Kerre McIvor: Rules will halt puppy mills

Kerre McIvor's collie Toby brought years of love to the family. Photo / Wayne Drought

Our much-loved border collie died last year, at the age of 14. His back legs had been wonky for a while but we realised the writing was on the wall when he could no longer get himself to his feet.

We had to carry him outside and hold him up while he peed and even though we desperately considered a number of increasingly far-fetched options designed to keep him in our lives, we knew we had to do what was best for Toby.

So we made the call. Our vet paid us a home visit and he was put to sleep on his favourite rug.

It was a dignified death for a wonderful dog and we don't regret it. But boy, he's left a gap in our lives.

Some people get another dog immediately but my husband isn't ready. He feels he'll be constantly comparing the new one to Toby and that wouldn't be fair on the pup.

That doesn't stop my friends sending me profile pictures of the dogs on the SPCA site and posting links to gorgeous balls of canine fluff on Trade Me.

And very cute these puppies are, too. I'm sure there are many good breeders using Trade Me to sell their animals, but I would be most reluctant to get our next dog through the auction site - not until Trade Me changes the way it trades in animals.

Paw Justice, the animal advocacy group, launched a campaign this week calling for Trade Me to set minimum standards and regulations for online puppy breeders and sellers.

It is concerned at the increasing number of puppy mills - places where bitches are kept in tiny cages or concrete sheds and forced to produce litter after litter of puppies.

Many of these animals start their lives in filthy cages, riddled with diseases and congenital problems. They might look like adorable little darlings in their photos but, as many buyers have discovered, they are sick puppies.

Some pet shops are as guilty as Trade Me for puppy milling but, given that Trade Me sold more than 35,000 cats and dogs last year alone, it's a good place to start in an attempt to clean up a dirty business.

Paw Justice worked with vets and lawyers to come up with a set of regulations it would like to see in place before anyone can sell or breed animals online.

Every dog sold online must be microchipped and the number listed on the advertisement.

If the puppy sold is under 3 months, then the bitch's microchip number must be listed.

Only one litter of puppies can be listed under each dog's microchip number every two years, with a maximum of three litters in a dog's lifetime.

The breeding dog must be aged between 2 and 6 and buyers must be shown vet paperwork and the breeding facilities before the sale can be completed.

The full trading history of every trader should be visible, showing all animals bought and sold, as well as feedback from buyers.

The contract I signed with Toby's breeder was more comprehensive than the contract I signed for our house.

And quite rightly so. It would be heart-breaking to discover that pup isn't going to make old bones, but so much worse if you were told the news months after the puppy had come into your home and inveigled its way into your hearts.

This Easter weekend, nearly 800 dogs were for sale on Trade Me, some for as much as $1,500. If breeders are doing everything right and in the best interests of the animals they're selling, they will have no problems complying with the regulations proposed by Paw Justice.

And prospective dog owners need to take responsibility as well. Having a dog in your family is a privilege, requiring a lifetime of emotional and financial commitment.

If you're not willing to do basic checks to ensure your puppy has come from a breeder who loves dogs and not just the dollars they generate, maybe you're not ready to have a dog in your life.

• Kerre McIvor is on Newstalk ZB, Monday-Thursday, 8pm-midnight.