IN LIGHT of new figures revealing a soar in puppy farms in Shropshire, the RSPCA is urging families to consider adopting a pet rather than buying.

Figures revealed on Thursday by the animal welfare charity, show that reports of puppy farms in the county have shot up, at an increase of 1,250 per cent over the last decade.

Dog welfare expert for the RSPCA, Lisa Hens, finds the reports distressing but believes that the increase in reports of the farms may be because people have become more aware about what to look out for when getting a pet.

She said: "It is distressing that we are still seeing so many reports about puppy farms but part of this increase is probably due to people being more savvy about what to look out for when getting a pet.

"We know there’s a spike in people searching for puppies and buying dogs at the beginning of the school holidays but we’d urge families to carefully consider whether getting a dog is right for them.

"Dogs are a huge commitment and need lots of time and attention, even once summer is over and the kids are back at school."

However; if you think that getting puppy is the right thing for you, Lisa urges people to think about rescuing a puppy instead of buying one.

"If you do have the time and money for a dog then we’d urge you to consider rescuing instead of buying a puppy," she added.

"Not only will this give a rescue dog a chance at finding his forever home but it’ll also save any potential heartache caused by unwittingly buying a dog from a puppy farm."

This warning comes as new figures reveal that 2018 was the worst year yet for complaints about the puppy trade in England to the RSPCA’s 24-hour emergency hotline.

The charity received 4,357 complaints last year – a 390 per cent increase on 10 years ago when it took just 890 reports related to the underground industry.

In Shropshire, the charity received six complaints in 2008 compared to 81 in 2018.

There has been a year-on-year increase in these reports over the past decade as more and more breeders and dealers seek to cash in on a growing puppy market – where dogs of certain breeds can sell for hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

"After the RSPCA campaigned for years, the Government last year finally introduced tougher licensing regulations around the selling of animals – including breeding and selling dogs – which we hope will help crackdown on this multi-million pound industry," Lisa continued.

"The Government has also committed to a ban on the third-party sales of puppies and kittens which, alongside tougher licensing conditions will also help to tackle puppy farms and dodgy dealers.

"However; we also need to educate the public to ensure that they only buy puppies from responsible breeders who prioritise the health and welfare of their dogs over profit."

The RSPCA has issued tips for families thinking of buying a puppy this summer.

It is urging people to do their research and make sure that they have the time to commit to a new dog before looking for their new furry family member and that using The Puppy Contract, a guide which shows how to responsibly source a puppy, will help find a happy, healthy dog.

It continues to add, that people should visit more than once and make sure that they see the mum and puppies interacting together, and to be wary of any breeder who won't let them or pressures them into buying.

And, that if anyone is concerned about something they see at a breeders, then they should walk away and not buy the puppy, reporting the concerns to the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999, the police on 101 or the local council.