Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding
After a ten month long inquiry, Professor Sir Patrick Bateson FRS called for a non-statutory Advisory Council on Dog Breeding, changes in the law including a requirement for all puppies to be micro-chipped prior to sale, and an up-graded Accredited Breeder Scheme.
Professor Bateson also called for a system to collect data from veterinary practices in order to generate robust prevalence data breed by breed; and for the veterinary profession as a whole to support enforcement authorities, help educate the public, and lead a shift towards a preventative approach to dog health.
Many in the veterinary have showed their support for the report.
Nicky Paull, Past President of the BVA (who gave evidence to the Bateson Inquiry), said: “Professor Bateson clearly understands that practical solutions are the way forward and that it will require a concerted effort by all those involved in the health and welfare of dogs to make the necessary changes. We support Professor Bateson’s recommendations and see a key role for vets in bringing the breeding community and the public forward together.
Richard Dixon, President of the BSAVA, added: “Vets are at the forefront of advising potential dog owners and breeders about the health and welfare issues involved with breeding. We hope that the public attention given to Professor Bateson’s report will remind people to always seek advice from their vet before buying a puppy and never buy on impulse.”
RSPCA chief veterinary adviser Mark Evans also supported the recommendations, commenting: “We agree with Professor Bateson that consumer pressure is the greatest lever for change. The way to solve this is through people power. Changing the industry will take some time, but the public can start to demand better quality animals that are in good health right now.”
Janet Nunn, Chief Executive of the Pet Care Trust, said: “UKAS accreditation will mean independent audit of the Accredited Breeder Scheme, which will be enormously reassuring to the British dog owning public. We have every confidence that the Kennel Club has the will and the wherewithal to achieve this and we hold ourselves available to help and support them in whatever way we can.”
The report concludes that dog-breeding raises a number of serious concerns about the welfare of dogs. Key recommendations include:
The creation of an independent non-statutory Council to develop breeding strategies which address issues of inherited disease, extreme conformation and inbreeding.
Changes in the law including requirements for the compulsory micro-chipping of all puppies and a duty of care on all breeders to have regard to the health and welfare of both the parents and the offspring of a mating.
The need for a robust Accredited Breeder Scheme setting out requirements with regard to pre-mating health tests, purchasers being able to view a puppy with its mother, all puppies micro-chipped before sale etc.
An urgent need for the creation of a computer-based system for the collection of anonymised diagnoses from veterinary surgeries in order to provide prevalence data for each breed.
New regulations to replace the now out-dated breeding and sales of dogs legislation, and much better enforcement of good welfare on licensed dog breeding premises.
A new publicity and education campaign, delivered by all key dog and welfare organisations working together, to encourage a major improvement in how the public go about buying dogs.
The full report can be read here.
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. 
