Published at 11:55, Thursday, 29 November 2012

Sir – In a page one article last week (“Have we been sold a pup?”, The Whitehaven News, November 22) Vanessa Kelly wanted to get her daughters a beagle puppy for Christmas. She went online (fatal!) and paid £300 (a lot of money for a dog when there are so many in rescue centres).

No show: Charlie, the beagle pup Vanessa Kelly thought she had bought

If only she had looked (googled) further, there are breeders in UK who sell their pups that don’t make the ‘show’ standard, there are puppies from Welsh puppy farms and there are dog rescues that have beagles looking for good homes. Beagle Welfare, who I personally support, often get unwanted pups, occasionally very young ones for some reason! So I was deeply saddened that this family went through the trauma of an internet scam.

We had beagles for over 30 years and they are very cute and cuddly, lovely hounds but....they are not good first dogs because they are very independent and not easy to train, they are not as biddable as some breeds. I do hope the breed was well researched. If Mrs Kelly is still keen to get her family a beagle for Christmas wouldn’t she consider an older hound looking for a home? If not I still suggest she tries Beagle Welfare (online) or some other rescue organisations.

Jean MILLIE

Egremont

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk