Unscrupulous pet vendors and dog breeding facilities are taking advantage of legislative flaws, causing harm to conscientious dog breeders, according to The Kennel Club's claims.
The Kennel Club, the UK's primary organisation for dog lovers, has launched a report in the House of Commons, urging for an urgent review of current licensing regulations for dog breeders in England. The report highlights concerns about the disproportionate impact on responsible breeders, the exploitation of rogue sellers, and the ineffectiveness of the current licensing system.
1. **Burden on Responsible Breeders**
The Licensing of Activities Involving Animals Regulations 2018 has been particularly challenging for low-volume, high-welfare breeders. Many responsible breeders are discouraged from breeding due to the high costs associated with licensing, which often exceed the income from breeding.
2. **Exploitation by Rogue Sellers**
The void left by discouraged responsible breeders is being exploited by puppy farmers and rogue sellers who prioritize profit over animal welfare. The Kennel Club notes that the system is not effective in tackling rogue breeders.
3. **Ineffective Licensing System**
The licensing system is bureaucratic and costly, with significant variations in costs between different local authorities. This has created a postcode lottery, where the system fails to target commercial breeders effectively and instead burdens small-scale breeders.
4. **Lack of Research by Buyers**
Many potential dog owners do not conduct thorough research, with a quarter spending less than two hours on this process. This lack of diligence leads to purchases from puppy farms, further exacerbating the problem.
## Proposed Solutions
The Kennel Club's report suggests several solutions to address these concerns:
1. **Urgent Review of Licensing Regulations**
The report calls for an urgent review of the current licensing regulations to make them more effective in targeting rogue breeders while supporting responsible, low-volume breeders.
2. **Simplification and Standardization of Licensing**
The licensing process should be simplified and standardized to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and costs, making it more accessible and less burdensome for small-scale breeders.
3. **Education and Awareness**
Increasing public awareness and education about responsible puppy buying practices, such as through The Kennel Club's Be Puppywise campaign, could help reduce demand for puppies from rogue sellers.
4. **Support for Responsible Breeders**
Encouraging and supporting responsible breeders is crucial to ensuring a supply of healthy, well-cared-for puppies. This could involve incentives for breeders who adhere to high welfare standards.
The Kennel Club is also advocating for the introduction of tiered breeding regulations, a breeding mentoring scheme, mandatory puppy contracts, and a Code of Practice for new owners. The aim is to encourage responsible, high-welfare breeders to continue in the market while discouraging irresponsible breeders.
- The Licensing of Activities Involving Animals Regulations 2018 also affects health-and-wellness, as many breeders are discouraged from breeding due to the high costs associated with licensing, which often exceed the income from breeding, leading to a potential decline in the production of healthy puppies.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, the void left by discouraged responsible breeders is being exploited by puppy farmers and rogue sellers who prioritize profit over animal welfare, resulting in puppies being bred and sold in inhumane conditions, which can have long-term health implications for the dogs.
