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Equality for all puppies!
A Call for Government Action!
The team at What’s in my Genes? are excited to announce their new #dontbreedblind campaign….
Our #dontbreedblind campaign wants ALL breeding dogs to have the breed-relevant hereditary health test prior to breeding, thereby reducing the risk of passing on painful and debilitating hereditary diseases to their puppies.
Puppies are living, breathing, sentient beings and we believe they should all be given an equal chance of leading a healthy, happy life.
Only puppies born under the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme can be safe in the knowledge that their parents have definitely been checked for certain breed specific hereditary disease, and so long as the breeder has used the results appropriately, they should have a reduced likelihood of developing a lifelong painful and debilitating condition.
We’re calling for government action!!
- The #dontbreedblind campaign is asking the government to amend The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations to include a condition that “ALL breeding dogs must have the breed relevant
hereditary health tests prior to breeding”. The results of which, together with temperament, conformation and breed genetic diversity, can then be taken into consideration when deciding whether to breed a particular dog or not. - The #dontbreedblind campaign is also asking the government to set up an independent panel of vets to review hereditary health testing in dogs (using the already up and running KC Assured Breeder Scheme Health requirements and recommendations as a starting place) and to draw up a list of proven tests to be included in the Animal Welfare Regulations alongside the above condition.
- The #dontbreedblind campaign is also asking the government to ensure ALL breeding dogs are covered by the above condition whether licenced or not. This would help puppy buyers know that they are buying from a responsible breeder who puts health first.
Only approximately 30% of dogs born are registered with the UK Kennel Club and, of that, only a small percentage are born under the Assured Breeder Scheme – that leaves well in excess of 70% of puppies whose breeders are not obliged to hereditary health test parent dogs and very often don’t. These other puppies have to hope that they are born to a ‘responsible’ breeder who cares enough to put health first and do the relevant tests. Sadly, ‘responsible breeders’ are in a minority.
This leaves thousands of puppies each year being born to parents who have not had any hereditary health checks. In effect the breeders are ‘breeding blind’ or ‘playing Russian Roulette’ with puppies’ lives, as there is no way of knowing without testing if those puppies are at risk of developing a painful and debilitating disease passed on from its parents, which most likely will not be discovered until they are in their new home being loved and cared for by their new family.
Living with a puppy with a chronic long term health condition has an enormous cost on the mental health of puppy owners as well as a considerable financial cost. The number of families suffering the consequences of living with a puppy with an inherited condition in the future could be reduced if only ALL breeding dogs had the relevant hereditary health tests.
And lastly, we are urging all puppy buyers to research the breed of dog they are looking at buying, find out which hereditary health tests are relevant to that particular breed ,and ask the breeder for proof of testing and to discuss the results with their vet.
You can find out more about the stories behind the #dontbreedblind campaign and how you can be part of the campaign and help make change happen together with more information about hereditary diseases on our website: https://pawsagainst.co.uk
Facebook: @Whatsinmygenes. @PawsagainstED
Twitter: @BrixhamDolphins
Instagram: bernesebutton
To find out which hereditary health tests are applicable to your breed: https://www.dbrg.uk/breed-health-information.html
You can contact us via facebook or twitter or email: PawsAgainstED@talktalk.net
