A BROUGHTON-in-Furness widow is offering a warning tale for Christmas after getting caught out buying a puppy from a small ad.

Elderly dog lover Maud Barrett thought she had found the perfect hound in a Border Terrier bitch advertised as a "work, show or pet" dog which had been given all its inoculations.

But the endearing pup, which was sold for £400, not only failed to be a pure-bred pedigree, but also turned out to be lame and had not been vaccinated. The newly-named Lisa has since cost Mrs Barrett £2,000 in vet's bills.

"If I had known she was born lame I would never have bought her," explained Mrs Barrett. "But I fell for that puppy; she's desperately charming. She's the most gorgeous thing God has ever made."

Mrs Barrett, whose Swedish father was a gun dog breeder, has enjoyed canine company all her life. After her husband's death four years ago she was looking for a companion for the couple's last remaining dog Fern which she could take into the ring at the Broughton Show.

SO the former chef responded to the classified ad and a man from Preston duly arrived at her house with the pup.

"He just handed me this little thing in a cage and said he must get back home," she said. "He said I'm in such a hurry you can't see the pedigree certificates'. I said will you take a cheque', he said I want cash' so I gave him the £400. I was so stupid I didn't ask for any receipt."

After just an hour with Lisa she saw she was limping. The problem developed to the point where she was using her tail to help herself walk.

An X-ray later showed she had a congenital problem and her leg needed breaking and re-setting to keep her walking, although she would always have a limp.

Mrs Barrett complained to Trading Standards and the vendor offered to take the puppy back but would give no assurances that he would give Lisa the surgery she needed.

By then the smitten Mrs Barrett could not bring herself to give up on Lisa and paid for the £1,600 operation at the Rutland House Veterinary Hospital "without hesitation". Pet insurance would not cover any treatment related to the birth defect.

"It's not about the money now," she said. "What I want to stress at Christmas time is don't buy a puppy unless you can see where they are bred and see the parents. They should also get the papers to prove the puppy's been vaccinated and get a vet to check the dog over before them commit themselves."

RSPCA spokesman Heather Holmes said there was no need to buy pedigree dogs animal welfare centres were overflowing with dogs in need of good homes.

But if people wanted a puppy she advised: "Insist on seeing the dog with its mother, ensure its properly weaned and do background checks on the breeder. Most breeders are reputable but some are unscrupulous."

ABOVE: Maud Barrett with her Broder Terrier puppy Lisa. (D5K266SB1)