Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog
welfare charity has announced it will be withdrawing from Crufts and Discover
Dogs. Dogs Trust will also not be involved in this year’s Westminster
Dog of the Year Show. This follows consultation with the charity’s Trustees
and requests from its supporters.
Dogs Trust believes that this 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.
Dogs Trust hopes that this will lead to rapid changes in the manner in which
dogs are bred and is in talks with Defra and The Kennel Club to help bring
about the following much needed changes:
1. The review of breed standards to
ensure they are firmly focused on the health and wellbeing of the dog, not
the supposed aesthetics of the breed. Breeders and show judges must be required
to adhere to these revised breed standards.
2. The introduction of secondary legislation,
so as to prevent inappropriate breeding practices, especially the intentional
inbreeding of closely related dogs or dogs with known debilitating genetic
illnesses.
3. The introduction of genetic screening
of all breeding stock and the assured integrity of such a process.
4. If people are considering buying
a pedigree dog they need to understand the importance of determining and
questioning its genetic heritage.
Dogs Trust has had a long history of working with The Kennel Club in order
to promote rescue dogs at pedigree shows and we hope to be able to continue
this relationship as soon as these vital animal welfare points have been
put in place.
