In early August 2018, police officers in Windsor, England pulled over a couple for a random traffic stop. When the couple stopped their car, the officers saw they had a tiny Jack Russell puppy. They told the officers they had gotten him that day on Gumtree—a British classified ads website.
To te officers’ shock, at the end of the traffic stop the couple passed the puppy to them through the window. They said ‘they didn’t want him anymore.’
The couple drove off, and the police officers brought the tiny puppy into their car. He was just six weeks old—too young to be away from his mother.
The officers brought the little puppy to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, a local animal shelter. The staff immediately said they would take him in, and they began providing the young dog with the love and care he needed.
Staff at Battersea named the tiny puppy Buddy, and he quickly made himself at home. He spent his days playing with a tennis ball and taking naps on the workers’ laps. Despite all he had been through, Buddy was friendly and cheerful.
Workers at Battersea say that, sadly, little Buddy’s story is all-too-common:
“While it is shocking that Buddy had been sold on so young, it’s sadly not uncommon for dogs to be bought online and then swiftly discarded by their owners when they change their minds,” Sean Welland, rehoming and welfare manager at Battersea Old Windsor, said.
Sean Welland also said that people should be sure to think twice before buying an animal online:
“Buying animals online is just as easy as ordering a new pair of shoes or jeans from an internet store. Too many people get a puppy and then decide that it’s just too much work. It’s then animal rescuers, such as Battersea, that are left to pick up the pieces.”
Gumtree, the site where the couple found Buddy, was also disheartened to hear that their service had been used to sell such a young puppy.
The website put out a statement that emphasized their commitment to animal welfare:
“At Gumtree, we take the welfare of animals seriously and work hard to ensure our site is a safe place to rehome pets. Measures we take include educating users on how to buy pets safely and responsibly with plenty of advice on our Pets Advice Hub. As well as the RSPCA and DEFRA, we work with Pets Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) and comply with – and in some cases exceed – all of their 18 standards.”
Thankfully, Buddy’s story has a happy ending. Battersea found a great home for the little dog, and he went home with his new parents a few days after arriving at the shelter.
Buddy had a rocky start to life, but he thankfully ended up in the hands of good people who made sure he got into a great home. We’re happy that Buddy is in such a good place now!
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