York man fined after falsifying puppies' vaccination records

31 year old Peter John Reynolds of Sowerby Crescent, Stokesley, yesterday plead guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation at York Magistrates Court after he falsified vaccination records for two puppies sold in early 2020.

Reynolds sold two puppies to different individuals with vaccination cards which were later found to be fake. The first puppy was purchased and became ill so the new owner took them to the vet where it became apparent that the vaccination apparently used by them was not a commonly used type.

The vet also had no record of vaccinating the puppy which quickly raised alarm bells.

The second puppy’s vaccination card showed the name and signature of a vet who did not work at the specified practice.

Reynolds was fined £400 and ordered to pay his victims a total of £199.70 in compensation.

If you’re thinking of buying a puppy, the RSPCA has plenty of advice on checks to help you make the right decision. Here’s a few pointers:

• A responsible breeder will:
• Spend time chatting to you on the phone.
• Arrange a time for you to visit to meet their puppies, along with their mum and siblings, in the place where they were born and raised.
• Be happy to have more than one meeting to ensure you and the puppy are compatible.
• Be happy to answer all your questions - and ask you just as many to make sure their puppies are going to a good home.
• Be happy to show you their Local Authority licence if they're breeding and selling pets as a business (to make a profit).
• Provide genuine paperwork/certificates for puppy vaccinations, microchipping (which is a legal requirement), worming and any health test results.

• A responsible breeder will not:
• Rush you into parting with cash in exchange for a puppy.
• Stop you seeing the mother by saying that the mother is at the vet's, asleep or out for a walk. If mum isn't there, then the puppy wasn't bred there.
• Offer to deliver a puppy to you or meet you somewhere random like a car park.
• Hand the puppy over before it's 8 weeks old - it's illegal to sell them younger than that.
• Say 'it's normal for the breed' about health issues such as snoring - all puppies should be born with the best chance of living happy, healthy lives, whatever breed they are.
• Use Kennel Club registration (or any other registration) as a guarantee of quality or health and happiness.

Visit the RSPCA's website for more information about buying a healthy, happy puppy.