Vet Talk: Look for ethical breeders when sourcing for puppies

SINGAPORE – Every year, many people welcome puppies into their homes, often sourced from overseas. These adorable companions bring joy and comfort, but sometimes, there is a darker side to this heart-warming picture that many overlook: There is an international puppy trade industry that too often prioritises profit over animal welfare.

Puppy production is often a business

Puppies are imported into Singapore from various countries for commercial sale. Several source nations, such as Ireland, are associated with the widespread existence of puppy farms, raising significant welfare concerns.

Puppy farms, or puppy mills, are mass breeding facilities where female dogs are confined and used solely to produce litter after litter.

In many cases, the mothers live in harsh, isolated and unhygienic conditions, and without proper veterinary care, socialisation or rest between pregnancies. These dogs often live in cages for years, never experiencing freedom or affection.

When the puppies are born, they also begin life in deprivation. Taken from their mothers at a very young age, and often before they are emotionally and physically ready, these puppies are placed into the international pet trade.

Many are then flown long distances to countries like Singapore, enduring noisy, stressful environments, changes in temperature and unfamiliar handling.

Dogs are likely to struggle with transportation in adulthood if they lack positive exposure to it during the socialisation period of development (about three to 14 weeks of age). Exposure to certain stimuli and environments can have long-term and irreversible effects on later behaviour.

Britain has taken a stand against this kind of cruelty. In 2020, the British government introduced Lucy’s Law, named after a rescued cavalier King Charles spaniel, who suffered years of neglect in a Welsh puppy farm.

Lucy’s Law bans the sale of puppies and kittens from third-party commercial dealers. Only breeders who raise animals in ethical, transparent environments – or registered shelters – can sell them directly to the public. This law encourages accountability and aims to dismantle the market for mass-bred, poorly treated animals.

Ask the right questions when choosing a healthy, ethically bred puppy

Ethical breeders prioritise animal welfare over profit. They keep the dogs in clean, safe and enriched environments (not cages), and provide proper veterinary care, including preventative medicine and medical care.

The pups are bred for health and temperament, not just for appearance, and the breeders avoid breeding from dogs with known hereditary issues. 

Transparent breeders allow you to visit the premises, meet the puppies and, most importantly, the parents. When involving third parties and potentially thousands of kilometres, there can be a disconnect between the source and the purchaser. 

The import loophole

While the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) enforces strict veterinary conditions for pet imports into Singapore, the regulation of overseas breeders falls under their respective countries’ veterinary authorities.

In countries such as Britain and Australia, potential pet owners are strongly advised to visit the litter at the breeders before they buy. This allows the potential pet owner to see the environment the puppies have been raised in, meet the parents and assess their physical condition and temperament.

When purchasing an imported puppy, there is a disconnect, so significant trust is placed in the third party to do its due diligence.

Before buying puppies from overseas sources, potential owners and pet shops should do the following:

1. If the puppy is imported, ask if it has been checked by a vet in Singapore and confirm the place and date this was done.

It is recommended that imported puppies be checked by a vet in Singapore before sale. The puppy should be vaccinated against distemper (a contagious, potentially fatal viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of dogs), parvovirus (an infectious virus that causes severe illness in young and unvaccinated dogs), adenovirus (causing infectious canine hepatitis and tracheobronchitis) and parainfluenza (a contagious respiratory viral infection).

It is worth noting that puppies imported from Australia are often not vaccinated against leptospirosis (a serious bacterial disease), as it is not considered one of their core vaccinations. However, in Singapore, the Singapore Veterinary Association strongly advises that all puppies have a full course of leptospirosis vaccines.

2. Ask if the puppy’s parents have been health tested for genetic conditions. Request test results, especially for breed-specific issues like hip dysplasia, heart disease and eye problems.

3. Ask if there is a written contract that includes a health guarantee, return policy and details such as spay/neuter agreements.

4. Ask how the puppy has been socialised – whether it has had exposure to people, other animals, sounds and different environments.

5. Find out if there has been a history of medical problems such as diarrhoea, vomiting, coughing and sneezing.

6. Find out if there has been a history of behavioural problems such as anxiety, fear or aggression in the litter.

7. See if you can contact past buyers to hear about their experience. Good breeders welcome transparency and accountability.

8. Find out how often the breeder breeds his or her dogs. Responsible breeders do not overbreed. To be registered, the UK Kennel Club allows a maximum of four litters from a female dog.

9. For puppies sold in Singapore, check if the pet shop is licensed with the AVS at

str.sg/BVKn

10. For puppies bred in Singapore, check if the breeder is licensed with the AVS at

str.sg/3Xoba

By purchasing puppies from overseas, especially without personally knowing their source, you may be supporting inhumane breeding practices.

Without legal protections like Lucy’s Law in source countries, there is little to stop unethical breeders from exploiting dogs for profit while shipping their litters across continents.

If you want to buy a puppy, ask the pet shop or seller for full transparency. Where was it bred? Can you meet the mother? Is there proof of ethical breeding standards?

Better yet, consider adopting from one of Singapore’s many rescue organisations.

For the puppies we hold, and the mothers we never see, compassion and accountability must guide our choices.