Shocking figures have revealed that a third of puppies bought in the UK become ill or die within their first year, and experts say a culture of convenience is to blame.

Shocking statistics have revealed that a third of puppies become sick or die before they reach their first birthday.

Experts have warned that a culture of convenience is fuelling a puppy mill crisis, with a quarter of pet owners admitting their pets were mistakenly bought from a puppy mill.

Figures released as part of the Kennel Club’s ‘Be Puppywise’ campaign show a quarter of owners travel no more than an hour to pick up their puppy, while 29 per cent spend less than a day researching their decision and breeder.

The data revealed that this puppy-buying behaviour has dire consequences for our country’s pets, as 31% of those purchased in less than a day become ill or die within their first year.

Among owners who spent less than a day in the study, nearly two-thirds experienced other complications with their puppies, including unexpected behavioral problems and increased health costs.

The study also found that owners who travel an hour to pick up their pets regularly miss warning signs.

More than half said they had never seen their puppy interact with its mother or witnessed the puppy’s breeding environment.

Nearly two-thirds did not see their puppy’s vaccination certificate and more than three-quarters of breeders did not ask if they were suitable to own a puppy.

The survey also suggests that this impulse buying may be driven by the appeal of “puppy eyes” on social media and celebrity-driven trends.

Nearly half of UK puppy buyers say their main motivation for choosing a puppy is their appearance or because they have seen that type of dog on TV, social media or with a celebrity.

Charlotte McNamara, The Kennel Club’s head of health, said: “This dangerous facility culture has become a cancer in puppy care.

Nearly half of UK puppy buyers say their main motivation for choosing a puppy is their appearance, or they have seen the type of dog on TV, social media or with a celebrity (file photo).

“Getting a dog is a long-term commitment and no decision should be made lightly, superficially or without effort.

“We strongly urge anyone considering getting a puppy to take the time to do proper, careful and thorough research to ensure the dog is right for you and that you can spot the signs of a bad breeder.”

“Be willing to wait and go to the end for your new family member.” The longer you spend, the more likely you are to bring home a happy, healthy puppy instead of untold pain and grief.

He warned that failure to do so “allows doubly dishonest puppy sellers to flourish and operate with little scrutiny.”

The findings were based on a survey of 2,610 dog owners this month.

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