DBRG
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.
