RSCPA warns demand for designer dogs is ‘fuelling puppy farms’

The charity has warned that the increasing demand for ‘handbag’ puppies is boosting the trade of unlicensed breeders in the United Kingdom.

RSCPA has announced there has been an influx of fashionable dog breeds and ‘designer’ crossbreeds at its centres across the United Kingdom.

The trend reflects an increasing demand for specific breeds.

In a press release, the charity wrote: “Popular pedigree breeds, publicised by celebrities such as Paris Hilton and made famous by a new trend of Instagram dogs, are also on the up.”

The total number of dogs arriving at RSPCA centres has fallen in the last three years but the charity is concerned with a rise in the number of fashionable crossbreeds arriving.

The charity is also seeing a rise in other breeds of dogs, such as Dogues de Bordeaux and husky-types, as people buy dogs based on popular culture trends such as the Twilight films and Game of Thrones series.