Dogs Today's latest issue out in the shops today and hopefully in the hands of subscribers already contains some really meaty articles, but the one grabbing the headline's this week is the open letter Jemima Harrison (the creator of the groundbreaking documentary
Pedigree Dogs Exposed) has written to the Kennel Club.
Click here for today's Independent's coverage...and
now on the BBC website... and
the Telegraph blog by vet Pete Wedderburn where Jemima's to do list is reproduced.
To order your copy phone 01276 858880 or
click this link.
Illustrations by Kevin Brockbank
Comments
The vehicle equivalent would be someone saying:
"What do we have so many people talking about car safety standards? If the public stopped buying defective cars made in this country, then the quality of cars would improve dramatically. Buy a Toyota!"
Right. Keep thinking anonymous. Some day you'll have a thought worth putting your name to. Not yet, apparently, but your mother and I DO have high hopes!
PBurns
And have looked at the EBV scheme, cant argue with that for the breeds that have tests for genetic disease But what about those that dont ? Will they have the same opportunity to find out the diversity of their breed or have to wait until testable disease is as prevalent in their breed
Prevention is better than cure so will the KC use this to halt the decline in all breeds or just the ones that have almost reached the point of no return
Furthermore your analogy with regard to automobiles is absurd as it compares animals to machinery....if you think you can purchase ANY animal and be guaranteed of lifelong health and happiness then you SHOULD choose a robot with a manufacturer's warranty. Failing that, choose a puppy from a devoted breeder who devotes his/her life to the betterment of her dogs and breed, and actively health tests stock for the apporpriated health concerns.....until your brain can come up with a better solution, that is all we have to work with.
Enjoy Crufts!! We will xx
This here for instance from today's dog world.
http://www.dogworld.co.uk/News/10-Dachs
For heaven's sake, of course don't buy from a puppy farm or pet shop. But there is unacceptable risks attached to getting any pedigree puppy in the UK at the moment because of the decades of poor breeding practices totally endorsed by the KC. Let's face it sadly most of the people I know with sick dogs got them from KC breeders - and some of those are on the ABS.
Philippa
Dear other anonymous poster who said with steam coming out of their ears...
"it is ONLY the show breeders who A) know about B) bother about health testing schemes......"
I recently bought a Cockerpoo. Both parents had all the health tests appropriate to their breed. Unless the KC has started registering this breed I don't think my breeder was a show breeder! Just someone who wants to breed happy healthy well socialised pets!
It'll put an end to puppy farming, bad breeding and all manner of other social problems.
While it's obvious it'll take a lot more to reform the KC to everyone's satisfaction and it's easy to get depressed about it all and fight among ourselves as to who are the goodies and baddies while it all remains a mess, the puppy contract is within grasp and could speed up change with across the board support.
Picking at scabs is addictive, but it may be time to stop and let things heal over and unite on this issue which will change so very much for dogs.
Beverley, Editor (far from anonymous, with quite dischevelled hair and already hitting the chocolate this early in the day should my own very personal critic be wondering!)
I could quite easily compare my pug to my previous peugeot 307 from 2001 as she has had just about as many recalls to fix her as my car had.
And I'd like to add, when I published my story about my dogs problems, the PRESIDENT of the National Pug Dog Club critisised me and said, quote "have to ask myself why didn’t she take the puppy back the moment she realised that it was not a healthy puppy because that is what a sensible person should do".
So the National Pug Dog Club likened my beloved pet to a faulty fridge freezer.
The breeds that you claim to love were not created by veterinary testing, were they?
No!
Pointer, shepherd, terrier, retriever, molosser, spaniel, sled dog, running dog ... these dogs were created on the hill by men who valued working dogs, not by gas bag theorists who inbred to win ribbons.
But of course the men on the hill were honest men with honest dogs.
They were people with real names who had no shame in standing behind what they were producing.
And what have we replaced them with?
And what have we replaced their dogs with?
Why Anonymous Cowards, with defective dogs that could not catch a cold if it were screwed to to the ground.
Today we have bird dogs that cannot find a feather in a chicken shed, retrievers with blown hips, terriers too big to get down a hole, and "sled dogs" that have never seen three feet of snow.
And of course, we have dogs with jammed faces that cannot breathe, dogs with wrecked hearts, shot eyes, and brain and nerve issue.
We have dogs falling dead from cancer at age four, and dogs with liver troubles, joint problems, and skin problems.
Oh but we test, says the anonymous coward.
Right.
You must test because you inbreed your dogs in a closed registry, never doubting that the system that wrecked the dog (but which did not create the dog) is the salvation.
Still drunk? Drink more! Surely the "hair of the dog that bit you" is the cure!
Right. Said like a true alcoholic.
Poor Anonymous Coward.
Show us your dogs.
Give us your name.
By telling us so little, you tell us so much.
PBurns
using KC/BVA shemes applicable to their type/breed before mating.
Failure to adhere should result in
all that owners dogs confiscated,
neutered and returned or rehomed.No appeals or human rights
complaints.The data would then give a correct overview of breeds health status.
Mr Anonymous
Witty, ascerbic, humorous, knowledgeable and with the intelligence to propose, and defend, his arguments.
He makes me think and he makes me smile.
Go visit Crufts and see for yourself. It's brilliant and the exhibits are happy and well bred.
continually calling posters cowards?Your poetic waffle may amuse some people, but true dog people want to unite and improve all aspects of dogs lives,that will never be achieved with petty point scoring and name calling.oh and by the way my dear mum sadly died 6 years ago so please no jibes on that subject
Have any of the outraged actually read the Bateson report - the blame was not laid at one persons feet. You will find that while the farms should be abolished, there are countless stories of sick dogs from independent breeders.
The KC set themselves up as the best and therefore get most of the fire, yet when they have implemented change, it's the breed clubs while claiming the strongest love for their breed, kick up the most protestation at any changes.
Dogs continue to be bought and sold through ads in the local paper. Rescues are overlooked with the assumption that the dogs will be too much work. Active ignorance is rife within the public of possible health implications.
And as you clamour to get PBurns head on a stick - take the time and read his articles. They are thought provoking, intelligent and not bias as some may claim. The most recent on the Pit Bull being a prime example.
It's true that the dog world needs to unite - not hearing much unity so far.
Emma