There’s undoubtedly a universal love for puppies. They’re an eternal source of joy and never cease to carve a smile on one’s face. Fortunately, the United Kingdom is a dog-friendly country, with little legal imposition on dog ownership. From public transport to parks, pubs, beaches, and cultural centres, almost all venues in the country are dog-friendly.
Noteworthy is that there's a ban on commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens in an effort to prevent cruel breeding practices. While this ban only applies to England, stores selling puppies are not the norm in the country.
However, the United Kingdom is full of independent ethical breeders, shelters, and adoption centres that offer healthy puppies of all breeds. Read on to discover the best place to adopt puppies in the UK.
7 Best Place To Buy Puppies In UK
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, London
Battersea Dogs and Cats has built a steadfast reputation for rehoming dogs and cats with kindness and veterinary expertise. With a 164-year legacy, they are now London’s go-to puppy adoption centre.
Battersea Dogs and Cats work focuses on rehabilitating stray puppies, offering them the best health care, and championing animal rights at large. They also disseminate resources on pet care through blogs and online dog training classes.
A particularly touching initiative by Battersea Dogs and Cats are their efforts to reunite lost dogs with their families – they have several compelling success stories in this regard.
Dumfries & Galloway Canine Rescue Centre, Glencaple
Located in the verdant enclaves of Glencaple, Dumfries & Galloway Canine Rescue Centre is a highly regarded dog rescue centre in Scotland.
This centre rescues stray and abused dogs, besides offering support to individuals who may need to give up their dogs. They also locate lost dogs and reunite them with their owners.
Dumfries & Galloway is a great place to buy a puppy owing to their healthcare resources and admirable initiative. There’s nothing like taking in an abandoned puppy and reigniting its life with companionship.
UKPets Dot com, Nation-wide
UKPets Dot Com was established in May 2000, making it the first ever dog classifieds website in the United Kingdom. They steadily gained momentum over the decades and are now one of the most popular pet stores in the whole country.
People can post ads for their paw-pals to find the perfect home. At present, UKPets has nearly a thousand pet listings, all of which have been vetted. They have also curated comprehensive breed selectors and breed comparison tools to help aspiring pet owners choose a breed that best suits their desires and lifestyles.
Additionally, UKPets also presents news on all things canine and feline-related, from the latest beauty trends to health updates and event listings.
Mayhew, London
Mayhew is an animal rescue charity located in the north of London, dedicated to enriching the lives of our beloved four-legged friends.
Their chief initiative is “PetRefuge,” where pets in physical or emotional crises are offered immediate care and solace. They also have an array of pets on adoption, all of whom have been vaccinated, microchipped, and cared for by veterinary experts. They also receive a full behavioural and health assessment so that they can find an ideal home.
Mayhew is equipped with a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic, presenting emergency care, wellness checkups, and vaccinations.
Dogs Trust, Nation-wide
Dogs Trust is a charity dedicated to helping abandoned or mistreated dogs and distressed dog owners. It has a fascinating history dating to the Victorian era.
In 1891, Lady Gertrude Stock started a campaign called the National Canine Defence League, a mission to tackle animal cruelty. Over the next century, the National Canine Defence League successfully facilitated increased rehoming, weathered two world wars, and became a trusted source of dog welfare. In 2003, it was renamed Dogs Trust.
Dogs Trust also has valuable resources for dog owners, such as dog training classes, behavioural advice, and the issuance of lifetime Canine Care Cards (an avenue by which dog owners can avail permanent care for their dogs in case they become incapacitated).
In 2023 alone, 10,612 dogs were rehomed successfully (including 400 underdogs), and 4000 dogs were fostered.
Scottish SPCA, Scotland
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty (SCPA) is a national charity dedicated to animal welfare in the country.
The SCPA has centres dotting the country for taking in abandoned, mistreated, and ill dogs. Further, they offer resources on understanding animal abuse and specialised services for helping children and youths nurture healthy relationships with dogs.
They have dogs of many breeds up for adoption across Scotland. Additionally, they present neutering, microchipping, first aid, and fostering services.
Many Tears Animal Rescue (MTAR), Wales
Many Tears Animal Rescue is a dog rescue shelter based at Llanelli in Wales. MTAR was established in 2004 to take in unwanted animals, nurture them, help them adapt to new environments, and find new homes. Their main operation is based in Llanelli, but they have established foster homes and pounds throughout the country, and became a registered charity in 2020.
Besides pet care advice and fundraising events, MTAR also has a fun and offbeat service — a pet horoscope section on their website called “Mystic Mutt,” filled with light-hearted stories that highlight dogs’ amusing behaviour. One such excerpt from this section reads: “If your pooch is born under the sign of Hairies, they are the most fearless, ‘go-getting sign’ in the zodiac, and like the Starship Enterprise, will boldly go where no pooch has been.”
When getting a puppy, there are several safety and ethical concerns that arise, such as the practices of the breeder and the status of the dog's health. In the UK, there are countless avenues for getting puppies consciously.
From little teacup chihuahuas on UKPets dot com to brave rescues at Battersea Dogs and Cats, the above are some of the best places to get puppies in the UK.
