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Crufts
Backlash
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The RSPCA
and Dogs Trust have suspended plans for their stands at Crufts next
march following the health concerns highlighted in the BBC documentary
"Pedigree Dogs Exposed." and are calling for new measures to tackle
what it calls the 'unacceptably high levels of disability, deformity
and disease that threaten pedigree dogs.'
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
superintendent Mike Flynn has called for the BBC to pull out of giving
airtime to Crufts dog show in the wake of the hardhitting documentary
Pedigree Dogs Exposed. Flynn’s views are similar to those held by
RSPCA chief vet Mark Evans who said he likened watching Crufts to
seeing a ‘parade of mutants’. Speaking to the Scottish Sunday
Mail Flynn said:
“The BBC stopping showing Crufts would stop the perpetuation of these
deformed dogs as some sort of ideal standard. “In effect, the BBC
is advertising faulty products through Crufts - animals which have
welfare problems. “The fewer of these kinds of dogs which are
bred the better. But a dog which wins Crufts automatically becomes
attractive, demand soars and people will breed them to satisfy that
demand. “It encourages the unscrupulous breeder, which
perpetuates and may even worsen the problems these dogs have.
Selectively breeding to achieve a particular standard is totally wrong.”
Pedigree, the
Mars owned dog food brand has also ended its £1.5million
sponsorship deal with the dog show, set to be staged March next
year claiming a ‘business review’ as its main reason for its
withdrawal. Pedigree states: "After careful consideration,
Pedigree has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Crufts,” the
company said. “The Pedigree brand has evolved and we are prioritizing
initiatives that support the broadest possible community of dog owners
such as our successful program the Pedigree Adoption Drive, and our
online service for breeders, pedigreedirect.co.uk.” A Mars
spokesperson would not comment on whether the decision was based around
the BBC documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed.
The NDWA has also withdrawn from Crufts 2009. Sue Bell the NDWA
President states:
"As an association commited to the promotion of responsible dog and pet
ownership in the United Kingdom, NDWA was left with little choice but
to act swiftly as a result of the allegations made during the recent
documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed. In solidarity with other
organisations whom it must be remembered we have not always seen eye to
eye with on a variety of issues over the years, the momentous decision
was taken to not attend Crufts 2009. The decision was taken even
though without a shadow of a doubt it is the biggest and most
prestigious canine event attended by NDWA during the whole year.
Members work hard over the four days to promote responsible dog
ownership and the role of the dog warden in society and their
commitment and dedication shows the importance NDWA places on being at
Crufts. The decision for us as an association to not attend was a
corporate one and in no way prevents any members from attending Crufts
or any other Kennel Club events.
There are times in life where it is necessary to stand up and be
counted however difficult this may make things, for us as an
association, this is one of these times. "
Another
organisation withdrawing is the PDSA (People's Dispensary
for Sick Animals) who are withdrawing
from all Kennel Club events over 'unacceptable' breeding practices and
health issues affecting some pedigree dog breeds. The
organisation, which provides free veterinary care for the pets of
people in need and has been supporting Kennel Club events for more than
30 years, said its staff were continually confronted by the
consequences of pedigree breeding practices, including serious
inherited health conditions. The PDSA's director of veterinary
services, Richard Hooker, said: 'We believe change is needed in the way
pedigree dogs are bred. 'Specifically,
breeding should put the dogs' quality of life before appearance and
this must be reflected in the show ring. "Our decision
reflects the weight of opinion within our charity and among our
supporters. It is consistent with our "Long Live Pets" campaign'
and sends a clear message that pedigree dog breeding needs urgent
review."
Although the PDSA has pulled out of crufts the charity stress that they
are still commited to working with the KC, the veterinary proffession
and welfare organisations to bring about health improvements. Mr
Hooker added "We welcome the Kennel Clubs recent efforts to improve the
health status of pet dogs and will support them with our imput and
expertise wherever possible. "
The Kennel Club spokesman said "The announcement by the PDSA relating
to its involvement with the Kennel Club events is very disapointing."
Dogs
Trust
believe that the removal of support is the strongest signal it can give
to the Kennel Club and breeders to achieve immediate action to ensure
that the health and wellbeing of pedigree dogs is ranked over
appearance and artificial breed standards."
RSPCA vet Mark
Evans said: "Dog shows using current breed standards as the main
judging criteria actively encourage both the intentional breeding of
deformed and disabled dogs and the inbreeding of closely related
animals. There is compelling scientific evidence that the health
and welfare of hundreds of thousands of pedigree dogs is seriously
compromised as a result." He added "From a dog health and welfare
perspective, such shows are fundamentally flawed and do our much loved
pedigree dogs no favours. Intentionally breeding deformed and
disabled animals is morally unjustifiable and it has to stop."
The Kennel Club
responded to the actions of the RSPCA in a statement which read: "The
fact that the RSPCA continues to make such unhelpful statements with
regard to the health of pedigree dogs is regrettable but we will
continue to endeavour to work with them despite their stated position -
for the benefit of dogs.
"The kennel Club
is dedicated to improving the health and welfare of dogs through
responsible breeding and will continue to use Crufts as a platform to
educate breeders and the public about joining us on this quest."
This comes as
the kennel Club (KC) announced that it is lodging a complaint with TV
regulator Ofcom about their contoversial documentary 'Pedigree Dogs
Exposed.'. The KC said that the programme was 'unfairly edited'
and 'heavily biased' and did not properly reflect its "deep commitment
to the health and welfare of dogs".
The BBC has
reponded by appointing a small advisory panel to consider and discuss
the issues that have been raised.
Prompted by the BBC documentary which highlighted the fact that dogs
suffering from genetic illness were not prevented from competing in dog
shows, The Kennel Club are also seeking to control dog breeding within
the UK by making it a compulsary legal obligation for breeders to
register with 'The Accredited breeder Scheme', a set of requirements
promoting good breeding practice, which breeders must agree to in order
to become accredited.
Caroline Kisko from the Kennel Club said: "By asking the Government for
statutory powers, we will be able to take a tougher line with all
breeders and breed clubs that fail to abide by our high
standards. This in turn will enable us to extend the reach of our
Accredited Breeder Scheme, so that all dogs will be bred by people who
abide by our stringent rules and regulations fror the breeding of
healthy dogs."
Jemima Harrison of Passionate Productions who was behind the BBC
documentary told Shooting Times Magazine that she had mixed feelings
about the
new plans of the Kennel club. "The KC's move vindicates the
hard-hitting approach we took in the documentary. However, I am
disappointed that the KC has not acted immediately to ban the mating of
first-degree relatives though, for the first time, there is mention of
the importance of genetic diversity, which is encouraging. There
are already howls of protest from some breed clubs and it remains to be
seen how much will be achieved."
The KC has also stated that it is reviewing breeding standards for 209
species in an attempt to address the deformity problems. The first dog
breeds to face scrutiny are the pekingese, clumber spaniel, bloodhound,
bulldog, mastiff, German shepherd, basset hound and St Bernard. The
revised breed standards are to be in place
by the end of the year and will be used to judge dogs competing in
future shows.
source
The Countrymans Weekly
Shooting Times and Country Magazine
K9 Magazine
*******************
Dog
World Divided
The film maker behind
the BBC documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed and other critics of the
showing world's attitude to breed standards have described how they
have become the subjects of a "whispering campaign". Beverely
Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today, said:
"It is like a
war. People behave badly when they feel threatened. Some
people in the show world are so afraid of reform they are shooting the
messenger."
reprinted
with kind permission from Alastair Balmain
Deputy Editor:Shooting Times
& Country Magazine
Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street SE1 0SU
Tel: 020 3148 4750
