As the new Chief Executive of OneKind, one of the first issues I have had to confront is the massive trade in pets and other animals being sold over the internet.
Recent field work has confirmed our concerns about hundreds of puppies and kittens being advertised - against all animal welfare advice - as "ready in time for Christmas".
OneKind is supporting the message from the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare, warning people in Scotland not to impulse buy pets as Christmas presents. I had the pleasure of attending this week's meeting at the Scottish Parliament and heard a presentation from the Pet Advertising Advisory Group which is working to improve the standards on the well-known websites that allow animals to be sold over the internet.
The Group agreed that the situation is particularly urgent at this time of year as 'gifted' animals are more likely to be abandoned or need re-homing come January, when the novelty wears off.
Buying a pet online just adds to the risks. Many unscrupulous breeders take advantage of the Christmas season to make money and what people see on a website is not always what they get in real life. Sometimes it's an outright scam and they get nothing at all. But even worse are the hundreds of cases of puppies and kittens being sold online that turn out to be underage, sick or not properly socialised. There have also been cases of illegal dog breeds, such as pitbulls, being advertised online, or breeds of cats with inherent welfare problems.
People also need to be aware that, even if they have already reserved a puppy or a kitten, they must see it with its mother and never allow it to be delivered. If in any doubt about the conditions, they should not make a purchase and report to the local council Trading Standards department or the Scottish SPCA.
OneKind provides the Secretariat for the Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare and Christine Grahame MSP is the Convener. After the meeting, Christine commented:
"Christmas is the worst possible time to introduce a young, vulnerable animal to a busy household. Once the holidays are over, reality kicks in and the responsibilities of caring for a pet can be too much for some people, with tragic consequences.
"The Group has received information about the severe animal welfare problems related to buying pets online, and we will continue to highlight this trade in the New Year."
Putting it bluntly, it's clear that many puppies and kittens advertised online are simply bred for the lucrative Christmas market. It's a growing trend, but one we must all work to reverse. If you are looking for a new, lifelong companion, OneKind advises a visit to the local shelter where there are many lovely dogs, cats and other pets waiting for a home. If you must have a puppy or kitten, carry out detailed research into the breed and the breeder, and make sure you see the new pet with its mother.
Buying on the internet has too many pitfalls, for pets and for people.
We will be continuing our campaign in the new year so keep visiting and see how you can take action