Latest news on puppy farms

[Bet]

Just noticed this on the Internet and thought it might be of Interest

Wales Receives Praise from Vets Over Puppy Farming.

The Article mentions that Veterinary Associations have strongly welcomed moves to Tighten up the Rules on Dog Breeding in Wales with the Publication of the Proposed Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs ) (WALES)Regulations 2011.

The BVA and BSAVA welcomed the Proposals which include.

Tightening the Thresholds where a Dog Licence is Required ,a Staff to Dog Ratio of One Person to care for a Maximumof 20 Adult Animals

Compulsory Micrchipping od Dogs on Licensed Breeding Premises.

The Need for Behaviour and Socialisation of Animals to be taken into Account of the Licensing requirements to meet the oblications of the Animal Welfare Act 2006

The BVA President also said ,Puppy Farming is not only a Problem in Wales,but the Welsh Assembly Government should be Congratulated for driving forward Legislative Changes to Tackle the Abhorrant Practice of Puppy Farming. it is clear that the rest of the UK is now Lagging behind .

We will be encouraging England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to follow suit and ensure Dog Health and Welfare is promoted across the Country

The President of the BSAVA also said that, Vets are often faced with the Terrible Consequences of Puppy Farms and Bad Breeders which can lead to Suffering both for the Animals and their Owners.

Bet

[Karlin]

That is great news -- !! Let's hope it goes through -- I like those mandatory staff ratios etc.

[Bet]

That is great news -- !! Let's hope it goes through -- I like those mandatory staff ratios etc.

LATEST NEWS ON PUPPY FARMS

Just a wee update on this Subject from this Week's DOG WORLD.

KC Criticises Welsh Assembly's Puppy Farming Proposala as "Lopsided Thinking"

I think what the KC is objecting to

1

The change would Trigger for Licensing from 5 or more Litters to those who have 3 Breeding Bitches and Breed Two or More Litters a Year

This would also cover those with 3 or more Breeding Bitches and who either keep those Bitches in what are seen to be Commercial Kennels or who Supply or sell or sell 10 Puppies in a Year .

This would result in a significant increase in the Number of Small -Scale Breeders who need to Licenced or Checked

Announcing this move Wales' Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said,

While the Breeding of Dogs for Commercial Gain is a Legimate Business ,the Welfare Requirements of the Breeding Dogs and their Off-Springs must have Paramount Importance.

The Spoke's -Woman for the Welsh Assembly also said that that their Proposals were based on Reports suggesting that some Dog Breeders were keeping their Animals in Cramped Conditions with little or no Provision for their Behavioural or Environmental needs.

She continued saying that ,it is important to have Clarity through this new Legislation so Every-body,Especially Breeders knows what Society now Expects of them to Ensure that those Puppies that are Bred to be Sold onto Loving Homes are kept in the Best possible Circumstances and given the best possible start to Live.

The Proposals are subject to a 12 week Public Consulation which closes on January 13.

The Welsh Assembly Government is fully Committed to raising the Welfare Standards for Dogs in Wales, and are determined to take Action to Tackle Bad Practice in the Dog Breeding Industry

The BVA and BSAVA have also said that they want all of the UK to be subject to these Changes.

The KC is putting Obstacles in the way of these Proposals and saying that every Dog Breeder should be an Accredited Breeder

I can only comment on this Remark ,by saying it is so Disappointing that so Few Cavalier Breeders are Accredited Breeders, so maybe the KC has a wee bit of Wishful Thinking about their Statement.

Bet

[sins]

What the kennel Club seems to be expressing concern about is the fear that local authority resources will be spent policing small-scale responsible breeders while those who dodge the law will continue to get away scot free.
It's about correctly targeting the premises most in need of inspection ??....Seems a reasonable point to me.

it is so Disappointing that so Few Cavalier Breeders are Accredited Breeders,

Why?
What would joining the ABS scheme do to enhance a cavalier breeder's reputation or standing? You don't even have to scan or heart test to become an accredited breeder.
From a puppy buyer's point of view it's irrelevant and gives no assurance of quality whatsoever.
In fact it can even give a puppy buyer a false sense of security by imagining the ABS accolade is a stamp of enhanced quality....
Now there are some very reputable cavalier breeders in the ABS scheme,who test for everything,but far exceed the requirements of the ABS by their own choice,not because it's a requirement.
It's just my personal opinion,but there have been a few posts lately that I feel might point a puppy buyer in entirely the wrong direction.
The ARE some very dedicated cavalier breeders out there who are determined to pull out all the stops to improve cavalier health and who genuinely do their best to ensure that a pet buyer will get a healthy pup.
There are a few ways to find these breeders,please contact Margaret Carter who will always be pleased to advise on interpreting health certs.
Mri certs now give a lot more detail than previously shown and puppy buyers need to educate themselves and keep up to speed with developments in health testing.
Contact the cavalier Club puppy register....they have a list of litters from club breeders and in order to place litters on the register, the health tests carried out on the parents are recorded on the placement form.So you needn't fear actually asking in advance for contact details of breeders who health test and who have a litter.
Also I have seen some references elsewhere to outlandish prices being charged for pups from fully health tested parents.Based on my own experience from both last year and this year,the most expensive breeders were actually people who did not scan at all! Don't imagine you'll find yourself paying more to a breeder who conscientiously tests.
A cavalier puppy will be a much loved family member,so we owe it to ourselves to choose one who's ethically bred with respect to welfare as well as health.
It's our choice who we pay our money to,either a commercial breeder who breeds for profit only, or a breeder who has the future of the breed as a priority.
At the end of the day,that's all that matters.
All the incessant arguing is pointless and soul destroying and tarnishes the enjoyment of our breed.
At the end of the day,the responsibility for producing a healthy pup lies with the breeder.The responsibility for buying the healthiest pup possible rests with the buyer.
There are both breeders and pet buyers who really don't rate health as an issue and there's nothing that can be done to force either party to change.
So those breeders and pet owners who DO care and who DO try, need to just work together,support each other and just get on with the task of breeding and owning cavaliers.
Because if we wait for legislation or any edict from any kennel Club,we'll all be fairly long in the tooth!
Sins

[Margaret C]

Great post Sins.


The Kennel Club is being very economical with the truth indeed when they argue that members of their Accredited Breeders Scheme should be exempt from the need of licensing, because they have already been inspected.

It appears the KC will take any opportunity to try and 'talk up' the Accredited Breeder Scheme, even if it is at the expense of other very worthy dog welfare initiatives.

I know breeders that have been in the scheme for years and they have never been inspected, simply because, even now, the KC has not got sufficient man power to do this.

The KC also argues that the ABS members should be exempt because they have agreed to health testing, but these again are only hollow words. Very few are actually required to test.

Approximately 60 of the 210 registered breeds have required tests, and then breeders do not have to remove dogs that fail from their breeding programme.

The other 150 breeds have no tests required, so how can it be claimed that puppies bred by ABS members are any healthier than those outside the scheme?

Pugs, with their eye, spine and breathing problems have no required health tests
There is a Accredited Breeder of Pugs who advertises that her dogs are her pets & then registers 17 litters in a year. That is one big family of pets!

I joined the Accredited Breeders Scheme a couple of months ago, to see how it really worked. Needless to say I have not been inspected yet.
Some of the paper work is good, but there are gaping holes in the scheme and it is still a puppy farmer's charter.

[Bet]

What the kennel Club seems to be expressing concern about is the fear that local authority resources will be spent policing small-scale responsible breeders while those who dodge the law will continue to get away scot free.
It's about correctly targeting the premises most in need of inspection ??....Seems a reasonable point to me.


Why?
What would joining the ABS scheme do to enhance a cavalier breeder's reputation or standing? You don't even have to scan or heart test to become an accredited breeder.
From a puppy buyer's point of view it's irrelevant and gives no assurance of quality whatsoever.
In fact it can even give a puppy buyer a false sense of security by imagining the ABS accolade is a stamp of enhanced quality....
Now there are some very reputable cavalier breeders in the ABS scheme,who test for everything,but far exceed the requirements of the ABS by their own choice,not because it's a requirement.
It's just my personal opinion,but there have been a few posts lately that I feel might point a puppy buyer in entirely the wrong direction.
The ARE some very dedicated cavalier breeders out there who are determined to pull out all the stops to improve cavalier health and who genuinely do their best to ensure that a pet buyer will get a healthy pup.
There are a few ways to find these breeders,please contact Margaret Carter who will always be pleased to advise on interpreting health certs.
Mri certs now give a lot more detail than previously shown and puppy buyers need to educate themselves and keep up to speed with developments in health testing.
Contact the cavalier Club puppy register....they have a list of litters from club breeders and in order to place litters on the register, the health tests carried out on the parents are recorded on the placement form.So you needn't fear actually asking in advance for contact details of breeders who health test and who have a litter.
Also I have seen some references elsewhere to outlandish prices being charged for pups from fully health tested parents.Based on my own experience from both last year and this year,the most expensive breeders were actually people who did not scan at all! Don't imagine you'll find yourself paying more to a breeder who conscientiously tests.
A cavalier puppy will be a much loved family member,so we owe it to ourselves to choose one who's ethically bred with respect to welfare as well as health.
It's our choice who we pay our money to,either a commercial breeder who breeds for profit only, or a breeder who has the future of the breed as a priority.
At the end of the day,that's all that matters.
All the incessant arguing is pointless and soul destroying and tarnishes the enjoyment of our breed.
At the end of the day,the responsibility for producing a healthy pup lies with the breeder.The responsibility for buying the healthiest pup possible rests with the buyer.
There are both breeders and pet buyers who really don't rate health as an issue and there's nothing that can be done to force either party to change.
So those breeders and pet owners who DO care and who DO try, need to just work together,support each other and just get on with the task of breeding and owning cavaliers.
Because if we wait for legislation or any edict from any kennel Club,we'll all be fairly long in the tooth!
Sins

LATEST NEWS ON PUPPY FARMS

Could I answer Sins Post where she says that it's Irrevelant from a Puppy Buyers' Point of View and gives no Assurance of Quality to Buy from an Accredited Breeder .

That as I have said in my Previous Posts, in the mean-time till this becomes Law ,that the Best Advice ,and I will mention our Cavalier Breed again ,since I don't know what other Breed Clubs tell their Breeders, to only Buy a Cavalier from a Cavalier Breeder who can show Proof that their Cavalier Breeding Stock is being Health Tested,and to Prove that the Cavalier Breeder is following the Breeding Guideline Recommendations from the Researchers into SM and MVD,not to Breed from a Cavalier before 2.5 years of age , and to know the Health Status of the Grand-Parents at 5.

This way hopefully the Cavalier Puppy Buyers will be asking those same Questions from the Puppy Farmers.

With what is going to be taking place in Wales about the Puppy Farms and the Bad Practice in the Dog Breeding Industry, will the KC be having any say in the matter.

This I think is going to be the Welsh Assembly Government's Legislation.

As the BVA and BSAVA, have said they wan't this to be being Extended through- out the UK.

Bet

[sins]

Anyone remember this post from Tania after she went to Crufts in March?

I was at Crufts yesterday, I went to the Health Zone and talked to a chap representing the KC.
I have a leaflet "BVA/KC SM/CM Scheme, I will try and get an electronic copy tomorrow. The KC told me his gut feeling is SM/CM is not as bad as everyone is making it out to be, he agreed there is a problem but he feels it affects only 3% of dogs based on a recent results from some tests. From what I understood the KC are going to put more responsibility onto the Breed Clubs.
He also claimed less than 1% of dogs KC registered are from "puppy farms"!

So,here we are almost 8 months later....This same chap was at the recent BVA/KC SM/CM seminar? No?
I wonder if he heard the stats quoted by Clare Rusbridge...
and still the KC have nothing in place to specifically address the syringomyelia issue in cavaliers.
Putting more responsibility back on Breed clubs who have only a mandate to recommend and advise is not good enough.
Cavalier Club members only account for 21.4% of the puppies registered .
So this flies in the face of the claim that only 1% of dogs are produced by Puppy Farmers!
Unless of course they're cloned in labs or found under heads of cabbage.
I'm not trying to detract from a lot of the very positive work the KC does,but joining the ABS Bet will do NOTHING to assure me that a puppy I buy from an ABS accredited breeder has been from health tested parents.
So lets face up to facts..The future of the breed depends on the goodwill and hard work a small group of Club Breeders who have chosen to test and scan their breeding stock and on the goodwill and dedication of researchers who support and facilitate this effort.
All the weeping,wailing and gnashing of teeth won't alter that fact.
Finally it depends on the people buying pups..
Let's make a difference and get on with it,choose the pups we buy carefully,let's continue to support Rupert'sfund and if we have scans that may be of benefit, submit them to the AHT for the EBV scheme.
I think it's much better to channel our energy productively
Sins