Welcome to our campaign to help achieve higher levels of regulation around dog breeding in the UK.

 Across the country we are witnessing a worryingly increasing number of people selling very young puppies, particularly on social media sites like Facebook and twitter. This method of selling dogs seems to be practiced by, a mixture of those who are responsible for breeding the animals and, those who have purchased the animal and quickly decide to sell. This very quickly leads to an unmanageable amount of dogs ending up in rescues and in the worst case being dumped and/or ending up within dog fighting circles.

 In the last week alone we have heard of:

 ·      a puppy being dumped and sadly dying in the cold and

·      another which was rescued from an irresponsible backyard breeder and subsequently having to be put to sleep due to complications from inbreeding.

 

We don’t believe enough is being done to deter people from making a 'quick buck' from these poor voiceless puppies. We are calling for more to be done in an attempt to get this situation under control. In the first instance we would like to see it compulsory for all dog breeders to hold a license which in turn means that anyone wishing to breed dogs:

·      are subject to regulated checks on the welfare of their dogs,

·      agree not to inbreed dogs

·      allow their breeding premises to be subject to regular checks

·      commit that all dogs and puppies within their breeding facility to undergo regular health checks

·      as part of the selling process they have an agreement to take back any puppy that they sell, if the owners can no longer keep it, and find a new suitable home.

 

We realise these requirements will involve some changes at the majority of breeding facilities, but are confident that genuine breeders, who have the animals welfare at the forefront of their operations, will realise this is a positive step forwards and would be willing to sign up for the licence programme to show that they are a reputable dog breeder to be trusted.

 Whilst the above proposition will regulate ‘official’ breeding, it leaves us with the issue of ‘backyard breeders’. We do not want this licence programme to drive ‘unofficial’ breeders deeper underground in the event they are refused a breeding license. To prevent this, we believe a lot more needs to go into educating potential buyers of these puppies; to teach them how to look for a healthy puppy, to encourage more people to rescue rather than buy, and if buying is something they insist on then to make sure they only buy from breeders with a licence.

In fact, we feel that further education, around pet ownership and purchasing, is of upmost importance whether a dog breeder licence programme is enforced or not.

 

There are already guidelines, and laws, in place that are designed to protect animals being bred, and the people that are buying them, but evidence suggests they are simply not being enforced, and many animals are suffering as a result.

 For example: the first line of the council guidelines on Dog and Cat Breeding Protection states,

 “The Council has a statutory responsibility to enforce conditions in premises where dogs are bred under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, and will rigorously enforce it.”

 Having worked in many rescue centres we have never seen this happen, which raises a lot of concern.

 In summary, if our ideas which are outlined in this statement are put into practise, which we appreciate will not be an ‘overnight fix’, we truly do believe they will go a long way to beginning to address this growing problem.

 

Long term the aim of this programme would be to:

·      take pressure off local council resources, such as dog wardens and kennelling costs, the dog breeder licence guidelines would be adhered to and as a result there would be less unregulated breeding to deal with.

·      animal rescue charities such as the RSPCA and smaller rescues would have less of a strain placed upon them from having to home all the unwanted puppies.

·      buyers of puppies would avoid the heartbreak of purchasing a puppy that was unknowingly given to them too young and too ill to be sold and subsequently dies two weeks after bringing home.

·      gives breeders the power to ask for help when they need it and to prove beyond a doubt that they are doing the best they can for their dogs and puppies.

 

This issue is real, and significant, and causes much pain, heartbreak and unnecessary suffering. We believe with the right approach much more can be done to stop this, if you think so too, please sign this petition and help us highlight this cause so that it cannot be ignored any longer and animals are given the protection they deserve.

 Thank you.