A Nation’s Love Affair with Canines-

But It Can Be a Dog’s Life

As regular readers of this James Pirie blog know I live beside the sea and so I get to see first-hand the nation’s love affair with our best friend the dog. Indeed with one lively animal, Pretzel a pure breed retriever, I get to see her in the garden too after she’s leapt the fence and circled ten times around the garden in as many seconds before leaping out again onto the beach. Last week she was covered in yellow where she’d been rolling in a farmer’s budding field and as lively as ever. So I can see how many folks want a companion for the walks and fireside cuddles, but pedigree dogs are a dear thing to buy and own and sometimes we are offered a bargain that looks too good to be true. And with puppy farming that’s what happens. The Scottish SPCA is determined to put an end to illegal puppy farming. This multimillion pound industry is fuelled entirely by greed and profit it says with no real thought to the welfare of the beasts. Dogs are loved in Scotland. They’re much loved members of lots of families, and they have to come from somewhere. However, due to a huge demand for dogs and the absence of better laws and a better-informed public, puppies and breeding bitches are suffering according to SPCA. And there are hidden profits too.

Puppy Love

More than £1m of tax has been recovered in Scotland as part of a crackdown on fraudsters selling puppies on the black market. Yes a million is a lot and would fund schools and hospitals. A taskforce was set up by HM Revenue and Customs in 2015 to get at the undeclared income of rogue puppy breeders.  The puppy trade in Scotland is reportedly worth £13m a year - with a large proportion illegally bred. The tax haul includes a £425,000 bill for a breeder in the west of Scotland. Most illegally bred puppies are sold online through social media or small ad sites, with research showing only 24% of Scots buy from approved breeders. It is a fraught business all round.  There has been a push to drive out the illegal trade due to welfare concerns as one in four puppies bought online die before their fifth birthday, and one in three get sick or die in the first year. Three big traders faced the bulk of the HMRC bills.

Ethical Is Best

But here at James Pirie there is no dodginess just a straightforward commitment to our values in a family run firm.  We love to showcase the very best of Scotland and have some very fine brands as part of our massive on line offering. Being around in business since 1890, our 130th anniversary next year, we believe that our good reputation is the best insurance you’ll ever need. Take a peek at the lovely stuff made buy Caithness Glass, or the wonderfully durable products of the Just Slate Company or Harris Tweed. Myself I’m thinking of the stylish Harris Tweed - Harris Tweed Messenger / Laptop Bag in a blue plaid. It’s got £9 off and looks a real thrifty gifty. My niece will love it.

https://www.jamespirie.com/brands/harris-tweed/harris-tweed-messenger-bag-blue-check.html

And although not really Scottish the John Beswick animals are a delight.  The new in figurine a John Beswick  a light coloured French Bulldog is a must for avid collectors and owners of this lovely breed. John the cobbler I go to has one of these charming dogs, so I must tell him we have them in stock with £6 off.  No animal suffering in the making of these.

https://www.jamespirie.com/brands/john-beswick/french-bulldog-fawn.html