THEY call it puppy love- but wannabe pet owners are being urged to ensure the dogs they buy have been bred responsibly.

A local animal rescue charity has backed a report that highlights the county's illegal puppy trade.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue has spoken out in support of the RSPCA following the publication of its findings on the breeding, trade and sale of puppies.

In the report, published last week, the RSPCA highlighted a number of issues relating to the puppy trade in the UK and set out its top ten recommendations to the government to bring some of the problems under control.

Staff at Margaret Green Animal Rescue, which has a dog rescue and rehoming centre near Bere Regis, are no strangers to the darker side of the dog breeding industry.

Chief Executive of the charity, Geoff Wright, said: “We often hear from people who have bought a puppy after seeing it advertised on the internet, or without checking the breeder was licensed. Sadly some of these dogs are very poorly, or have developed serious anxiety and behavioural problems due to being under socialised or mistreated at a very young age.”

The RSPCA says that out of 50,000 rescue dogs in this country, only a few thousand are puppies, so a huge percentage of puppies come from both licensed and unlicensed breeders, and many are imported from Ireland and the continent. Although figures are unknown, the RSPCA estimates that between 700,000 and 1.9 million puppies are bred or brought into the UK every year.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue wants the government to look again at some of its legislation-which is now over 65 years old dates back to a time when most puppies in this country were sold through pet shops.

They are urging prospective new owners to think carefully and do their research before choosing a puppy.

Geoff added: “If you are considering bringing a puppy into your family, visit the puppy at home, and make sure you see the parents. If the breeder is keeping five or more breeding bitches, they must be licensed.

And whilst they may not always have puppies, it is always worth contacting your local registered animal rescue charity. When you adopt a puppy or a dog from Margaret Green Animal Rescue, you can be safe in the knowledge that it has received the best care possible, is microchipped, vaccinated, treated against worms and fleas and neutered (or the charity will cover the cost if the dog is too young at the time of adoption).”

For more information on the breeding, trade and sale of puppies in this country, visit the RSPCA website to read the report and sign their petition to ‘Scrap the Puppy Trade’.

What to ask yourself and the breeder (from the Dogs Trust):

Can I see the puppies with their mum?

Be sure mum is a nice, friendly dog because temperament can be inherited. She might be defensive of her puppies so take that into account. If you’re not allowed to see them together, it might be that they’re not really her puppies!

How old are the puppies?

They must be at least seven to eight weeks old to leave their mother.

Are the puppies weaned?

At seven weeks they should be fully weaned. If they are not, they could be younger than the breeder claimed.

How old is mum?

She should be over a year old, but not obviously very old.

How many litters has mum had?

It is against the law to breed a bitch more than six times in her lifetime. If the breeder breeds frequently they are required to have a licence.

Have the puppies been wormed?

All puppies have worms at birth. Worming should start with the breeder at about two weeks old, be repeated every two weeks and be continued by you.

Have the puppies had any vaccinations? If so, when is the next dose due?

Puppies should be vaccinated at 6-9 weeks of age and then again at 10-12 weeks. They will become fully protected two weeks after the second vaccination. You will need to do this if the breeder has not.

Does the puppy look healthy – clean eyes, ears and bottom?

If the puppy is unwell, collect him another day. If he’s still ill then, do not take him and try another breeder.

What should I feed my puppy? Do you have a diet sheet to take away?

A good breeder will give you enough food to continue exactly the same diet for a couple of days. They should also give you a diet sheet that shows how feeding should change as your puppy grows.

What sort of socialisation or experiences has my puppy had so far?

Puppies should preferably be raised in a home environment with all the noise and through traffic of a normal home. Those raised in kennels away from the house will need more intensive socialisation training to ensure they can cope with daily life as a pet. If puppies have already met other dogs, domestic animals and people they will have more confidence than those that have not.

Can I return the puppy if there are any healthy problems?

You should take your new puppy to a vet for a health check within 48 hours. A good breeder will offer to take the puppy back at any point should you be unable to keep him.

Is the puppy Kennel Club registered?

If so, make sure you are given the registration certificate and pedigree when you pick up your puppy. You should also get some free health insurance for the first few weeks.

When can I take the puppy home?

It is absolutely essential to see the puppies with their mother. Some unscrupulous people claiming to be breeders might in fact be dealers who have bought the pups in.

They are likely to be poorly bred, might be ill and are usually too young to leave their exhausted, ill-treated mothers. If they survive, these puppies rarely make good pets, and you will be fuelling this cruel trade where money is the priority and welfare of the dog is ignored.