WARNING!

I realised at Leeds that with this being a holiday time, some people have been away and do not know about what has been going on.

Briefly, a number of suspicious-sounding men from Ireland (and perhaps Manchester) have been phoning around trying to buy Papillon bitches and puppies. They say they are known to different breeders (who in fact don`t know them at all). They give a different story each time and use a mobile with the number witheld. Typical stories are - "I`m a retired businessman thinking of going into showing" and the old hardy annual "I just want a wee bitch for my dear old mother."

The moral is very simple. Be very wary if you get one of these calls. Don`t let anything go without doing all the usual checks on where that animal is going. It`s not that difficult to check up on an Irish destination. The Irish Papillon community is always very reliable, and well informed on whatever is going on, and would be very helpful in a situation like this. It`s easy to use Papnet to get in touch with those who can help.

Unfortunately one Scottish bitch has already gone to Ireland.