Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones AM, yesterday (7 July 2010) made the announcement to replace the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 with Welsh specific regulations that are intended to improve animal welfare.
The Kennel Club has particularly welcomed the minister’s pledge to try to tackle the cruel puppy farming trade. Puppy farms mass produce puppies, with little regard for their health or welfare, in order to increase profits. As a result puppies are often poorly socialised and commonly suffer from fatal health conditions including parvovirus and dangerous infestations of fleas and worms.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Communications Director, said: “We welcome the Welsh Assembly’s attempts to come to terms with the problem of puppy farming. The Kennel Club has long been concerned that there are a number of breeders, both licensed and unlicensed, who are getting away with putting profit above the health and welfare of their dogs.
“However, we are very concerned that the Rural Affairs minister is suggesting that a bad breeder can be measured by the number of bitches that they have alone. Good husbandry and welfare standards absolutely must be our primary concern if we are to avoid the situation where good breeders are penalised, and Local Authority resources are wasted, whilst bad breeders continue to roam free.
“That is why we ask the Welsh Assembly to provide relief to those breeders who are members of a breeding scheme that is properly accredited and which already sets high standards in terms of health testing and welfare requirements, such as the Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme*.”
The Kennel Club is also concerned that some of the regulations, for example those which outline the need for all dogs to have activity feeders and the number of attendants per dog, are too prescriptive and do not take into account the individual needs of different dog breeds.
Mrs Kisko added: “Whilst much of the guidance is sound and very well intentioned it has to be remembered that every dog and every breed is different. For example, whilst activity feeders might work for some dogs it can encourage destructive behaviour.
“Compulsory microchipping is another proposal which the Kennel Club supports in essence but it should be remembered that there is disagreement, even in the veterinary profession, about how suitable this is for puppies of some smaller breeds and so provision should be made for some exceptions.”
The decision to consult on new legislation follows the Welsh Assembly’s decision to ban Electric Shock Collars on 24th March 2010, following extensive lobbying by the Kennel Club.
• The Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme was established in 2004 and its members must agree to follow certain breeding standards to protect the health and welfare of their puppies. They must also agree to allow a Kennel Club Breeder Advisor access to their premises. The Kennel Club is working towards UKAS Accreditation for this scheme.
ENDS
7th July 2010
[206.10]
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