breeder Tell the relevant authorities of you suspect a puppy farmer Opt for a Kennel Club Assured Breeder or rescue dog Please, spread the word.



The week will also help people to learn more about the differences between the 210 breeds of dog and to consider which breed, or crossbreed, will best fit their lifestyle which maximises the chances of them having a successful, happy and lifelong partnership with their puppy. There will also be Puppy Awareness Week Badges available for a donation to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust from the Kennel Club website to help raise awareness about the week and raise money for the Trust to continue its work helping dogs.