These days, it may be a lot more than dog lovers had ever bargained for. The one with the waggly tail, guaranteed to waggle its way into the heart of its new owner, may end up causing nothing but a big heartache. It may also turn out to be an extremely expensive relationship.

The problem for Bermuda's pet-lovers often begins in America, where puppies have become a new cash crop for farmers in several mid-western and southern states. Thousands of dogs spend their short lives breeding and giving birth in cruelly overcrowded, filthy cages. They have become big business in the US, with many farmers who once raised mink and fox to supply the fur trade, transferring that knowledge and expertise to raising pure-bred dogs. There is increasing concern that thousands of sick, undernourished and emotionally unstable dogs are being sold from these mills to the unsuspecting general public. Despite efforts to legislate against `dog farmers', and calls for total boycotts from the Humane Society of America, the industry has grown by 44 percent in the last year alone.

Among those thousands sold to brokers and pet shops across America, some, inevitably, are finding their way to Bermuda. The vast majority of pure-bred dogs imported into the Island come from the US and, says Government veterinarian Dr. Neil Burnie, "a significant number of sub-standard animals find their way here each year.'' This is in spite of stringent regulations set down by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries which require bills of health from US authorities.

"The vet's certificate is to control infections, such as rabies, which may be brought in. It's a measure to protect the animal and human population, rather than to expose defects in the puppy. In any case, it's difficult to recognise some of the congenital problems which may arise, until a puppy is older,'' says Dr. Burnie.

He says that although a dog may come from a kennel which is licensed by the US Department of Agriculture, this in itself is not guarantee of where that dog originates from.'' By that time, of course, the animal has become a part of the family and any offers by pet shops or brokers to exchange it for another one, or return it for cash reimbursement, are usually met with understandable fury and dismay by the owner.

"People don't understand that buying a dog is like buying a car. It comes with a warranty, and just like a defective car, it's sometimes cheaper to buy a new one than repair the original model. Unfortunately, in the case of a dog, there is the emotional factor. People don't realise, until it's too late, that the warranty is for replacement, not for vet bills. It's a case of caveat emptor -- let the buyer beware!'' Owners confronted with huge veterinarian bills meet with little sympathy from pet store owners or brokers. This can result in rows that can erupt into legal battles.

This is where Consumer Affairs director, Ms Sue Davis comes in: "We don't get a lot of complaints, but we do get them. When people get very substantial bills from vets who have tried to treat a sick or defective dog, they feel cheated. Of course, the local seller may not have been aware of any problems.

He takes the view that there is no reason why the store should pay vet expenses when he's offered to put the customer back in the position he was in originally -- i.e. without the animal, but with your money returned! Ultimately, this may be a decision that only a court can make and, if necessary, that's where it needs to go.'' She makes the point that if a person knows of a defect in a dog it is wrong to even give that dog away.

One local store which was in trouble with the authorities, she says, has since gone out of business and another major importer who was encountering complaints, has since stopped bringing them in.

"The best advice I can give is that if you're buying a dog, you have to check into what you are buying. Make sure that the seller, and the sources are top grade. Get help from professional dog associations. They are there to help you. In any case, get the dog examined immediately by a vet -- before you get attached to it. Or, ask the owner to take the dog to your vet and get it checked out and make it clear that you are responsible for the cost of this.'' At one point, the Department was dealing with so many cases of defective large breeds, that they introduced a ruling that they must now be pre-purchased before arrival on the Island. "Small dogs are still allowed in, but they are in high demand so you rarely see them in pet shops.'' It is the local vet who has to deal with the trauma, both of the animal and its owner, when a dog is found to have a serious defect.

"We see hereditary faults that are quite horrifying,'' says Dr. Maureen Ware.

"Congenital heart problems are quite common in dogs. And we had one dog that arrived here, half dead with acute perotinits and should never have been allowed on the plane. It makes you wonder how this dog passed muster with the US vet. There was one pet shop which sold a dog with a heart complaint, three times over. Then it was sold to the fourth consumer for the knock-down price of $100. It soon came back to me again, but this time with another hereditary disease which, in fact, it finally died of.'' In Dr. Burnie's opinion, even those who buy dogs direct from breeders in the US cannot be certain that they are getting a top-grade dog.

"The best puppies in a litter are placed with owners in seven or eight weeks.

We have a ruling that prohibits importation until the animal is four months old. So unless you've personally chosen your puppy beforehand, you can be sure that if a puppy is still with the breeder at four months, it's not going to be the best of the litter. The chances are that you will end up with one of the inferior dogs.'' He makes the point that the cost of a good dog in Bermuda or the US is basically the same: "A pedigree dog can be purchased from a local breeder for $600 or $700. "This is the best way to go, if you want a pure-bred. You can meet the parents of the puppy and the breeder.'' If people pay that same amount for a dog that has been imported, he says, the landed price, after freight charges, etc., would be much higher than that charged by pet stores.

Dr. Ware goes even further: "A lot of brokers get their dogs from puppy farms and probably don't pay more than $20. That same dog could sell for $600 or $700 in Bermuda. In some cases, the dogs that end up here are what would be called `throwaway material' in the States. You may be lucky, in that you get a dog that just has bad, or incorrect markings for its breed, but that's rare.'' Even if you buy a dog from a reputable pet store, or a good brokerage house, there is a further problem, says Government dog warden, Mr. L. Shinah Simons.

"Often, a puppy is taken from a breeder at a few weeks and then it spends about three months awaiting a new owner. Remember, a puppy cannot be brought into Bermuda until it's four months old.'' He believes that the socialisation of a puppy is vital -- lack of it, he says, may account for aggressive or unpredictable behaviour in the mature dog.

"From two to three weeks, they should be lifted up, so that they're not frightened of being handled. They should be used to noise around them. For example, if you clash their food bowls, the noise of thunder won't frighten them so much later on. They need to be with people, not shut away on their own. If a puppy has no social contact, it can be disastrous.'' Mr. Ed Pereira of Island Pet Supply says that he obtains his puppies from a ranch which specialises in overseas orders.

"I went up there and saw it for myself,'' he says, adding that his broker has his own vet, who is in contact with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

"They all have pedigrees from the American Kennel Club who would never certify dogs from puppy mills.'' He adds that all of his puppies are checked by local veterinarian Dr. James on arrival.

"I have to observe a strict set of rules for Dr. Burnie,'' says Mr. Pereira, "and I think my dogs are a bit more expensive than other pet stores. I think the others have closed down, anyway, because they were having troubles.'' Mr. Simons believes that local breeders are doing a good job: "Breeding here is on a small scale, but breeders here have good reputations and some have overseas markets to ensure that all the animals go to good homes. In Bermuda, being such a small place, it's in their professional interest to produce quality dogs and to ensure that they do go to good, loving homes.'' In order to get these messages across, the Department goes round the Island's schools, giving talks on responsible animal ownership.

"We're always available,'' says Dr. Burnie, "and would be glad to hear from any schools or organisations that would like us to come along.'' For the Government vet, there is a simple solution to the problems involved in acquiring a dog. "If you just want a dog as a pet, and are not planning to show it, a local cross breed is the best bet. Most of them look like the real thing. That way, you can inspect the parents.'' There are, of course, puppies and dogs awaiting good homes at the SPCA.

"That's what I would advise people to do,'' says Ms Davis. "Go to them and give them a donation!'' MASS PRODUCTION BREEDING -- Many of today's puppies are mass-bred and raised in cages on puppy farms in the United States.

LOOKING FOR A GOOD HOME -- Puppies such as this cross terrier can be found waiting for good homes at the SPCA.