Author: Carol Fowler

The EFRA Report on Dog Control and Welfare recommended that the local authority licensing requirements should be reduced to no more than two litters per year. It also stated that ‘too many dogs continue to suffer ill-health due to inbreeding and breeding for exaggerated characteristics. The Kennel Club must do far more to use its influence with the pedigree dog community, including refusing to register puppies from breeders not compliant with its Assured Breeders Scheme. The Kennel Club should also commission an independent annual review of breed standards led by vets.  ‘…..Defra has been insufficiently proactive in tackling dog welfare issues related to breeding practices………..Defra should give the Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding a regulatory role in enforcing standards………breed specific strategies are needed to improve the health of breeds.’

The Cavalier Club AGM will be followed by two presentations which will effectively undermine the BVA/KC CMSM scheme and AHT EBV Project.

Arnold Jacques, President of the Belgian Toy and Cavalier Club, Member of the Scientific Committee of the Belgian Kennel Club and President of ‘Cavaliers for Life’ will speak on ‘Sustainable dog breeding and update on the project Cavaliers for Life’

Dr Paul Mandigers, European Veterinary Neurologist, University of Utrecht, will speak on ‘Chiari and Syringomyelia in Toy dogs, latest developments and proposals.’

The European scheme is laudable and will help to involve all European countries in tackling the health problems of Cavaliers. However such an ambitious scheme will take many years to produce real benefits for the breed. For UK breeders to switch to this scheme, however, will only serve to delay real benefits to the UK population of dogs.

The other worrying aspect is that the results of screening will only be known to the researchers and individual breeders who submit results to the scheme. This goes against the drive for true openness and transparency which is essential if the UK is to seriously tackle the genetic welfare problems of its purebred dogs.

One has to ask why UK breeders would opt for a scheme which will keep health results confidential and will take so much longer to produce a breedwide health and welfare improvement?

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP, and I met with Chairman of the KC, Steve Dean and Breeder Services Manager, Bill Lambert. A wide ranging discussion took place in which the KC rejected the idea of awarding a Champion of Health at dog shows and also the idea that all health tests listed on the Assured Breeder Scheme should be ‘required’ rather than  ‘recommended’. The KC will not make the BVA/KC CMSM scheme ‘required’ on the grounds that it isn’t robust enough, nor was it prepared to exert any pressure on Cavaliers breeders to use the scheme. The KC does not accept the findings of the published paper on the Prevalence of CMSM, ie that 70% of Cavaliers have SM by the age of 6 years. DNA tests for Episodic Falling Syndrome and Dry Eye Curly Coat would be added to the ABS as recommended tests for Cavaliers.

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:

1. 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
2. Obtain funding for the DAC beyond 2013 which will allow it to continue to work on its agreed priorities
3. Promote the widespread use of a single accepted Puppy Contract
4. Promote a single accepted Breeding Standard
5. 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)
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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.
9. Call for the Government and Opposition to ban the importation of puppies under six months old

A meeting took place at Defra with Lord de Mauley, Minister for Animal Welfare and his advisers. Accompanying me were Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Dan O’Neil (VetCOMPASS), Harvey Locke (previous President of BVA), Paula Boyden (Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust), Sheila Crispin (Chairman, Dog Advisory Council), James Yeates (Chief Vet, RSPCA). We pressed the case for tighter regulations to control dog breeding: in particular the acceptance of the RSPCA/BVA AWF Puppy Contract; the Dog Advisory Council’s Breeding Standard; securing the long term funding and future of the Advisory Council; reducing dog breeding licensing requirements to over two litters per year; include the protection of the offspring in the Defra Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs.