There have been a couple of stories lately that have made me shake my head in complete incomprehension – here’s another one.
How beautiful is little Bea? Yet all her breeder could see of her was that she would not “sell”. So to that breeder, the tiny puppy was no longer worth anything, and was taken to the vet, at just FIVE WEEKS OLD, to be put to sleep.
I’ll let that sink in for a second. This gorgeous little Yorkshire Terrier was condemned before her life had really started, due to a disability which will not stop her living a happy life.
Thankfully, the vet to whom Bea was taken to be euthanised, was not blinded by the lust for money, and refused to end the pup’s life. Thus, Bea found herself at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, where she was admitted to the Home’s Veterinary Hospital.
Battersea has maintained for years that the UK needs tighter laws and regulations concerning the breeding and selling of dogs and puppies. The Battersea ethos is that dogs are companions not commodities, and the charity works hard to rehome every animals that comes into their care.
Shaun Opperman, the Head Vet at Battersea, examined Bea and his assessment was that although she has extremely limited vision, it will not stop her living a full, happy life. Being so young, Bea required hand-rearing, and a foster nurse took her on to give her the round-the-clock care she provided.
Shaun said: "Bea copes really well with her disability - she quickly maps out the room she's in and is soon hopping around happily. Like any puppy, she loves to play and you often see her running around the room carrying a tennis ball that's even bigger than she is. We don't expect her to be here very long once she's ready to go to a new home.”
Being taken away from her littermates during a formative time of her life, staff have made sure that Bea is getting the socialisation she needs to become a well-balanced dog. Bea has enjoyed mixing with other dogs, particularly a staff member’s Labrador, Barney, who himself was reacused from a puppy farm by Battersea. Barney and Bea have great fun, playing together.
Shaun adds: "Bea’s story goes to show how unscrupulous the world of dog breeding and puppy sales can be. Dogs are not commodities - just because they may not sell for much money doesn't mean they should just be written off. Bea can live a perfectly normal life and will make someone a loving pet but we know there are many more puppies out there who won’t be as lucky as her, and will sadly be dumped or destroyed purely because their breeder puts profit before animal welfare. If a breeder does not want to care for a dog like Bea, then we would encourage them to please bring them to a rescue centre rather than putting them to sleep. They deserve a chance.”
For more information on the dogs and cats available for rehoming at Battersea, visit www.battersea.org.uk.