A new group is set up to work together to lobby politicians and give support to the Dog Advisory Council. The group is supported by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP and Neil Parish, Chairman of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW). It’s members are: Marisa Heath (APGAW), James Yeates (RSPCA), Lisa Richards (RSPCA), Dan O’Neill (VetCOMPASS), Harvey Locke (past President of the BVA), Dr Clare Rusbridge (Dog Advisory Council), Carol Fowler (dog welfare campaigner)
Advice sought from Professor Sheila Crispin, Chairman, Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding (DAC)
‘Achievable’ Objectives of the DBR:
- Advocate the continuation of the Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding (DAC) until a satisfactory alternative independent committee is set up to represent the welfare of all Companion Animals
- Obtain funding for the DAC beyond 2013 which will allow it to continue to work on its agreed priorities
- Promote the widespread use of a single accepted Puppy Contract
- Promote a single accepted Breeding Standard
- Call for the UK Government to support enforcement of the registration of all dog breeders with the local authorities (alternatively, lobby for the reduction of a breeder’s licensing requirements to three or more litters a year)
- Call for the UK Government to enact secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act to protect the offspring of dogs used for breeding and to include this in the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs
- Call for the Government to repeal of the Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973, 1991 and 1999 and replace with new regulations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006
- Call for the Government to require that any advertisement for the sale of dogs/puppies must include the breeder’s local authority registration number and address and advice that puppies should be seen with their mother.
- Call for the Government and Opposition to ban the importation of puppies under six months old