Call Out To Brisbane Dolers......

[SeeGee]

Hi Everyone,

I went to a funeral today, so there is a chance I am overly emotional....however......

I stopped off a Chermside Shopping Center afterwards.I generally only buy Charlies' bits and pieces online as a rule (time saving) but I was there so I popped in to the pet shop there. I didnt get past the front window. There in the front were 3 of the tiniest puppies I have ever seen. Their eyes were not openproperly, barely moving.....just so tiny. I asked the young girl (and i realise now i was quite sharp) how old they were and she said they were 6 weeks old..... I left immediatly. I was going to lose it in there if I stayed there, I was already quite emotional... I called the RSPCA who advised me that unfortunantly there is nothing in the legislation that stops a place like that selling a pup that young (i swear they are younger). They told me they werent able to send an Inspector out.... and i know how busy they are, I know its not like a puppymill.....I just didnt know who else to call really. Who do you call?

My request to anyone who is local to Chermside ( i am not, i was only there for the funeral - am quite a long way away) if you are at the shopping center tomorrow, please pop in and have a look at these puppies and if they seem unwell or distressed in any way either call the rspca, or PM me so I can. Im really distressed about what i saw today........

Thank You,

Jacqui

[Jimmay]

Oh god I don't think I could even look

[fifi]

Of course there was no inspector available, they were probably busy en masse raiding top notch breeders for some abtruse legistlation or stalking docked dogs at a show :-(

Not something where little lives were actually at risk.

poor little pups :-(

the only rspca folk I respect are the small town coal face rescuers now.

fifi

[Loving my Oldies]

Only thing I can think of is to call the local member.

AND centre management.

Poor little creatures.

[Shmurps]

I have called RSPCA several times over the years regarding what I have seen. The only time they responded was when I saw a pup that was so sick and left in the shop display. After I bought it to their attention they did nothing. I found out several people complained and the pup had died. RSPCA did return my call and told me the outcome. Mind you that was several years ago. The best response I have got is from local council. On the last 3 occaisions they have sent an animal welfare officer.

It was only today in a PP shop there were 22 kittens and 15 pups. 5 kelpie cross chihuahua

I usually stand out the front pretending to look at the pups and give people the run down of where they come from.

Like you say if a few people can make a call and voice their concerns, maybe the store will get a visit. Pitty it's NYE .

[daisygirl]

I have called RSPCA several times over the years regarding what I have seen. The only time they responded was when I saw a pup that was so sick and left in the shop display. After I bought it to their attention they did nothing. I found out several people complained and the pup had died. RSPCA did return my call and told me the outcome. Mind you that was several years ago. The best response I have got is from local council. On the last 3 occaisions they have sent an animal welfare officer.

It was only today in a PP shop there were 22 kittens and 15 pups. 5 kelpie cross chihuahua

I usually stand out the front pretending to look at the pups and give people the run down of where they come from.

Like you say if a few people can make a call and voice their concerns, maybe the store will get a visit. Pitty it's NYE .

I was at Chermside today and yesterday but parked in a different spot and didnt go past PP. I do have to drive past tomorrow but will have the dogs so not sure if we will be able to stop or not as parking is a nightmare there at the moment. Will see if OH can sit in the car with the air con running while I run in.

I hate walking past that shop at the best of times because I feel so sorry for all the puppies and kittens. I want to know what happens in this dreadful heat at night when they turn the air con off??

[cannibalgoldfish]

A few years back I rang the Rspca about a similar thing. Kittens in the petshop so young they still had milky blue/grey eyes and could barely walk. They (rspca) told me it was legal as long as they were eating solid food. Yeah, puppies and kittens that are starving for milk will probably try and eat solids

[Shmurps]

I have called RSPCA several times over the years regarding what I have seen. The only time they responded was when I saw a pup that was so sick and left in the shop display. After I bought it to their attention they did nothing. I found out several people complained and the pup had died. RSPCA did return my call and told me the outcome. Mind you that was several years ago. The best response I have got is from local council. On the last 3 occaisions they have sent an animal welfare officer.

It was only today in a PP shop there were 22 kittens and 15 pups. 5 kelpie cross chihuahua

I usually stand out the front pretending to look at the pups and give people the run down of where they come from.

Like you say if a few people can make a call and voice their concerns, maybe the store will get a visit. Pitty it's NYE .

I was at Chermside today and yesterday but parked in a different spot and didnt go past PP. I do have to drive past tomorrow but will have the dogs so not sure if we will be able to stop or not as parking is a nightmare there at the moment. Will see if OH can sit in the car with the air con running while I run in.

I hate walking past that shop at the best of times because I feel so sorry for all the puppies and kittens. I want to know what happens in this dreadful heat at night when they turn the air con off??

Sorry, should have mentioned, I was at Melb store. They are all the same though

[mita]

PF posted this, way back in 2007, when there was a thread asking a similar question about 6 weeks old puppies being sold....in Qld, too.

There is no law directly relating to the age pups can be sold in any state.

And there's been no law about Sale of Puppies (with age recommendations) passed since then, in Qld. Maybe there should be.

But an ethical case sure can be made. There are lots of things that aren't covered by a law, but which the average person finds not acceptable. This is one of them!

So I agree with Cynthia, I'd be on the phone to the local MP & to the centre management (& encourage others to do the same.)

It's also a topic that should be brought up for public debate....so maybe contact the Channel 7 current affairs program, too.

[Kissindra]

will hopefully be able to swing by tomorrow

while there may not be legistlation I do recall comething about a volluntary code of conduct written by the ava on selling companion animals in pet stores? Could be worth finding out if this store has signed up to that and if they are in breach - I would think calling/talking to centre management is the best bet.

Edited December 30, 2009 by Kissindra

[mita]

Just for comparison, I looked up the UK's Breeding & Sale of Dogs Act. And it only says, it's against the law to sell unweaned puppies & kittens, so seems to say if they can eat on their own, it's fine. But wouldn't puppies and kittens need an extra couple of weeks to be 'socialised' by their mums????? I wonder if there's any research on that?

A quick search (party preps calling!), could only find this on a dachshund site. Doesn't refer to any actual research, tho'.

Puppies shouldn't leave Mom until they're at least eight weeks of age, and there are actually some good reasons why veterinarians recommend this.

Dogs, just like people, develop social skills as babies. Puppies pick up some critical information during those first two months, from interactions with their littermates and with their mother. They learn appropriate responses and boundaries in play. It makes for easier to train and more socialable dog in most instances.

Another reason is the overall health of the dog. At eight weeks of age, our puppies have, through the course of nursing, acquired whats called "maternally derived antibodies". This is a fancy way of saying they've obtained superior immune systems and immune responses to some common infectious diseases through a substance in Mom's milk called colostrum. It's more likely that they'll respond well to vaccinations after they're sent off to their new homes.

Edited December 30, 2009 by mita

[SeeGee]

I cannot understand why there is no law on this....surely an animal reared by its mother to at least.....oh to hell with it - WHY is it legal in the first place for the animals to be sold in a shop anyway......*grrrrr*

[Caesars mum]

this from the code of practice for pet shops, report them to management for not following their own code of practice.

I thought there was something in the new Qld domestic animal act as well, I will keep looking

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/documents/Animal...ForPetShops.pdf

(f) Minimum age of animals for acquisition for sale, subject to maturity, should be:

(i) dogs—eight weeks (seven weeks for large breeds)

(ii) cats—eight weeks.

Edited December 30, 2009 by Caesars mum

[Shmurps]

I cannot understand why there is no law on this....surely an animal reared by its mother to at least.....oh to hell with it - WHY is it legal in the first place for the animals to be sold in a shop anyway......*grrrrr*

Yes I agree.

[SeeGee]

ok, that code of practice is by the DPI - i will call them first thing in the morning to to discuss, and organise a course of action....if any........*fingers crossed*

[mita]

NSW Gov's Pet Shop Code of Conduct says:

0.1.9 All animals sold must be able to independently sustain themselves if suitable food and water are provided at the appropriate times. Theminimum age of animals offered for sale or advertised must be

:dogs: 8 weeks•

AWL Qld refers to similar. Says it's voluntary, but should be made mandatory by law:

QLD Code of Practice for Pet Shops

Minimum age for acquisition for sale dogs – 8 weeks

Edited December 30, 2009 by mita

[Howl]

Of course there was no inspector available, they were probably busy en masse raiding top notch breeders for some abtruse legistlation or stalking docked dogs at a show :-(

Not something where little lives were actually at risk.

poor little pups :-(

the only rspca folk I respect are the small town coal face rescuers now.

fifi

What exactly do you want them to do Fifi? There is nothing in the legislation that they can enforce. If they do go in there, unsupported by legislation, then of course there will be the uproar over them abusing their powers, being bullies, etc, etc. Whichever way they can't win.

[fifi]

Of course there was no inspector available, they were probably busy en masse raiding top notch breeders for some abtruse legistlation or stalking docked dogs at a show :-(

Not something where little lives were actually at risk.

poor little pups :-(

the only rspca folk I respect are the small town coal face rescuers now.

fifi

What exactly do you want them to do Fifi? There is nothing in the legislation that they can enforce. If they do go in there, unsupported by legislation, then of course there will be the uproar over them abusing their powers, being bullies, etc, etc. Whichever way they can't win.

Perhaps they could show some interest, order a vet examination & proof of vaccination ect. Regular swoops & health checks on pet animals in pet shops that are regularly reported. I"m not familiar with the QLD legislation pertaining to animals in pet shops, but even an inspection could put the wind up those selling unhealthy puppies.

fifi

eta; just saw Mita's post regarding minimum age, maybe the inspectors to check compliance on a least the age & vacc status.

Edited December 30, 2009 by fifi

[Nic oh lah]

I have trouble going near those stores without bursting into tears . I'm not even exaggerating - my husband steers me away because i create a scene! If you were at Westfields Strathpine a few months ago and saw a woman sobbing uncontrollably infront of a fullgrown 3yo pekignese that was howling inside one of their glass prisons because, according to the sign "my owner doesn't have time for me, purebred pekignese, not desexed male, could breed, $750 ono" then you were looking at me. My heart broke for him, he was terrified. I burst into tears and couldn't stop shaking - that'll teach hubby to wander off into Sanity and let me wander round that end of the centre! He gets upset too but I just cant handle it. I'd love to volunteer at a shelter but I get so emotional - both times I went to the RSPCA a few yrs ago to get my cats I cried and shook the whole way around the place - that was before i knew about non-euth shelters.

I did manage to take deep breaths and keep walking past the pet store at North Lakes on Christmas Eve when I saw their "Border Collie X" pups - looked like 6 week old Bull Arab's to me ;)

* edited to not name names

Edited December 30, 2009 by NicGSDlover

[SeeGee]

update : waiting for the dpi to call me back....