Unscrupulous breeders are using a surge in demand for puppies during lockdown to sell underage and sick dogs for over the odds prices.
The latest figures show the Dogs Trust had a 393% increase in enquiries about puppies from 17 April to 20 May this year, compared with the same time last year.
And the Kennel Club saw a 237% rise in the use of its online Find A Puppy service in May compared with last May.
Kim Dharda had wanted to get a dog for a while and decided with the spare time she had during lockdown it was a good time to get a puppy.