Wigan family launch campaign for tighter controls on puppy selling online

They have now set up the campaign group Justice for Reggie on Facebook to get web sales platforms to bring in regulations and greater transparency over who is buying and selling animals.

Alicia and Richard were left devastated when Reggie, the labrador puppy they bought from the Pets 4 Homes website, was diagnosed with parvovirus and died just a few short days after they purchased him.

Reggie began suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting but when he was taken to the vet his condition deteriorated, with Alicia and Richard in the end being told the only possible course of treatment was a risky blood transfusion and the kindest thing to do would be to put him to sleep.

However, grief quickly turned to fury as the couple say the vet told them that Reggie had not been given flea or worm treatment, despite the claims on the sale advert, and there were issues with his microchip.

Alicia and Richard say they were also unable to communicate with the seller to inform him what had happened, despite getting St Helens Council involved as that was where the sale address had been.

The couple now want online selling sites such as Pets 4 Homes to be made to act far more rigorously to ascertain dogs are being sold correctly.

Alicia said: “We are trying to provide people with knowledge from our mistake and try and get the site to take more information from the sellers such as a correct address that corresponds with a legal identification and checks of documents for the pups such as vet health checks and micro chipping.

“We understand there are many reputable breeders on the site but there doesn’t seem to be any regulation at all.

“We hope that some change can be made to protect other people and protect these defenceless animals from being put through what our Reggie had to go through.”

Alicia says they have had a huge response to the Justice for Reggie Facebook page, with other animal lovers coming forward with upsetting stories of their own.

Alicia says she has heard of puppies being sold when they were too young to leave their mothers and has seen dogs online for sale whose injections have not been done at the correct time.

And she says her experiences with Reggie and then setting up the campaign page on social media makes her alarmed at what the true scale of the problem with unscrupulous selling of animals over the internet could be.

Alicia and Richard said they have reported the sale of Reggie to Trading Standards at St Helens Council and an animal welfare officer accompanied them on an unsuccessful visit to the address they picked him up from.

A St Helens Borough Council spokesperson said: “We have received a complaint from Miss Sherman and are currently investigating.

“If anyone is considering buying a pet we would always recommend reading the official government advice and support at www.getyourpetsafely.campaign.gov.uk.”

We sent an email to the address for media and press enquiries at Pets 4 Homes but have received no reply.

To view the Facebook campaign page, go to www.facebook.com/Justice-for-Reggie/ 102398128453589

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