This is how to spot ‘petfishing’ this Christmas as government issues warning

Buying a dog or a cat can be an extremely exciting and fulfilling thing to do. Pups, kittens and other pets like rabbits and hamsters can combat loneliness, improve mental and physical health, and fuel learning as well as a sense of purpose. As such, it’s no surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a surge in people buying pets. But the Government has warned the public to be cautious about where they buy their pets from and has highlighted a practice it has called ’petfishing’. So what is petfishing and how can you avoid becoming a victim of the practice? Here’s what you need to know. What is petfishing? Petfishing is when rogue breeders or scammers attempt to sell people pets that have been reared in poor conditions. For example, they may use fake online adverts featuring stock images to dupe the buyer into thinking the puppy or kitten they want to buy is a certain breed or is being reared in a better environment than it actually is. Or, there might not even be a pet behind the advert at all. In coining the term, the Government seems to be referring to catfishing, which is the practice of luring someone into a relationship by using a fake online persona. Its new campaign comes after a survey of 175 vets and veterinary practices found 68% of pet owners were unaware of the clinical and behavioural signs indicating their pet had either come from or was linked to low welfare breeding practices. Further research undertaken for the Government by pollsters Opinion Matters found that, out of more than 1,000 people who’d bought a cat or dog, just 43% had visited the seller of their pet in-person in the animal’s home. It also discovered that 27% of respondents came across a seller or an advert that had made them suspicious of the welfare of the pet in question. What is the Government trying to do to stop it? The Government has launched a campaign in a bid to inform the public about how to avoid being petfished. To arm people with the precautionary knowledge and questions needed to prevent petfishing, it has come up with the acronym SPOT. This means: “It’s vitally important that people not only research the breed of animal they want, but also the person selling it to them,” said Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss at the launch of the campaign. “Puppies and kittens bred in low-welfare conditions can often be separated from their mother too soon which can lead to severe health and behavioural problems, heartache and high vet bills for their new family. “We urge people to remain vigilant and to always thoroughly research pet sellers before getting in touch.” But some groups think the Government should be going further to tackle this kind of criminal activity. The Dogs Trust says it wants policymakers “to strengthen the system of registration and licensing for dog breeders and sellers” to tackle the problem of “irresponsible operators”. “We believe that anyone breeding, selling or transferring the ownership of a puppy, should have to be registered,” the organisation states on its website. “This should be the case whether or not they make money from these activities.” One measure the charity has suggested is to make it a legal requirement that any advertising from a breeder or seller should carry a unique registration code or licence number.