'Bargain' pedigree pups are in great demand

Animal welfare groups are calling on prospective pet owners to help them in their fight against illegal breeders by reporting any incidents of "bargain" puppies for sale so that they can track down the source.

Organisations including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) have seen a huge increase in underground "puppy farms" - unlicensed breeding dens where pedigree puppies are reared simply with the aim of a quick profit.

Councils in Pembrokeshire, Flintshire, and Cardiff have all confirmed they are currently investigating reports of suspected illegal operators.

The practice was rife in Wales in the 1980s and 1990s, when it was estimated there were more than 1,000 establishments in west Wales alone.

Legislation brought in when the practice was at its height went some way to curbing the problem.

Buying a puppy : RSPCA advice Insist on seeing the puppy with its mother where it was raised Never buy from an unlicensed breeding establishment. If unsure, ask to see the breeder's licence Avoid adverts offering lots of different breeds for sale Never buy a pup sold straight from a car boot or at an open-air event like a market

But the RSPCA's Katie Geary told BBC Wales News Online that the trade appeared to be making a comeback.

"We've seen a huge resurgence recently," she said.

"We are working with other animal welfare organisations to share information, because there seems to have been an increase in cases.

"The difficulty is tracing the source of the puppies, as they are often sold on to a middle man who may be selling them hundreds of miles away.

"It's often very tempting for people when they see a pedigree dog advertised for hundreds of pounds less than the usual price, but often it can cost hundreds of pounds more to put right all the medical problems the pup might have.

"The only way this terrible trade is going to stop is if people resist the temptation to pick up a 'bargain'."

The Welsh Assembly Government was criticised earlier in the year for introducing funding to help farmers diversify into dog breeding.

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The grant was introduced as part of the Farming Connect Service, aimed at helping farmers develop profitable side lines at a time when agriculture is suffering.

Farmers can now apply for the money to set up licensed dog breeding facilities.

But while applicants for the grant have to meet strict guidelines, the RSPCA is worried that more unscrupulous people may take up breeding illegally.

People are always willing to buy these pups if they are cheap. It's human nature to think you're getting a bargain Phil Buckley of the Kennel Club

The charity says cases of cruelty have been exposed in recent months after some people bought "bargains" only to discover they had taken on terminally-ill animals.

Unvaccinated pups can also fall victim to the parvo virus, which can lead to a painful death.

The Breeding and Sale of Dogs Act 1999 did much to weed out the rogues in the industry at the time.

It stipulated that if more than four litters of puppies were born on a property and then sold on, the owner had to be licensed by the local authority.

'Breeding machines'

When the puppy farming was at its height, the National Canine Defence League recorded thousands of bitches being used as "breeding machines".

Kennel Club spokesman Phil Buckley said rural Wales had historically been a prime target for commercial breeders because property with land was cheap and it was within easy reach of the M4.

He said he was dismayed to hear the trade was increasing once again.

"We thought that the legislation which was introduced had stamped out this kind of thing, but people are always willing to buy these pups if they are cheap," he said.

"If, for instance, the going rate for a Labrador is �500, but there is one advertised for �200, it's human nature to think that you're getting a bargain."