THE Kennel Club of Great Britain has slammed irresponsible dog-breeders for selling defective puppies to retail chains who pass them on to an unwitting public.

The condemnation came after several Fylde pet owners contacted the Citizen in response to last week's story about a spaniel sold to a Blackpool family who later discovered it was hermaphrodite, with both male and female organs.

The family bought the dog, named Twixy, at Pet World, Blackpool, part of a nationwide retail chain.

The Kennel Club's code of ethics states: "Owners will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers or retail pet dealers."

A Kennel Club spokesman said: "It is an area that concerns us considerably, we strongly discourage the selling of dogs to commercial dog wholesalers.

"We are currently campaigning to the government to ban the selling of puppies through such outlets, although people need educating on this matter to stamp it out completely"

Lytham cocker spaniel breeder Sarah Fryer, who is Kennel Club-registered, said she and other responsible Fylde breeders were infuriated that defective pups were being bought and sold as pedigrees: "Retailers such as Pet World present an alluring and easy package for unregistered breeders to pass their puppies on to."

"People are told time and time again not to buy puppies from shops," she went on, "yet they continue to do so.

"The only way to stop outlets profiteering from such defected dogs as Twixy is to stop buying from them."

The advantages of buying from a registered breeder were many, she explained: "Every registered puppy has a Kennel Club certificate, official name and number, which enables the owner to trace the dog's entire history, which I am sure is not the case at Pet World.

"In addition to this the animal can be returned if circumstances change, can be left at the kennel free of charge when owners are away and they are entitled to a certain amount of free veterinary care.

"Buyers can also see the parents of the puppies before buying from us which should always be the case."

Sheila Tillotson of Pet World said: "Pet World always goes to proper breeders.

"Indeed, many of them are Kennel Club registered."

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