Ofcom - pde

It is now available via this link address and in PDF format.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/pedigree_dogs_exposed.pdf

Edited to add.

Partly Upheld
Complaint by Mrs Virginia Barwell
Starts at page 56

Not Upheld
Complaint by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club made on its behalf by Mrs Lesley Jupp
Starts at page 65
.

Ofcom-PDE

EddyAnne,

I am not clear about the OFCOM Ruling on the Complaints about the CKCS CLUB and Virginia Barwell .

In this week's Dog World ,it says that part of Mrs Barwell's complaint was upheld ,and the CKCS CLUB were not.

POSITIVE CHANGES FOR DOG HEALTH SINCE PDE AIRED

• The KC will no longer register the progeny of father/daughter; mother/son
or full-sib matings (unless convinced of a strong scientific reason for
doing so).

• The KC is running a prominent "fit for function, fit for life" campaign
(http://www.fitforfunction.org.uk/)

• The KC has made changes to 78 breed standards in order to
discourage/reverse exaggerations and has added the following clause to every
breed standard:

"A Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal
characteristics, temperament and appearance of a breed and ensures that the
breed is fit for function. Absolute soundness is essential. Breeders and
judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions or
exaggerations which would be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare
or soundness of this breed. From time to time certain conditions or
exaggerations may be considered to have the potential to affect dogs in some
breeds adversely, and judges and breeders are requested to refer to the
Kennel Club website for details of any such current issues. If a feature or
quality is desirable it should only be present in the right measure."

• the KC has commissioned an independent enquiry into dog-breeding that will
report in January. Headed by Professor Sir Patrick Bateson it is expected to
make strong recommendations regarding the need to preserve/improve genetic
diversity.

• two other independent enquiries - one from the RSPCA and one an all-party
parliamentary group - have come to the same broad conclusions as the film -
that there are serious welfare problems that need to be addressed urgently.
Both have favoured self-regulation rather than new legislation and also
recognise that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

The APGAW report is downloadable from here:
http://www.apgaw.org/reports.asp

The RSPCA report is downloadable from here:
http://www.rspca.org.uk/in-action/issuesindepth/pedigreedogs

• the KC, as part of a ‘stakeholder’ group compromising veterinary and
animal welfare organisations, has signed up to the following welfare
principles:

1) every dog should be born with the best possible chance of living a
healthy and happy life, well suited to its intended lifestyle

2) all those who breed dogs should prioritise health, welfare and
temperament over appearance when choosing which animals to breed, in order
to protect the welfare of both the parents and offspring

3) all those who benefit from dogs have a collective responsibility to work
together to protect dog welfare

More info: http://www.bva.co.uk/newsroom/1663.aspx

• the KC has announced that it is minded to allow the registration of
Dalmatians crossed with a pointer (known as LUA or NUA Dalmatians) in order
to alleviate the breed of a debilitating, sometimes fatal, condition caused
by high uric acid levels. Objections from the UK breed clubs (requested by
Dec 31 2009) can only be on the grounds of health and welfare (ie.not on the
grounds of breed purity). Although the KC has allowed some limited
outcrossing in the past, it is being more proactive in this area. See also:
http://www.bsdaofgb.co.uk/inter-variety_breeding.htm

• The KC has launched a new Canine Genetics Centre based at the Animal
Health Trust (the main developer of DNA tests in the UK)

• The Animal Health Trust says it has had a "huge increase in breeders"
wanting to help in the development of new DNA tests since the programme.

• The KC has improved judge's training inc that judges of gundog breeds must
attend field trials before being allowed to judge at Ch show level.

• Breed clubs' Code of Ethics are no longer allowed to condone the culling
of healthy puppies that don't meet the breed standard.

• The KC has withdrawn the allocation of CCs from GSDs in 2012, demanding
evidence that conformation problems in the breed are being tackled.
( http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/2791/23/5/3)

• Many more cavaliers are being MRI scanned for syringomyelia. (A three-fold
increase in the number of MRI-scanned dogs listed on the UK Club's website)

• The KC has promised breed health plans for every breed. Part of this will
be an assessment of the genetic diversity of every breed.

• The RSPCA is funding the University of Sydney to develop a
veterinary-based disease-surveillance scheme.

Yes: funny how if everything in it was wrong and untrue, as the KC and others first claimed, that the Kennel Club and so many breed clubs have immediately since, worked towards so many changes. This long list of follow on actions definitely was not already in the pipeline and many, such as Bateson, APGAW, breed standard changes, etc came directly in response to PDE.

I think the programme allowed for many right-thinking people within the clubs to push forward some needed actions in a climate that would accept them. There's a lot of change for good there.

I am mentioned in the dismissed Cavalier Club complaint.

It is late, my eBay auction for the SM cavalier Collection Fund is finishing and I have parcels to send out, and I am travelling to Bristol tomorrow, but I will be posting more on this thread at the weekend.

I will say that I am appalled that the Cavalier Club's evidence contained a good few economies with the truth.

One downright lie was that the Cavalier Club Committee did not know that the BIS dog had syringomyelia.....................

This subject was commented on by one particular committee member at nearly every committee meeting and I told the Chairman that I ( and others ) had been shown the scan at a show.

Integrity is in short supply in this world.

Ofcom-PDE

I have just read a comment that Ofcom has backed some pretty narrow Complaints whilst rejecting Wider Claims that the PDE Program was an unfair reflection of Pedigree Dogs.

I think the Kennel Club has accepted the Core Charges made by PDE.

Ofcom announced that there had been no unfairness to the KC in the Editing of the Program,and that the KC was not deceived about the purposes of the Program.

Margaret has detailed all that has now taken place since the Program.

I can't speak for concerned Dog Owners in other Breeds only for our Cavalier Breed, and can't understand why some have taken objection to what was said in the Film about Cavaliers.

What was wrong about the Scourge of SM in Cavaliers being mentioned?

Was this terrible Disease supposed to be being Hushed up ?

Were the Prospective Cavalier Buyers to be left in ignorance about it?

I think I am right in saying that the CKCS CLUB'S Complaint was not upheld.

Yes some Cavalier Breeders can say to-day that they are doing all they can in the fight against MVD, but where have they been for the past 30 years ,what were they doing in that time when they were being warned about this Problem in Cavaliers.

I could be wrong in saying this ,but with the Ofcom not upholding the CKCS CLUB's Complaint , there had been no fault to find in what was said in the PDE TV Program about Cavaliers.