Accredited Breeder Scheme

current dog breed­ing practices do in many cases impose welfare costs on individual dogs from a variety of causes including the following: negligent or incompetent management with a particular impact on breeding bitches but also including failure to socialise puppies appropriately; use of closely related breeding pairs such that al­ready high levels of inbreeding are worsened; use of breeding pairs carrying inherited disorders such that inherited disease is transmitted to offspring; artificial selection for extreme characteristics that are directly responsible for failure to meet one or more welfare criteria; and the sale of dogs that are unsuited to the conditions in which they will be kept by their owners.

Those breed­ers who deliver genuinely high welfare standards should be rewarded and recognised for their efforts, both in the show ring and in the market place.

An upgraded Accredited Breeder Scheme should be implemented guaranteeing among other matters that all pre-mating tests for inherited disease appropriate to the breed or breeds are undertaken on both par­ents, that no mating takes place if the tests indicate that it would be inadvisable, any prospective pur­chaser is able to view the puppies with their mother, every puppy is identified by microchip prior to sale and all pre-sale tests on the puppy that are appropri­ate to the breed have been carried out; and that the duty of care which every dog breeder owes to the par­ent dogs and puppies for which they are responsible is fully met with regard to both health and welfare.

When available, the buying public should be encouraged to purchase only from breeders partici­pating in a robust and audited accreditation scheme.

Bateson Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding

After a ten month long inquiry, Professor Sir Patrick Bateson FRS called for a non-statutory Advisory Council on Dog Breeding, changes in the law including a requirement for all puppies to be micro-chipped prior to sale, and an up-graded Accredited Breeder Scheme.

Speaking in London today, Prof Bateson (of Cambridge University and President of the Zoological Society of London) said:

"Many breeders exercise high standards of welfare, but negligent management on puppy farms is a major welfare issue as is inbreeding in pure-bred dogs. Fashions for extreme conformations are also a cause of welfare problems."

Professor Bateson also called for a system to collect data from veterinary practices in order to generate robust prevalence data breed by breed; and for the veterinary profession as a whole to support enforcement authorities, help educate the public, and lead a shift towards a preventative approach to dog health.

The Report concludes that dog-breeding raises a number of serious concerns about the welfare of dogs. Key recommendations include:

· The creation of an independent non-statutory Council to develop breeding strategies which address issues of inherited disease, extreme conformation and inbreeding.

· Changes in the law including requirements for the compulsory micro-chipping of all puppies and a duty of care on all breeders to have regard to the health and welfare of both the parents and the offspring of a mating.

· The need for a robust Accredited Breeder Scheme setting out requirements with regard to pre-mating health tests, purchasers being able to view a puppy with its mother, all puppies micro-chipped before sale etc.

· An urgent need for the creation of a computer-based system for the collection of anonymised diagnoses from veterinary surgeries in order to provide prevalence data for each breed.

· New regulations to replace the now out-dated breeding and sales of dogs legislation, and much better enforcement of good welfare on licensed dog breeding premises.

· A new publicity and education campaign, delivered by all key dog and welfare organisations working together, to encourage a major improvement in how the public go about buying dogs.

Summary of Professor Bateson's recommendations

1. Best scientific research and advice should be available to breeders

2. Prospective dog owners should be advised on:

A. What constitutes good welfare in dogs

B. How to identify the correct dog breed for their circumstances

C. How to find a reliable dog breeder

3. A non-statutory Independent Advisory Council on Dog Breeding should be established

4. The chairman and members of this should be appointed under the Nolan Principles

5. Creation of a computer- based system for the collection of anonymous diagnoses from vets in order to provide statistically significant prevalence data for each breed

6. Those drafting Breed Standards should avoid the selection for extreme morphologies and should refer to the guidance from the Advisory Council where possible

7. Upgrades to the Accredited Breeder scheme should be made (with a written standard to inspect this against) guaranteeing:

A. That all pre-mating tests for inherited disease are undertaken for both parents and that no mating should take place if the tests indicate that this would be inadvisable

B. That any prospective puppy purchaser is able to view a litter with the breeding bitch

C. That every puppy is identified by microchip prior to sale

D. That all pre-sale tests on the puppy that are appropriate to the breed have been carried out

E. That all breeders have a duty of care to all parent dog and litters with regard to health and welfare

F. The Accredited Breeder Scheme should be UKAS accredited

8. ALL puppies should be microchipped before they are sold

9. Local Authorities should address requirements of the duty of care in the AWA 2006 when inspecting breeding premises for licenses

10. A statutory Code of Practice on the breeding of dogs should be established under the AWA 2006

11. Regs under the AWA should be made to replace existing Breeding and Sales of Dogs Acts

12. The BVA should compile and have available to LA's a list of Vets willing to carry out inspections of licensed breeding premises

13. A public awareness and education campaign should be designed to change public behaviour when buying a dog

14. Working with the profession as a whole, the RCVS and the BVA should lead a shift in emphasis towards preventative veterinary medicine rather than simply focus on the correction of the problems after they have occurred

15. Regulations should be made under the AWA 2006 in order to:

A. Create an obligation to any person breeding dog to have regard to the health and welfare of both the parents and the offspring of the mating

B. Require that any body laying down breed standards must have regard to the health and welfare of the dogs and the need to avoid breed specific health problems. The body could thus be regarded as exercising a power of a public nature and this is susceptible to judicial review

16. Once a robust and audited accreditation scheme is available the buying public should be pointed with confidence towards the accredited breeders

17. A meeting of the relevant parties to bring all recommendations from the APGAW and RSPCA reports together should be embraced

18. The Dangerous Dogs Act should be amended to apply to all dogs that have been shown to be dangerous rather than to specified breeds and should address the problem of dogs being bred and reared specifically as weapons for fighting

19. Dog shows are a powerful and effective lever for change and should be applied to achieve welfare improvements

Pet Care Trust welcomes Bateson report

The Pet Care Trust, the pet care education charity, welcomes the publication of the report by Professor Sir Patrick Bateson FRS on dog breeding and the wide range of actions he is proposing. We particularly welcome certain aspects of the report:

We will wholeheartedly engage in the proposed public awareness and education campaign to change public behaviour when buying a dog. The Trust is ideally placed to channel communication to the public through pet specialists.

Robust Accredited Breeder schemes: these are a must. Our own Puppyindex Accredited Breeder scheme is well established, with breeders appreciating the accountability they sign up to. Our responsible retailers participating in the scheme also appreciate being able to signpost potential puppy owners through to responsible breeders. Nowadays, 98% pet shops do not sell puppies, as it is time consuming and difficult to do well. Puppyindex is an excellent means of assisting potential puppy owners and giving them vital support in finding a suitable dog that they know they will be able to care for.

We welcome improvements in inspections of licensed breeding premises. Local authorities issue only 1.3 breeding licences a year. Public confidence in licensed breeders can only be achieved with proper independent inspections.

‘UKAS accreditation will mean independent audit of the Accredited Breeder Scheme, which will be enormously reassuring to the British dog owning public,’ said Janet Nunn, Chief Executive of the Pet Care Trust. ‘We have every confidence that the Kennel Club has the will and the wherewithal to achieve this and we hold ourselves available to help and support them in whatever way we can.’ Microchipping of puppies: this service is now widely available through pet specialists – 30% of groomers are trained to offer a microchipping service at around just £15.

The Pet Care Trust State of the Sector survey report 2008 of 2,820 pet retail businesses achieved a good response rate of 8.1% (228 responses) and showed that 2.1% of pet shops responding sold puppies.

The Pet Care Trust Animal Welfare Officer survey of December 2008 of licensing officers in 454 British authorities achieved a good response of 19% (89 responses) and showed that those responding issued an average of 1.3% breeding licences per year.

The Pet Care Trust State of the Sector groomer survey report 2008 of 2,645 grooming businesses achieved a good response of 29.8% (296 responses) and showed that 30% of those responding offered a microchipping service.

http://www.bva.co.uk/

Dog breeding report sees key role for vets

14 January 2010

Vets have welcomed Professor Bateson’s report on dog breeding as an important step on a long journey to improving the health and welfare of all dogs.

The report, which follows a 10-month inquiry into breeding practices, dog showing, and scientific evidence, concludes that measures such as the establishment of a non-statutory advisory council on dog breeding, an up-graded accredited breeder scheme, legislative changes, and a public education campaign are required.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) gave evidence to Professor Bateson’s inquiry and stressed the need for changes that would improve the lot for all dogs (not just pedigrees), as well as the key role that vets have to play in educating the public.

Many of the specific recommendations have already been called for by the veterinary profession, such as a Code of Practice on breeding, compulsory microchipping of all dogs, and improved breed standards to promote health and welfare over extreme conformation. Through the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) work has already started to investigate setting up an independent body of experts, and a campaign to improve the public’s understanding of the issues is being led by the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation’s guidance on buying a puppy.

Other specific recommendations supported by the veterinary profession include

the creation of a non-statutory advisory council to include veterinary input

robust accredited breeder schemes recognising the vital importance of pre-mating health screening and other good breeding practice

the centralised collection of data on health problems associated with different breeds

better enforcement of good welfare on licensed dog breeding premises, which must come with resources to ensure inspection and enforcement can be carried out

Commenting, Nicky Paull, Past President of the BVA (who gave evidence to the Bateson Inquiry), said:

“Professor Bateson clearly understands that practical solutions are the way forward and that it will require a concerted effort by all those involved in the health and welfare of dogs to make the necessary changes. We support Professor Bateson’s recommendations and see a key role for vets in bringing the breeding community and the public forward together.

“The majority of breeders care deeply about the animals they work with, but the rules must be tightened for those who have sacrificed the welfare of dogs for their own gain.

“Pedigree Dogs Exposed and the two reports that have followed by APGAW and Prof Bateson are the catalyst we needed to shake up the dog breeding world and start educating the public. A lot of work to improve the situation has already begun and this is just one step in the long journey to improving the health and welfare of all dogs.”

Richard Dixon, President of the BSAVA, added:

“Vets are at the forefront of advising potential dog owners and breeders about the health and welfare issues involved with breeding. We hope that the public attention given to Professor Bateson’s report will remind people to always seek advice from their vet before buying a puppy and never buy on impulse.

“If the dog-buying public is properly educated to make the right welfare choices they will turn their backs on puppy farms and bad breeders. In this way the market can have a very positive effect on welfare alongside legislation and enforcement.

“Professor Bateson’s recommendations are welcomed by BSAVA, especially the requirement for breed standards to ensure dogs are fit for life, not extreme conformation, and the call for a robust accreditation scheme to help people choose a reputable breeder.

“These changes will take time and money and the veterinary profession, welfare charities and dog breeders must work together to achieve them.”

Kennel Club Response to the Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding

14-Jan-10

The Kennel Club has broadly welcomed Professor Sir Patrick Bateson’s ‘Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding’, which has recommended that steps be taken to tackle irresponsible breeders and to change the way the public think about buying dogs.

The Kennel Club, which commissioned and funded the report in conjunction with Dogs Trust, welcomes the report’s focus on irresponsible breeders who farm puppies with little concern for their welfare and those who sell poorly socialised puppies on to owners to use as ‘status dogs’ or as fighting weapons.

The Kennel Club agrees that additional training and support needs to be given to local authorities, which are responsible for issuing breeding licences to those people who breed five or more litters of puppies in a single year, as the current provisions are deemed to be ineffective. It agrees that compulsory microchipping of dogs and increased public education to stop people falling prey to puppy farmers and to help them find responsible breeders are necessary.

It is also glad that the report recognises the need for a ‘robustly policed and well respected quality assurance scheme’, consisting of breeders that buyers can trust to look after their puppies’ health and welfare, and that it suggests that the Kennel Club’s Accredited Breeder Scheme, with some modification could be used.

However, the Kennel Club is concerned that the report could have gone further and that its recommendations do not appear directly to cover those breeders who breed less than five litters per year and who are not part of the Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme. The Kennel Club would have liked to have seen a recommendation for regulation to ensure that these breeders follow higher standards, such as compulsory health testing.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club spokesperson, said: “Whilst the report recognises that the majority of breeders are responsible, there are those whose actions are bringing the rest of the dog breeding community into disrepute and this needs to be stopped.

“We are glad that the report recognises that the Kennel Club has made a good start in its efforts to unite responsible breeders within its Accredited Breeder Scheme, for the benefit of puppies and puppy buyers, and we believe that this should be the basis for moving forward. We are currently working towards UKAS accreditation of the scheme as suggested by Professor Bateson.

“We agree that responsible breeders should be rewarded and believe that the show ring is the best forum for this. The report recognises that ‘dog showing and judging are a powerful lever for change’ and the Kennel Club is dedicated to ensuring that only the healthiest dogs are rewarded at shows.

“Public education is vital and all dog welfare organisations must continue to work together to ensure that people know what to look for when buying a dog.”

The report looks at genetic diversity in breeds and recognises that the Kennel Club has banned close matings. It advises that future decisions about matings that could affect genetic diversity should be ‘breed specific’ and made upon evidence based scientific information and advice. To this end it is recommended that the veterinary profession should gather data to show the prevalence of certain diseases and that an advisory council should develop evidence based breeding strategies.

Mrs Kisko continued: “The Kennel Club has long recognised that genetic diversity plays a crucial role in safeguarding the health of dogs and the report is absolutely right to suggest that there are no further blanket rules in place but that decisions are based upon scientific knowledge and are made on a breed by breed basis. This is why we are well on the way to creating a new database which will revolutionise the way that we record dog health data. The data will enable us to bring out our Mate Select programme, which will help breeders to find suitable mating pairs which are most likely to produce healthy offspring. The database will go further than the report’s recommendation, as the data will be attributable to specific dogs, rather than being anonymous, and will give us a better picture of the health of pedigrees and crossbreeds. Such knowledge is critical and will enable us to provide information to breeders, vets, geneticists and ultimately the puppy buyer.

“We are keen to harness as much knowledge as possible for the benefit of dogs so we welcome the principle of an advisory council whose members will work with the Kennel Club to advise on decisions about breeding and health. A structure already exists in the form of the Kennel Club’s Dog Health Group with its recently extended remit. Additional independent experts include canine and human geneticists, veterinary surgeons and an epidemiologist. Using this framework for establishing the advisory council under an independent chairman would save significant sums of money, which can instead be devoted entirely to the dog health research that the report identified as being in ‘urgent’ need of more funding.”

The Kennel Club and Dogs Trust will now arrange a meeting between all relevant parties in order to move forward with the recommendations from all three reports.

The full report may be downloaded at www.dogbreedinginquiry.com

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk

PROFESSOR SIR PATRICK BATESON'S INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO DOG BREEDING

14 January 2010

The Kennel Club and Dogs Trust have broadly welcomed Professor Sir Patrick Bateson’s ‘Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding’, which has recommended that steps be taken to tackle irresponsible breeders and to change the way the public think about buying dogs.

These organisations, who commissioned and funded the report, welcome the report’s focus on irresponsible breeders who farm puppies with little concern for their welfare and those who sell poorly socialised puppies on to owners to use as ‘status dogs’ or as fighting weapons.

It is agreed that the education of puppy buyers should be stepped up to help them avoid falling prey to a puppy farmer by directing them to responsible breeders, and that the compulsory microchipping of all dogs would help authorities to trace disreputable breeders.

It is agreed that future decisions about breeding should be made on a breed by breed and dog by dog basis, based upon evidence based scientific information, and that expert knowledge should be harnessed in order to support efforts in this direction.

The organisations particularly welcome the report’s recommendation that the Dangerous Dogs Act should be overhauled to tackle those who breed and rear dogs as weapons and that the legislation should apply to all dogs that have been shown to be dangerous rather than to specific breeds.

The Kennel Club and Dogs Trust now are to convene a meeting between all relevant parties in order to move forward with the recommendations from all three reports.

For further information on both organisations’ responses to the detail of the report visit: www.thekennelclub.org.uk and www.dogstrust.org.uk

For more information about the inquiry and to download the full report, please visit http://dogbreedinginquiry.com.

Battery Farmed Dogs Campaign (Puppy Farming)

Our campaign against the battery farming of dogs highlights the fact that the UK dog-owning public is being duped into buying dogs from puppy farms, inadvertently fuelling the cruel trade and potentially landing themselves with huge vet bills.

In a recent survey, we asked dog owners if they would consider buying a dog from a puppy farm. Although almost 95% said no, when asked where they had got their dog from 15.1% - potentially 900,000 dog owners – admitted they had got them from an advert in the newspaper, the internet, a pet shop or a pet superstore, all outlets often supplied by puppy farms.

In the past six months we have seen a marked increase in calls from concerned dog owners whose pets have suffered illness and in some cases died as a result of having been bred at puppy farms.

We've introduced the term ‘battery farming of dogs’ to associate the practice with the battery farming of chickens. We want dog lovers to be informed about how to find a 'cruelty-free dog'. If you are interested in buying a dog and are worried about how to tell the difference between a reputable breeder and a puppy farm, please read our Buying a Dog section.

We are also calling on the Government and Local Authorities to review existing breeding licensing legislation.

Breeding bitches at battery farms:

* Are kept in small pens without natural daylight or contact with other dogs

* Suffer the mental cruelty of having little contact with people and having no space to exercise or opportunity to play

* Are bred from continuously in these conditions until they are too old, then discarded

A battery farmed puppy could have genetic or other health problems relating to its poor breeding conditions. It could also have behavioural problems as a result of being taken from its mother at too young an age.

* Find out more about the health problems associated with battery farmed puppies

What you can do to help

We're asking people to tell us about their experiences and write to their Local Authority about suspicious vendors. Please read more about this in our Support the Campaign section. Celebrity Support

Our celebrity supporters have come out in force to say ‘NO’ to the battery farming of dogs.

TV Presenter Graham Norton

Madge and Bailey, my two dogs, mean everything to me and I can’t imagine life without them. When I got them, Madge from Dogs Trust and Bailey from a reputable breeder, I did plenty of research and was pleased that both Dogs Trust and the breeder also asked many questions about me to ensure that their dogs were going to a loving home.

It is hugely shocking to know that there are hundreds of places advertising puppies for sale purely for profit, some even offering to arrange delivery as if the puppy was part of a weekly shop. Battery farming of dogs is a horrible, horrible practice and I hope that the Dogs Trust campaign will highlight to future dog owners how to avoid fuelling this trade.

TV Presenter Jenni Falconer

My dog, Alfie, is now 2 and he is very much a loved member of our family. However before we found him, we did look around at the pups that were available and we were appalled to discover so many people out to make a fast buck. It's incredible and shocking to see dog lovers being not only exploited but more importantly it's devastating to learn that on these so-called 'puppy farms', dogs themselves are being bred purely for profit.

Throughout this process, they are starved of affection and not looked after properly.

It breaks my heart that people can be so callous to treat any animal in such a manner and at a time when puppy sales are higher than ever I urge you to be cautious when it comes to buying a dog, particularly when following up on an ad, in a local paper or on online.

We visited the family selling our dog beforehand and they showed us around so we knew they were respectable, looked after the animals and were not out to exploit us.'

Thinking of buying a puppy? Then first and foremost research the breed you are looking to buy. Please do not just go and buy the first puppy you see. This is not good advise even if buying from a reputable breeder.

Please do not resort to going through the block ads in local papers. Yes, it might seem like the easiest solution - but be warned you could be buying into a whole lot of misery, both financially and upsetting.

Stay away from any breeder who offers you a multiple choice of breeds. This is not how puppies should be kept or sold. You are looking for a small breeder who really only has 1 maybe 2 different breeds, and will let you come and see the puppies with their Mum and will answers all of your questions. Never ever let anyone bring the puppy out to you - you need to see the puppy and Mum together. If the person selling you the puppy tells you that this is not possible - walk away.

Never be tempted to go into a pet shop to purchase your puppy. We cannot stress enough that the pet shop trade is a life of misery for the breeding bitches, the stud dogs and the puppies. The wastage from this inhumane trade is sickening. You might think that you are saving any puppy that you purchase from these shops - but all you are doing is condemning even more puppies and older dogs to a life of more suffering. They are bred on Puppy Farms. No matter what the seller might tell you - please be warned. Pet Shop puppies come from Puppy Farms. Puppy Farms are breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers. The puppies are sold either directly to the public via the Internet, newspaper ads, pet shops, even from the farm itself.

So you have finally located your breeder and you have made arrangements to go and see them. They sound really nice, they also runs a boarding kennels and tell you that dogs are their life. When you get there they tell you that the mother of the litter of puppies is not well - and it is best if they bring you out a puppy to see. Be very careful... This could mean that these people have a pet shop license and buy puppies in to sell - on the other hand they might not even be licensed... whatever the case the puppies are still bred on puppy farms. The place of sale - might even be the puppy farm!

Start asking questions, ask to see all of the puppies. Take a look at the conditions they are living in, look at the condition of all the puppies (if you are allowed to see them.. Are you able to tell what age the puppies might be. Do they seem happy and socialised or do they cower away. Do they look clean. Ask who the Vet is? The breeder (always assuming that they are the breeders) might be telling the truth, the bitch might be ill... then again there might not be a bitch at all.

It is not easy is it? But if you do your all of your home work before you go and see the puppies, you should be better armed and able to spot anything that might not be right. If in doubt ask for time to go away and think about it! A good breeder will not put any pressure on you.

To go back over some of the points:

1. Research the breed you are interested in. Many dog magazines have contacts for breed advise, ring and ask what you should and should not be looking for. Do you know of anyone who has the breed you are interested in - if so then ask them where they bought their puppy from.

2. Be careful if using the papers to locate your breeder.

3. Never buy from a pet shop or person who buys in to sell (this can be from a boarding kennels even a private dwelling address).

4. Check that the person you are about to contact does not have multiple listings for several breeds. These days they use different mobile phone numbers. Ring a few and see if it is the same person answering.

5. At the end of the day the choice of where and who you buy your puppy from is down to you. All we at hope-UK can say is this...

Puppies purchased from pet shops and people who buy into sell are no less expensive then buying from a good reputable breeder. The puppy you buy is hopefully going to be long term member of your family. The newspapers, the Internet is full of stories from people who have done just that - and they have lived to regret it. In many cases it has cost them dearly, in both, Veterinary expenses - and either the long term suffering of their pet - or the sad loss of it at a early age. Think carefully....