Welwyn Garden City family hit with vet fee after discovering her puppy was illegally imported
Lorna has already paid £300 on treatment for Rosie. Picture Lorna Simpson - Credit: Lorna Simpson
A Welwyn Garden City woman has been left devastated after her new puppy was quarantined by vets when they discovered it was illegally imported.
Rosie's family will be able to visit her during her quarantine. Picture: Lorna Simpson - Credit: Lorna Simpson
Lorna Simpson took her puppy Rosie to the vets for her jabs on Monday, carrying with her all the correct paperwork, only to be informed it was all fake.
The vet at Attimore Veterinary Hospital told Lorna that her 10-week-old border collie is likely only eight-weeks-old, and has probably been illegally imported from Dublin.
Lorna was given three options from her vet: Deport her back to Dublin, have her put down, or pay for her to be quarantined - estimated to cost around £1,000.
Rosie has now been quarantined and will remain so for several weeks. There's a good chance she hasn't been vaccinated properly, additionally she cannot receive her jabs until she's older.
Rosie had spent the whole weekend playing with her new family. Picture: Lorna Simpson - Credit: Lorna Simpson
You may also want to watch:
Lorna said: "I walked in the vets beaming and happy with my lovable new puppy and then walked out with none.
"They told me straight away the documentation for Rosie was fake.
Most Read
- 1 Police attend funeral as residents voice concerns about 'social distancing'
- 2 COVID-19: Welwyn Hatfield tops Hertfordshire for cases per 100,000
- 3 Mum-of-four loses six stone in just over a year after being unable to play with her youngest child
- 4 More than 20 arrested following major Welwyn Hatfield county lines drugs operation
- 5 Coroner rules Joy Morgan death 'unlawful killing' but finds no cause at inquest
- 6 Golf club has dozens of buggy batteries stolen in one day
- 7 Man sentenced to three years in prison for breaking girlfriend's jaw
- 8 'Horrific' abuser who 'showed no remorse' sentenced
- 9 Bank becomes latest to be lost from town centre
- 10 COVID-19 outbreaks now in half of all Herts care homes
"We are allowed to visit, but we can't see her yet as she might have parvovirus [a highly contagious canine virus]."
Lorna and her family had picked up Rosie on Saturday and spent the whole weekend playing with her - even letting her sleep on the bed.
Rosie is thought to be several weeks younger than stated on the documentation that she came with. Picture: Lorna Simpson - Credit: Lorna Simpson
The pet owner told the Welwyn Hatfield Times: "We're devastated, me and my partner have six kids between us and we've all cried together - they're a bit confused.
"The first thing my four-year-old did on Monday was tell his teacher we've got a new puppy, he even asked to bring a friend over after school to see her.
"Try telling a four-year-old that their new puppy has been taken away."
The Dogs Trust have investigated puppy smuggling stating that illegal dealers 'falsify age and vaccination details on their passports', in order to cut costs and sell them quickly.
Rosie is currently in quarantine, and will remain there for over a month. Picture: Lorna Simpson - Credit: Lorna Simpson
"I'm angry at them and at myself for not realising how common this is," Lorna continued.
"The staff at Attimore vets have been so lovely and I'm grateful for anyone that is helping.
"I want to make this story heard so others don't fall into the same trap as us. Illegally imported pups from puppy farms are so much more common than you realise."
Lorna saw the advertisment for Rosie on freeads.co.uk, it has since been removed and the website is investigating the matter.
Rosie's family will be able to visit her during her quarantine. Picture: Lorna Simpson - Credit: Lorna Simpson
To help Lorna pay for the costs visit: gofundme.com/1ovlg8n240.
