The RSPCA has warned British dog buyers about purchasing dogs from fashionable 'teacup' puppy services, after being made aware by The Telegraph that US companies are working with South Korean puppy mills to sell the tiny dogs over Facebook.
These puppies are immensely popular online, with some puppy 'boutiques' garnering over 75,000 likes on Facebook.
Teacup puppy pages advertise the puppies weigh far less than their breed usually weigh, reaching on average 2-5 pounds when fully grown.
However, the RSPCA has warned intensively breeding dogs to be small can cause health problems, and that potential dog owners should never buy from puppy mills, or services when you don't see the breeder or the environment the puppies were raised in.
An RSPCA spokesperson said: "We always encourage people thinking of getting a dog to first consider adopting one from one of the many rescue organisations working in England and Wales. There are so many wonderful dogs patiently waiting for their home in kennels and foster homes.
"We do understand that sometimes, for whatever reason, people want to buy a puppy from a breeder. It's very important when searching for a breeder and a puppy to do lots of research and take time over choosing the right dog for your family and circumstances.
"Use the RSPCA/AWF puppy contract online to avoid becoming a victim of the puppy trade.
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