The unwanted dogs who were just for Christmas! Owners reveal why they're flogging puppies on Gumtree that were bought as presents
07/01/2020
- Gumtree has been flooded with listing from owners desperate to get rid of dogs
- Reasons include allergies, moving house or job, or not having the time or space
- Puppies range in breeds and are aged from 10-weeks old to five months old
- Charity Dogs Trust have warned people against buying puppies online
The festive season has only just ended yet owners are already selling dogs they bought as Christmas presents.
Online marketplace Gumtree has several listings from owners desperate to get rid of their dogs just two weeks after Christmas, with some even being flogged for free.
Reasons for getting rid of their new pooches include children being allergic and moving house.
Charity Dogs Trust said it received 277 calls from owners looking to re-home their dogs during the week of Christmas.
Other listings from owners wanting to sell other puppies, aged six months and under, reveal they 'don't have the energy' to play with the dog or are unable to cope with the 'stress'.
One advert for a 12-week-old Cavachon puppy in Dagenham, London, shows the adorable pooch being listed for £900, with the owner explaining she bought her as a Christmas present for her children, who ended up being allergic to it.
One listing in Falkirk shows a 16-week-old Beagle, with the owners claiming they 'do not have time' to look after the pooch due to their work schedules.
An advert in Glasgow for a black German Shepherd said: 'Only selling him as I have been offered a new job that will require me to be away from home most of each week!'
Charity Dogs Trust have warned against buying puppies online, saying adverts 'don't always give the full picture' and could even have been illegally imported into the country.
The charity have encouraged owners who are forced to give up as dog to speak to a rehoming charity first before selling it online.
A spokesperson said: 'It's very easy nowadays to choose a puppy at the click of a button but not all adverts give the full picture and the pups could even have been illegally imported into the country. We would always encourage potential dog owners to do their research first, especially before buying online.'
Gumtree works with the RSPCA and DEFRA and the Pets Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) to improve animal welfare online.
A spokesperson said: 'We take the welfare of animals very seriously at Gumtree and work hard to ensure our site is a safe place to find pets in need of rehoming.
'This includes educating users on how to buy pets safely and responsibly. We encourage anyone thinking of welcoming an animal into their family to familiarise themselves with our advice on how to buy pets safely and responsibly, which can be found on our website.
'If you have any concerns about a listing, you can report the advert to Gumtree, or contact the RSPCA directly.
'Gumtree actively discourage the "casual" trading of animals online and work hard to deter unscrupulous operators through our compulsory paywall.'