Puppies are being traded at car boot sales, in pubs and over the internet, with many dealers and breeders interested only in making “a quick buck”.

Almost twice as many pedigrees as cross-breeds are being abandoned once owners become aware of the hard work and cost involved in dog ownership, according to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London.

Last year 4,908 pedigree dogs were picked up by the dogs’ home, compared with 2,990 mongrels. This year last month alone 169 Staffordshire bull terriers, 72 Jack Russell terriers, 53 German shepherds, 49 labrador retrievers, 31 rottweilers and 24 border collies were brought into the home, compared with only 73 mongrels.

The trend towards pedigrees has been fuelled by the desire of new owners to impress with an unusual breed. Pedigrees that are bought for dog shows have to be registered with the Kennel Club and have certificates to prove their blood line and medical history. Buying the dogs without the paperwork, however, reduces the cost by half and this has become an increasingly popular route for owners who do not intend to take their pets to shows.

The cut-price puppies make it possible for a much wider group of people to buy pedigrees, only for many of them to find that the responsibilities of owning a dog are too onerous.

The type of dog most likely to be abandoned last year was the Staffordshire bull terrier: 1,192 were taken in by the Battersea home.

Lucinda English, of Battersea Dog & Cats Home, said: “The rise of the number of pedigree breeds at Battersea is because they are so much more widely available for people to buy: from a guy down the pub, to a car boot sale, even over the internet. Sadly, anyone can buy and breed from a dog, and some people do it to make a quick buck, having no interest in the welfare of these animals.

“Some people have bought pedigrees from registered breeders and then start breeding and selling the puppies without checks or certificates. People doing it for a quick buck don’t want the hassle of paperwork. Prices for unregistered pedigrees now start at £100 and go up to £1,000. Registered animals cost twice as much. It’s all about having what nobody else has. The pedigree is a status symbol to some owners.”

The RSPCA has seen the same trend, and now sees far more pedigree dogs than mongrels at its clinics.

Its spokeswoman said: “The majority of dogs we see are pedigrees and one problem we are increasingly aware of is indiscriminate breeding and people treating the breeding of dogs as a commercial venture and nothing more.”

She said it was important that before taking on dogs prospective owners should be aware of responsibilities, such as the food and medical costs and regular exercise.

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