28/09/2026
Think you know what you’re buying when you purchase a pet from Gumtree or through a glossy social media profile that sounds almost too good to be true?
This little princess joined us just over a week ago.
Late last year, she was sold through Gumtree to her previous owner as a 2 year old dog with no health or behavioural concerns.
The reality was very different.
She is approximately 7 years old. She was not desexed or vaccinated, arrived with conflicting veterinary records containing different names and dates of birth, and was in need of dental treatment.
But the most heartbreaking part is what can’t be captured on a vet record.
She carries the trauma of having spent much of her life as a puppy farm dog, producing litter after litter with seemingly little regard for her wellbeing or quality of life.
And it shows.
She is frightened of so many ordinary things - walking on a lead, leaving the house, getting into a car, unfamiliar places, new experiences, and a world she has never properly had the chance to learn is safe.
When she first arrived into our care, she didn’t eat or toilet for two days. That gives some indication of just how overwhelmed she was, and how completely she can shut down when things become too much.
And these puppy farm operations are not somewhere far away. They are happening right here in the Perth metropolitan area, on a significant scale, often hidden behind charming, polished advertisements, carefully curated social media pages and reassuring sales pitches from experienced puppy farmers who know exactly what to say.
Her previous owner made the difficult but responsible decision to surrender her to us, knowing she needed more support than they could provide.
Our promise to her is simple: no more puppies, and the very best care, support and life we can give her.
Fulfilling that promise started the moment she landed on her paws with her incredible foster carers. ❤️
Think you know what you’re getting when you buy a dog without properly researching what sits behind the advertisement?
Please think again.
Ask questions. Check records. Verify ages, names, microchip details and veterinary history. Research the seller. And if something doesn’t add up, walk away.
Because behind some of those glossy profiles and charming ads is a very different reality - and dogs like this little girl are the ones who pay the price.