The overall objective of the Review Board is
“To consider whether the health and welfare of dogs, and particularly pedigree dogs, is affected and/or can be improved by reference to the registration, breeding and showing of dogs.”
The Review Board will take evidence from a wide field including dog breeders, dog show representatives, members and officials of the Kennel Club, veterinary organisations, governments (including devolved administrations), animal welfare charities, and other appropriate bodies.
The Review Board will take evidence to determine in relation to the breeding of all dogs:
a) Whether there should be compulsory registration of all dogs used for breeding and if so how the minimum standards should be set and enforced for those who breed dogs, for the dogs used for such breeding and for those organisations that maintain such registers.
b) Whether current breed standards for pedigree dogs are appropriate to protect the health and welfare of pedigree dogs;
c) What is currently being done to improve the health of dogs being bred and by whom;
d) How efforts to research and control inherited disease should be led and how these should be paid for;
e) Whether specific government legislation or other mechanisms are required to protect the welfare of all dogs being bred from.
f) Whether registries should be obliged to refuse registration in the event that required minimum standards are not met.
and recommend actions to be taken.
The Review should advise on and take full account of the available evidence and of the practical aspects (including the funding) of enforcement and implementation of the recommendations presented.