Pedigree Dogs Inquiry Released

The results from the independent inquiry into dog breeding in the UK, commissioned following the release of the BBC's Pedigree Dogs: Exposed, were released yesterday.

The peer-reviewed report, drafted by Zoological Society of London president Sir Patrick Bateson, has been feared by Kennel Club breeders since the project was announced nearly a year ago. Some went as far as to say "If you're thinking of having a litter ... DO IT NOW!"

If they were breeding responsibly, what do they have to fear? If they were truly concerned about the health and welfare of their breeds, wouldn't they welcome recommendations on how to protect their dogs? What's in this report that has breeders running scared?

Sir Bateson's recommendations don't focus on dictating things like how many dogs breeders can have or how often they can breed the dogs. The report can basically be boiled down to: education, transparency, checks and balances, and caring about the dogs.

Education: Bateson wants to provide better information to the public through a PR campaign, coordinated by all of the major dog and animal welfare organizations, to improve the way people make decisions about buying dogs -- including how to choose the right dog, how to find a reliable breeder, and what constitutes good welfare in dogs. Bateson also provides recommendations on getting better information to breeders by collecting anonymous data from veterinarians on the health of various breeds, in addition to making sure that the best scientific research is available to them.

Transparency: Someone buying a puppy should be able to see the dog's mother and his littermates. Bateson also recommends that all puppies should be microchipped before being sold and that breeder accreditation should be mandatory, as opposed to the current voluntary program which only represents just 10 percent of the U.K.'s registered dogs.

Checks and Balances: Instead of letting the Kennel Club continue to oversee breeding, an Independent Advisory Council on Dog Breeding was recommended. Breeders would need to agree to regular unannounced inspections in order to advertise and sell puppies. By running dog shows while failing to regulate breeders, the Kennel Club encourages breeding for looks rather than health.

Caring About the Dogs: "Those drafting Breed Standards should avoid the selection for extreme morphologies." In other words, stop breeding mutations that make dogs sick. There is no need for there to be breed specific health problems. It shouldn't be too much to ask that "all breeders have a duty of care to all parent dog and litters with regard to health and welfare." He also calls for a shift to preventative veterinary medicine instead of waiting for problems  to crop up.

A bonus, which I was pleased to see included in the report, is the recommendation to amend the Dangerous Dogs Act so that it is non-breed specific.

If you haven't seen the documentary that started all of this, take a few minutes to watch the embedded video. Though it was shot in the U.K., it might as well have been in the U.S., where breeding practices in the name of conformation are just as unconscionable. Then take a minute to take action and tell the American Kennel Club (AKC) to stop breeding for deformities and start supporting healthy dogs.