Picking up a new dog during Lockdown

[StevieBee]

There seems to be some vagary around this.

We're getting a new mutt but want to collect from the breeders home to make sure all's good. We're in Essex. They're in Swansea* so all doable in a day.

Would anyone know if we're likely to be hauled?

• Stacey is one of the names suggested

[Saleen836]

First thing they will ask is..."is it an essential journey?"

This fella thought his journey way..
https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-01-19/driver-b...

[Digger]

Well, one of the parties is trying to run a business from home. How else is a dog supposed to be delivered / collected? Should be fine no?

[millik]

StevieBee said:

There seems to be some vagary around this.

We're getting a new mutt but want to collect from the breeders home to make sure all's good. We're in Essex. They're in Swansea* so all doable in a day.

Would anyone know if we're likely to be hauled?

• Stacey is one of the names suggested

Likely to be stopped and fined according to :

https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-q...

I do not live in Wales, can I travel to Wales, or from within the UK, for a holiday or to visit family and friends?

Travel is limited to essential travel only when alert level 4 restrictions are in place, for example travelling for work purposes or to return home.

[StevieBee]

Digger said:

Well, one of the parties is trying to run a business from home. How else is a dog supposed to be delivered / collected? Should be fine no?

This is my thinking. They have a litter of puppies that are growing daily. The older they get the more difficult it will be to find homes as well as for dogs.

[Digger]

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dog-breeding/bree...

[Algarve]

Digger said:

Well, one of the parties is trying to run a business from home. How else is a dog supposed to be delivered / collected? Should be fine no?

If you're allowed to travel for work then I guess the commercial puppy mill could deliver to you but you couldn't go pick up as a customer?

[georgefreeman918]

We picked up a pup in lockdown (in fairness we agreed to buy him when not in lockdown!).

I think it is in the animals welfare interest not to prolong the handover to its new home. Given the demand for puppies, I would expect that if someone doesnt want to collect for Covid reasons, the breeder will be able to save 10 times over.

The way we saw it, was as long as we picked up him, they could fine us all the want on the way home as long as we got him!

Given the prices of pups, I expect the cost of the pup will far out weigh the fine (unless you have already acquired multiple Covid fines!)

[gazapc]

We went and picked up our pup during the November lockdown. Although that was entirely in England.

I think you are pretty unlikely to be picked up by police but an option we saw was get a pet transport company to do the moving for you. No idea of cost but as it is a business they will have no problem police wise.

[Roboticarm]

As above the best option might be to use a professional transport service such as this one.
At they cannot work from home they can continue to operate

https://prestige-pet-services-animal-courier-and.b...

[StevieBee]

Roboticarm said:

As above the best option might be to use a professional transport service such as this one.
At they cannot work from home they can continue to operate

https://prestige-pet-services-animal-courier-and.b...

Thanks for the link.

Had one quote and the cost is more than the fine if I got pulled!

[Tyre Tread]

StevieBee said:

Thanks for the link.

Had one quote and the cost is more than the fine if I got pulled!

Please bear in mind if you do get stopped you will not only be fined but turned around and sent home.

If you get caught other than returning home then the fines increase dramatically.

I know you would like to think of it as an essential journey but it really isn't.