Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Written evidence submitted by Patricia James
Dog Control
Are the approaches proposed by Defra in its announcement on “Tackling Irresponsible Dog Ownership” on 23 April 2012 sufficient to ensure that there is a reduction in the number of attacks by dogs on people and animals?
No, not if Defra are reliant just on microchipping alone carried out by owners of dogs. The responsibility is always placed on the owner of a dog that attacks when sometimes the cause for the dog to be aggressive is the result of poor breeding practices by irresponsible dog breeders/individuals who are prepared to sell a puppy or a young dog to anyone that is prepared to pay the asking price. This can include some less than reputable rescues.
In Particular:
Is there a need for a more fundamental overhaul of dog legislation, and its enforcement, including that relating to dog attacks on people, livestock and pets?
Yes, dog legislation is inadequate and poorly administered in some cases by Councils. It is too easy to own, breed from and sell puppies and dogs. There needs to be a stricter control over who breeds dogs for sale. Legislation should be introduced to make it compulsory for anyone wishing to breed from their dog to apply to the Council for a licence to breed (casual licence) which would allow them to breed from their dog just once and then spayed. They must then produce verification of this having taken place from a veterinary surgeon and deposited at the Council together with the microchip number of dog. This would limit backyard breeding and ensure the Council has the details of the dog and puppies produced who would need to be microchipped before sale.
Is sufficient action being taken on pets raised as status dogs to ensure their welfare and reduce their impact on communities?
No, but by the introduction of a casual dog breeding licence it would limit the breeding of status dogs as well as other breeds as they too become popular with back yard breeders.
Will compulsory microchipping of puppies improve dog welfare and help prevent dog attacks at an affordable cost to dog owners?
Compulsory microchipping of puppies by dog breeders is a necessity, to fall in line with Wales/N Ireland/Irish Republic who have or intend to introduce compulsory microchipping of puppies, making this the responsibility of the breeder before sale of a puppy.
Should a dog licensing scheme also be considered?
Would not be required if it was compulsory for every breeder to obtain a dog breeders licence and to microchip every puppy before sale.
Should the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 be extended to include offences committed on private property?
Yes.
Are Defra’s proposals for wider community and educational approaches to support responsible dog ownership sufficiently ambitious?
More emphasis must be placed on responsible dog breeding and selling by educating the public how to purchase a puppy. Avoid free ads, commercial dog breeding, dealers and pet shops.
Do local authorities, the police and animal welfare charities have the right roles in managing stray dogs under the current legislative regime?
Depends largely on the area where the matter is being studied. My Council area Rochford District Council does not employ a Dog Warden but relies upon an allocated dog kennel to collect any dogs reported straying who cover Castle Point and Basildon Councils too. We do not have a large problem in these areas. I do not have a great knowledge of the stray dog problem although very concerned for the large number of UK rescues that go to the Irish Republic on a very regular basis to bring back to the UK dogs from Irish pounds, unregulated and often doing so in part illegally. Many of the transporters are not compliant, border controls and Trading Standards need to be more affective in controlling this clandestine trade in stray dogs. This increases the numbers of dogs in the UK looking for homes and does not assist in finding homes for those already impounded here.
Dog Welfare
In respect to concerns expressed in Professor Bateson’s report over poor welfare that has arisen in the course of breeding dogs:
Has the response by dog breeders and the veterinary profession been effective?
I can only make reference to my own knowledge as a campaigner against licensed and unlicensed commercial dog breeders (puppy farmers) dealers and pet shops who sell puppies. Third party selling known as puppy trafficking. There have been no changes in respect of the dog breeders that are the source of supply to dealers and pet shops. They have never used the health screening schemes available to dog breeders through the BVA and KC and are unlikely to do so in the future.
What actions should Government take to address these issues?
The Government should make it illegal for anyone to sell puppies other than from the breeders premises. By making it illegal for puppies to be sold by dealers and pet shops would eradicate the need for large commercial dog breeding premises who supply the pet trade through dealers and pet shops. Wales especially three Counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire have the largest concentration of licensed dog breeders (as well as unlicensed) the majority of the licensed dog breeders when asked on Council inspections reports who they sell to, replied with dealers and pet shops (info under FOI). England also has licensed dog breeders who supply the pet trade (pet shops) through dealers and direct to pet shops. Councils in England, Trading Standards, Consumer Direct and those of us that campaign against puppy trafficking are always in receipt of complaints of puppies sold with health issues relating to poor breeding practices and low animal welfare standards having unwittingly purchased a poorly puppy from a dealer or pet shop. It is infrequent that I receive a complaint from someone that has purchased a puppy direct from a commercial breeder/puppy farmer (as they as a rule do not sell direct to the public) most complaints are from purchasers of puppies from third parties—dealers and pet shops.
The Government should make Councils place a ceiling on the numbers of dogs a person can own for the purpose of a dog breeders licence. One breeder in Wales is licensed for 197 breeding bitches, in England 100 breeding bitches is not uncommon either both supply pet shops and dealers.
The Government should make it illegal to grant pet shop licenses to individuals who do not actually have own a pet shop to sell their puppies from but require a licence to deal in puppies “buy deliver and sell to other pet shop licence holders”.
The Government should make it illegal to grant a pet shop licence to allow individuals to buy in and resell puppies from their homes. Puppies are purchased from puppy farms/licensed or unlicensed commercial breeders usually operating from Wales or the Irish Republic.
Are further controls required on dog breeders, including puppy farms, and those selling or importing dogs to ensure the welfare of bitches and puppies?
Yes, ensure purpose built kennels when Councils licence premises, not agriculture sheds/barns. Limit the numbers of dogs that a breeder can use for breeding under their licence conditions. Employ staff according to the number of dogs. Ensure all their dogs are microchipped and puppies before sale with the breeders details to accompany the puppy and dog breeding licence number, not as now sometimes with false or vague details of breeder when sold from third party outlets.
Stop pet shops importing puppies to be sold from Eastern Europe, such as those found in Aardvark Kennels London some sold with a pet passport.
Further Information
Here is a link to my web site including a link to my Blog on the left hand side and an article I wrote of puppy trafficking.
https://sites.google.com/site/puppyalert/
June 2012