Thank you so much for this info working cockers -really interesting to know and very encouraging as well!

Much as it drives me insane when people do this, the pups don't deserve to be pts. They should go to a rescue centre for rehoming.  Our rescue centre gets frustrated, but now charges 'breeders' a reasonable fee to take in their pups which seems to be a reasonable compromise. The 'breeders' don't just get to walk away scot free from their 'little problem' and the pups get the chance of life. Hopefully it does put them off doing it again as it wasn't quite the easy money spinner they thought it was going to be.  At least, you live in hope.....

I tried to explain that there was no way this dog would be suitable but ...... he's here!  Of course he is totally unsocialised and has all sorts of problems and will never make a Medical Alert dog!

Oh yes, if I had £1 for every time I hear the 'he/she would make a perfect assistance dog!' line I wouldn't have to work any more! :-) 

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Our rescue centre gets frustrated, but now charges 'breeders' a reasonable fee to take in their pups which seems to be a reasonable compromise. The 'breeders' don't just get to walk away scot free from their 'little problem'

That was my suggestion, that the breeder should have to pay for the rescues help.

I would suggest that everyone, not just the breeders, who abandons a dog should have to pay for the privilege.  :)
Some will be tied to a post outside but it would make people think it's not the easy option that it is now.  We need to change peoples' perception that buying a puppy is the easy bit..............

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">I would suggest that everyone, not just the breeders, who abandons a dog should have to pay for the privilege.  :-)

Ditto, have said that for years, and that those found to abandon a dog (tied to lampost, abandoned on roads, etc) are prosecuted, as it is against the law.

When I worked for The Blue Cross we did trial a scheme of charging £10 for every animal brought in. I know it's not much but it did make people stop and think. Don't know if they carried on with it.