This Report suggests ways in which the Offspring of Dogs could be better protected under the existing Animal Welfare Act (2006) from inherited diseases and health and welfare problems due to extreme conformation. The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 states that ‘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 that of its offspring.’ In principle, therefore, such protection is enshrined in law. In practice, however, this condition will be difficult to enforce. This report makes recommendations as to how, in practice, this principle may be more easily enforced.
The revised Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs was published in 2017. The Code is based on the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and outlines the five welfare needs for a dog and an owner’s responsibility to fulfil those needs. These include: (a) need for a suitable environment (b) need for a suitable diet (c) any need a dog has to be to be kept with or apart from other animals (d) need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour (e) need to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease. The appropriate agents, such as local authorities, the police, or RSPCA may prosecute a person who does not provide these basic welfare needs for a dog.
This Report aims to help Breed Clubs and Breed Health Co-ordinators embark on a process designed to improve the overall health of their breed. Attention is paid to identifying the specific health problems of the breed and addressing in-breeding and genetic diversity.
This Report looks primarily at the state of well-being of the nations pets. It is structured around owners’ knowledge and application of the Animal Welfare Acts 2006 and the five Welfare Needs that are enshrined within them. It highlights the areas of well-being that still require improvement.. for dogs this includes obesity and insufficient exercise. The Report also finds that 24% of dogs are left alone for more than 5 hours a day and 24% of owners did not see the puppy with its mother.
How in tune are we with the needs of our canine companions? – The RSPCA
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In this Report the RSPCA publishes its research on dog ownership in the UK. There are an estimated 11.5 million dogs in the UK and a quarter of all households share their homes with a dog. The Report asks how much do owners understand about the needs of their dog to ensure that they are physically fit and psychologically fulfilled. Some of the Reports findings are that 22% of dogs spend four hours or more alone each working day. Nearly half of all dogs get between 30 and 60 minutes exercise every day but 20% of dogs are never let off the lead. Most owners agree that dogs need regular opportunities to play. Only 39% of owners attend training classes.
This is DBRG’s the first Annual Report in which an outline of its activities during 2017 are outlined. It precedes the official registration with the Charity Commission as a registered charitable trust (No. 1176163). Highlights include the first DBRG Symposium in collaboration with the University of Surrey Vet School in October and attendance at the international Dog Health Workshop in Paris in April. Several position papers were completed as well as written submissions to key Government consultations associated with animal welfare.
Following a consultation process, Defra published its Report outlining the Next Steps in the Review of Animal Establishments Licensing. The intentions are to create new Model License Conditions for Dog Breeding which will become law. No puppies may be sold under eight weeks; the statutory licensing threshold will be three or more litters; each breeding bitch should have no more than one litter a year; there will be a requirement for licensed breeders to display their local authority licence number when advertising; local authorities will be required to use a risk-based system, including a consideration of an affiliation to a body accredited by UKAS, such as the Kennel Club Assured Breeders Scheme (ABS).
The case for a more cohesive approach to pet welfare legislation – Blue Cross
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This Report paints a picture of the current state of statutory enforcement of pet legislation in Britain. Local authorities are responsible for running a licensing system for dog breeding establishments. However, a lack of personnel and appropriate training, together with slashed budgets, has left many of them without the resources and confidence to deal with animal welfare legislation suitably and effectively. There are issues around consistency and clarity of duties and resource levels mean that the majority of local authorities only have the capacity to deal with licensed premises. The scale of the unlicensed and invisible trade makes this a serious welfare concern.
The Government responds to each of the recommendations of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Report: Animal Welfare in England: domestic pets. New regulations will be in place in 2018 for animal activities licensing. Regarding the progeny of dogs the Government cites the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeders’ Scheme which requires the genetic screening of dogs to reduce the risk from inherited conditions. (In the view of DBRG these are minimal). ‘We will explore the possibility of further protecting the progeny of dogs within the proposals to modernise the dog breeding regulations. The Government rejects Efra’s proposals to ban the third party sale of puppies on the grounds that sales would be driven underground.
