Welcoming a puppy into your family has many benefits and can be an exciting adventure, however you should consider the responsibility for all involved. We’ve developed a small questionnaire to help you understand what getting a new puppy entails.
Everyone should consider adopting a dog from a trusted animal rescue organisation such as RSPCA or AWL (Animal Welfare League) as one of your options. An animal shelter is a fantastic place to start your search. You will find animals available for adoption that are medically and behaviourally sound; most have not been neglected, are perfectly healthy and sociable, and are simply waiting for a new home and a loving family.
If you decide you want to start with a puppy and have a particular breed in mind, please consider your options carefully as it’s a fur-ever commitment. Responsibility extends to your responsibility to make sure your new puppy comes from a reputable and ethically operated pet store or breeder. There are good pet stores and bad pet stores, and there are good breeders and there are bad breeders. Just because a breeder is registered it doesn’t make them a reputable breeder.
As a PIAA accredited member, Kellyville Pets ensures all of our puppies come from breeders who have partnered with us by agreeing to have their premises inspected by a veterinarian annually to make sure they comply with our high standards. We also visit our main breeder’s premises from time to time to see for ourselves that the standards are kept to an acceptable level and all animals are well cared for and provided with good living conditions. The most significant thing we do to ensure our breeders are ethical is that we voluntarily forward all of our breeder’s details to RSPCA and AWL so they can perform random inspections which our breeders welcome openly. Furthermore, all of our puppies are micro-chipped by the breeder so authorities can trace where they were bred for the life of the dog. As part of being a PIAA Accredited member, we provide a LIFETIME RE-HOMING policy to ensure none of our re-homeable dogs (at any stage in their life) will ever be euthanised. This means consumers can purchase with confidence from Kellyville Pets, knowing that your dog is not the product of a puppy farm and that should your dog become unwanted at any point in its lifetime, we will ensure the dog is re-homed. Our microchip numbers are identifiable in the extremely unlikely event that they end up at a shelter. You can read more about our rehoming policy here.
If you do decide to buy a puppy from a pet store or breeder, or adopt from a rescue shelter, it’s important to consider what’s involved in being a responsible owner. We believe everyone should consider the following checklist:
- Where did the puppy come from
- Search for a reputable source who is open and transparent. Inspect the the pet shop or breeder facilities first-hand
- Never have a puppy shipped to you without seeing it, the people involved or the facilities yourself
- What breed best suits you/your family plus your home and lifestyle
- What are some of the common genetic issues that different breeds may have
- What checks are in place to provide you with the best chance of finding a healthy puppy
- Is your home safe, secure and suitable for a dog
- Do you have the time required for exercising/socialising/grooming your dog
- Cost of keeping a dog, as it could cost thousands of dollars a year, buying a puppy is the cheapest part
- What aftercare contact and advice is available to you after you make your decision
- What to do when you/your family go on holidays
- Should something unforeseen happen to you, what will happen with your new puppy
At Kellyville Pets, the long term health and wellbeing of our puppies is very important to us. This is why we have each puppy inspected by our vet and a 10 point report is forwarded with all of our puppies. Included with every puppy is our health guarantee and 4 weeks free pet insurance.
We also offer a very comprehensive and entertaining Puppy Preschool so that you and your puppy are able to maintain the puppy’s long term social and psychological needs (as health extends past the physical). Schooling doesn’t stop there though. We also have Junior School for those puppies that graduated Puppy School and want to learn more, as well as Scent School and Health & Wellbeing workshops to ensure you’re equipped with the right skills and knowledge to ensure your dog has a healthy, long life ahead. For more information on any of our classes, click here.
If you have any questions about buying a puppy, our Pet Loving Team can give you more information and advice. Give them a call on (02) 9629 3282 or email us at woof@kellyvillepets.com.au.