Battersea crack down on backstreet breeding
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Marjorie arrived at Battersea as a stray in November 2014 showing obvious signs of overbreeding.
A major campaign has been launched by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in an attempt to crack down on the horrific and cruel practice of backstreet dog breeding.
Backstreet breeding is the unregistered, unlicensed and unauthorised practice of breeding dogs in an indiscriminate and irresponsible way. Throughout the UK, there are dogs kept in uncomfortable, cramped conditions, given very little exercise and used to produce litter after litter. Under socialised and exhausted, the dogs are usually thrown onto the streets once they have served their purpose.
The world famous animal charity is now calling for the introduction of a breeding licence requirement for any household producing two or more litters a year, as well as a ban on the sale of puppies under eight weeks old.
Claire Horton, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s chief executive said: “Battersea is speaking out to help expose and shame the callous breeders in our communities who are creating far too many unhealthy, unwanted and abandoned dogs all in the name of personal profit.
“At Battersea we see the consequences of this problem every day, with strays coming through our doors, many of whom show signs of in-breeding and others that have been used to produce countless litters before being turfed out on the street.
“These puppies and breeding bitches are often tomorrow’s status dogs and we must put an end to such inhumane, money-making activities.”
The campaign is being supported by Paul O'Grady, Battersea's Ambassador, who says that he has seen first-hand the poor, damaged dogs in Battersea’s kennels that have been bred from over and over again.
"It sickens me to think what these dogs go through before they’re dumped on the streets broken and unloved," he said. "The awful thing is that backstreet breeders are everywhere lining their pockets from the demand for puppies. If there’s one thing we can all do it’s to make sure we think about where we’re getting a puppy from. Visit a rescue centre or a registered breeder and help Battersea end backstreet breeding.”
For more information about the campaign visit www.endbackstreetbreeding.org.uk or watch the campaign video on YouTube.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
