RESPONSIBLY MIXED?
Ms Lee also told CNA she had come across TikTok posts by pet shops selling dogs as maltipoos even though there was no resemblance whatsoever.
“The pet shop had no idea what kind of breed they were trying to sell … You know something is not right, like where are they getting the dogs from?”
Although the shop she bought her maltipoo from assured her that they worked with ethical breeders, Ms Lee said there was no transparency or detail on exactly how responsible the process was.
“Sadly, a lot of cross-bred puppies being sold as ‘designer dogs’ are results of mass breeding in farms,” said the Cotton Pups pet shop, which only sells pedigrees.
Definitions vary but according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, criteria for ethical breeding include providing a high quality of care, providing full information and histories of the dogs and ensuring they go to a good home by vetting their potential owners.
The process can be time-consuming, compared to puppy mills where large quantities are bred and kept in poor conditions and sold quickly.
Mrs Khoo, for instance, got her pomsky in two months, in contrast to the process of getting a pedigree from ethical breeders which she said could take up to a few years.
Unethical rearing of cross-bred dogs meets a demand for specific sizes and looks, and is a “systemic problem”, she added.
Ms Sankar said that given the welfare and ethical concerns, the SPCA is against the crossbreeding or breeding of miniature dogs.
“While breeders may maintain spacious and sanitary environments, provide quality diets, and offer healthcare, the inherent risks of health problems developing as these (miniature) dogs age remain,” she added. “There is a limit to how ‘responsible’ a breeder can be in this regard.”
The SPCA strongly encourages potential pet owners to instead consider adopting one from a shelter.
People should “consider more than just the physical appearance of the dog”, said Ms Sankar. “Our local breeds are equally loving and deserving of a home.”
