Your consumer rights

If you buy a faulty fridge or TV you may want to return it, but you're unlikely to want to return your 'faulty' puppy.

The puppy traffickers know this and they'll use this knowledge to play on your emotions. And if the worse happens and your puppy dies, you may struggle to get a refund.

In the following three weeks we went to the vets about 29 times and spent about £1,200 on vets bills.

Garry, Greene, whose puppy, Alfie, died just eight weeks after he bought him from a pet shop.

Here's what you can do:

1. Visit Consumer Direct for advice

If you have concerns about the way your puppy has been sold, visit Consumer Direct who will be able to give you advice and, where appropriate, pass details on to your local Trading Standards Service for investigation.

2. Visit the Pet Advertising Advisory Group

If you're concerned about the way your puppy was advertised, the Pet Advertising Advisory Group would like to hear from you.

3. Has the puppy come from overseas?

If you suspect a puppy may have come from abroad and does not have a passport, it may be in contravention of UK anti-rabies legislation.

Please contact either Trading Standards or the Environmental Health Service at your local authority (depending on where you live). Alternatively you can report the matter to your nearest Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal Health Office (Defra).

4. Concerned about the welfare of a puppy?

If you are concerned about the health or welfare of a puppy, please contact the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty and advice line: 0300 1234 999. Calls are treated in the strictest confidence.