Kennel Club Slated in Dog World

[Bet]

In an Article in this week's Dog World,says that the overwhelming calls for Health Testing have been answered by the Kennel Club in Response to the APGAW Report.

The Article says the KC 's Reply is just Political Spin and Bluster in the APGAW's call for action.

The Article goes on further to mention that Government Regulation may be needed to ensure that something is done about Unethical Breeders and Puppy Farmers most of whom are out-side our Sphere and Influence of the KC.

The hard -hiting Article says that the KC knows exactly who those Puppy Farmers and Big Breeders are.

The Kennel Club Registers Litters from them every week of the Year

Why can the KC now refuse to Register Father to Daughter and Mother to Son Matings ,but not enforce any Health Requirements.

[Bet]

Just to say ,have received a Xmas Card from a Lady whose Cavalier has developed MVD. This applies also for the Cavaliers who will develope SM.

I really think with the Kennel Club's Attitude we are going no-where fast,but with the Leaflet now from UK CKCS CLUB ,we should make Cavalier owners aware of it, but also say that for the Future of our Cavalier Breed ,let Prospective Cavalier Buyers be made aware ,how important it is for them to ask to see a Health Certificate from Cavalier Breeders that Health Screening has been carried out on their Breeding Stock.

I feel that all of us who are so concerned about the Health of our Cavaliers,will now have to go down this avenue alone.

To say I am disappointed with the KC ,is putting it mildly.

[ByFloSin]

Just to say ,have received a Xmas Card from a Lady whose Cavalier has developed MVD. This applies also for the Cavaliers who will develope SM.

I really think with the Kennel Club's Attitude we are going no-where fast,but with the Leaflet now from UK CKCS CLUB ,we should make Cavalier owners aware of it, but also say that for the Future of our Cavalier Breed ,let Prospective Cavalier Buyers be made aware ,how important it is for them to ask to see a Health Certificate from Cavalier Breeders that Health Screening has been carried out on their Breeding Stock.

I feel that all of us who are so concerned about the Health of our Cavaliers,will now have to go down this avenue alone.

To say I am disappointed with the KC ,is putting it mildly.

In all fairness to the K.C. Bet, I think there may be an issue that you are not aware of. I only came across it when ringing the KC about my Holly's breeder who had the audacity to breed another litter the very next season after producing a litter with 2 autoimmune compromised pups in it, also from the same mother.

After being transferred to several departments I was finally put through to a lady who seemed to know what she was talking about. She explained to me that the KC as a registered charity would be in trouble with the Charity Commissioners if they went against their terms of incorporation as a charity by refusing to register puppies.

Bet, they do say the law is an ass and in this particular matter that I am involved in I am sorry to say they are right.

I have no bias against the KC in either direction, but I do think we should realise that like any large organisation they are constrained by various laws in the things that they wish to do.

[RodRussell]

... Bet, they do say the law is an ass and in this particular matter that I am involved in I am sorry to say they are right...

Over here (at least since Mark Twain's days), we say that "The Congressman is an ass, but I repeat myself."
--
Rod Russell

[EddyAnne]

I read this article on DogWorld.
Overnight solutions not likely.
http://www.dogworld.co.uk/News/49-apgaw

For some time it was appearing inevitable that the Government was going to step in with some form of Regulation be it Legislation or Codes of Practice. Hearing the KC mentioning Government Regulation or Legislation and where the KC is actually asking for it well I think that they too feel that it is inevitable. Besides government regulation for compulsory health testing could be of help in addressing hereditary health problems at puppy farms and where the puppy farmers may have to increase the cost of their puppies to recover the money they paid for the health testings.
Whilst the KC was helping DEFRA to draft Codes of Practice for Dogs in generally looking after them I think that DEFRA might be including at least a mention about health testing before breeding, but then there might be another Codes of Practice on the cards for later say in a year specifically on health testing before breeding this as such Codes might in time be quite large to include all the hereditary health issues concerning dogs. Yes the KC is one of several Consultants that advise and assist DEFRA where DEFRA has been drafting Codes of Practice and where I think the KC might have some "insider information" for what might be down the track, see via this link address.
http://www.publications.parliament.u...90209c0001.htm

In Australia when the Government drafted Codes of Practice for Hereditary Diseases the Government used a number of Consultants which included Veterinary Specialists and Geneticists. When the draft was nearly finished it was then sent to the Clubs for their comments and suggestions on the draft.
As to the UK well we will just have to wait to see what might develop, but I keep thinking about what Bateson mentioned in the interview and which may be in his Report due in January.
"I think a lot could be done by good Codes of Practice which then could be used, and if an Animal Charity wants to bring a case against a dog breeder and the dog breeder has not followed the Codes of Practice then they could be successfully Prosecuted."
.

[Margaret C]

After being transferred to several departments I was finally put through to a lady who seemed to know what she was talking about. She explained to me that the KC as a registered charity would be in trouble with the Charity Commissioners if they went against their terms of incorporation as a charity by refusing to register puppies.

How very strange! This is the first time I have heard it said that the KC is a registered charity, and it certainly is not a reason they have used publicly to explain why they continue to register puppies from all comers.

I have checked their own website and they describe themselves as a "voluntary register for all dogs"
I cannot find any mention of a registered charity except for the KC Arts Foundation.

Can you remember what department this lady worked in?

[EddyAnne]

On a quick search I found the following where the KC donates money to the following "registered charities" but so far I have found nothing mentioning that the KC is a "registered charity".

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust (registered charity number 327802).

The Kennel Club Arts Foundation registered Charity number is 1114823.

The Kennel Club Educational Trust (Registered Charity No. 1121454).
.

[Bet]

Margaret, I see EddyAnne has answered about not finding that the KC is a Registered Charity as well.

The only thing I know is that the Kennel Club keeps mentioning this Hoary Old Chesnut ,that they have to be Mindful how they can best Influence and Gain co-operation from Breeders through a Unified approach ,rather than use the Ability to influence how their Dogs' Health and Welfare is Properly Guarded ,this has happened in America ,to the Risk of Detriment to the Health and Welfare of Many Pedigree Dogs.

This is the also the answer the KC gave to APGAW ,when the APGAW Report said that the Kennel Club should refuse to Register those Dogs that are not Bred to a High Standard.

I have been checking up on some of the Replies that the KC gave to the APGAW Report.

This is a Cracker!!!!

The APGAW Report said that ,NO DOG TO GAIN the TITLE OF CHAMPION/BE REWARDED IN THE SHOW RING ,unless Health Screened and Shown to be Clear.

The KC's Response to this, that the Kennel Club have made it plain to Judges that only obviously Healthy Dogs should win Prizes.

How would a Judge know if a Cavalier was suffering from MVD or not, unless shown a Health Certificate, or a MRI Scanned Certificate.

The KC insists that that it is through the Education of Breeders and Buyers of Dogs who will ultimately changes through demand.

I have another suggestion ,I can't speak for other Breeds ,but have Mandatory Health Testing for the 3 Main Health Problems as mentioned by the UK CKCS CLUB in their recent Leaflet.

MVD
SM
Eye Conditions.

[Bet]

Should have mentioned that the Pedigree Dogs Exposed TV Film is to be Broadcast in America 10-12- 09.

Maybe if it was Broadcast again here in Britain, more heed might be being taken by Prospective Buyers of Cavaliers, and the Message might be brought home to them ,about how important it is to see a Health Certifcate form the Cavalier Breeder , that Health Checks have been carried out on their Cavalier Breeding Stock.

[EddyAnne]

Should have mentioned that the Pedigree Dogs Exposed TV Film is to be Broadcast in America 10-12- 09.

Yes Bet it is on BBC America December 10, 8:00pm. ET/PT. A good while back I read on DogWorld about a Sequel to the documentary, but then everything went quiet due to complaints sent to OFCOM and there was also the start of APGAW and Bateson looking into the scene. I haven't heard anything lately from OFCOM about them publishing their Report. Maybe after ALL the reports have been published then we might hear again about the Sequel.

By the way, here is something interesting that I found out about BBC America.

PARENT COMPANY:
BBC AMERICA is a product of BBC Television, creator of BBC ONE and BBC TWO in the UK , and BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC. BBC Worldwide is Europe’s largest exporter of television programs and a major international broadcaster, publisher and co-producer.

OWNERSHIP:
BBC AMERICA is wholly owned and editorially controlled by the BBC.
.