Improving the implementation of animal welfare legislation in animal breeding 2020 – Finnish Food Authority
Part 2: Preliminary analysis of problems and means of intervention in the breeding of dogs
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The Report focuses on the hereditary characteristics of significant welfare factors that require the urgent implementation of the Animal Welfare Act. It focuses on the health of brachycephalic (short-skulled) dogs and concludes that if the welfare problems caused by exaggerated features are tackled solely by means of health examinations without changing the physical characteristics themselves those welfare problems will persist. It concludes that lasting results can only be achieved by changing those characteristics.
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 – Guidance notes for conditions for breeding dogs – Updated April 2020 – DEFRA
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The Guidance notes outlines the conditions that must be complied with in order to obtain an animal activities licence for the activity of breeding dogs. Such businesses are awarded a licence on the basis of a risked-base, star rated system and must comply with the 2006 Animal Welfare Act. Dog breeding businesses are encouraged to achieve a higher rating.
Schedule 6 includes: No dog may be kept for breeding if it can reasonably be expected, on the basis of its genotype, phenotype or state of health that breeding from it could have a detrimental effect on its health or welfare or the health and welfare of its offspring.
The CFSG Guidance on Dog Conformation is intended to educate, inform and improve public awareness about dog conformation and its impact on dogs and wider society. It supports the Regulations relating to breeding and provides practical guidance for anyone breeding, selling or buying a dog whether for the purpose of further breeding or as a family pet. It highlights some of the key conformational aspects to look for in a dog when making decisions decisions on whether to breed from or acquire a dog.
If intending to breed from a dog, the Guidance can be used in conjunction with the legislation and related guidance to determine whether or not to breed from either potential parent. It should also be used in conjunction with the Code of Practice for Dog Breeding.
The Scottish SPCA Assured Breeders Scheme is intended to ensure that members of the public buy puppies from reputable breeders and don’t fall into the trap of buying from a puppy farmer or illegal puppy dealer. The Scheme endorses good, ethical breeders who breed to the highest health and welfare standards. The Welcome Pack includes information for both breeders and buyers, including a Puppy Contract. The Welcome Pack also includes appropriate health screening to ensure dogs are of good physical, mental and genetic health.
Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group (WAHWFG) – Report of Recommendations to the Welsh Government
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In the Report the WAHWFG finds that the current Regulations for Dog Breeding in Wales are inadequate. The key recommendations include improved training for local authority inspectors of breeding establishments to enable more effective enforcement or regulations; a Registration system for all dog breeders; improved traceability of dogs through a national microchip database; an improved ratio in dog breeding establishments of one human to 10 adult dogs; a ban on the third party sale of dogs.
Ban of commercial third party sales of puppies and kittens in England: Summary of responses and way forward December 2018 – DEFRA
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This Report is based on a Defra consultation for the banning of the sale of puppies and kittens by anyone other than the person who has bred them. The consultation is based on the concern that commercial third party sales lead to poorer welfare conditions for the animals compared to when people buy direct from the breeder. Earlier separation of puppies from their mothers can lead to a lack of socialisation and habituation for puppies and an increased risk of disease. This method of sales is also likely to mean that genetic health screening on parent dogs has not been carried out by the breeder.
This is the second Annual Report since becoming a registered charitable trust. The Report summarises DBRG activities during 2018. These include the uploading of advice to puppy buyers and information about the BVA Canine Health Schemes on to the DBRG website. Through DBRG consultation responses, we have helped to bring about new regulations for dog breeding and a promise from the Government to ban the third party sale of puppies. DBRG’s work was recognised at the CEVA Animal Welfare Awards (Charity Team of the Year) and by being invited to be a collaborative partner of the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD). DBRG also became an Associate Member of the Canine and Feline Sector Group. They have launched their Student Ambassador Scheme.
The BVA Report (November 2018) provides guidance for good practice in the use of animals in advertising. The Report is based on the five animals welfare needs described in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and recommends that all animal imagery in advertising depicts pets in situations that meet their welfare needs. These needs are:
A suitable environment
A suitable diet
To be able to exhibit normal behaviour
Any need it has to be housed with or apart from, other animals
Its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018: Guidance notes for conditions for breeding dogs – DEFRA
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These are the detailed Guidelines that accompany the new Regulations and are aimed at local authority inspectors in England . The Guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Regulations.
In order to gain a licence for Dog Breeding a business will need to meet all of the minimum standards outlined in this document. In addition, businesses are encouraged to apply higher standards in order to achieve a 4 or 5 Star rating. Of particular significance for the higher rating is the requirement for a record of lineage, including coefficient of inbreeding (COI), health testing for hereditary diseases and use of a Puppy Contract.
The Guidance Notes are a welcome development towards better welfare standards in Dog Breeding. The use of a star rated system of licensing will hopefully encourage more breeders to adopt even higher welfare standards. DBRG’s view is that all dogs used for breeding and their offspring deserve the very highest standards of care. These Guidance Notes are an important step towards that goal.
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 – DEFRA
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This is the long awaited Regulations on the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals. The Regulations bring many more dog breeders under the local authorities licensing regime. Anyone who breeds three or more litters of puppies per year must be regularly inspected and obtain a licence from their local authority.
Schedule 6 provides Specific Conditions for the Breeding of Dogs. The Regulations stipulate that no puppy under the age of eight weeks may be sold and a puppy may only be sold if it is together with its biological mother. Puppies must be socialised and habituated to their future life as a pet. Female dogs used for breeding may only have one litter in a six month period and no more than 6 litters in total. Each puppy must be microchipped and registered to the breeder before it is sold. And crucially: ‘No dog may be kept for breeding if it can reasonably be expected, on the basis of its genotype and phenotype or state of health that breeding from it could have a detrimental effect on its health or welfare of that of its offspring.’
