Fit for Breeding Legislation, help us stop the stray dog problem

Dog breeding needs to be controlled and we need to take action now! sign the petition at...

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/control-uk-dog-breeding-now/

We are committed to a drastic reduction in the number of abandoned, needlessly killed and unwanted dogs and those dogs that present a serious threat to the general public. Unlike many other organisations, we have no hidden agenda, our aims are purely to promote and protect dogs in the UK.

In order to effectively action these changes we want legislation to be introduced that will make all breeders responsible for the dogs they choose to bring into the world beyond the point of sale. In other words, if you are not prepared to rescue – don’t breed!

This can be achieved through the implementation of compulsory ‘Fit for Breeding tests’. Fit for breeding tests are already used in some other European Countries with much success.

Responsibility beyond the point of sale means that if a puppy/dog owner is unable to continue with the dog, for whatever reason, the breeder will take back the dog and find a suitable solution.
Breeders will also need to ensure that all dogs are micro-chipped/tattooed and be DNA profiled, thus providing 100% proof of parentage and a certified way of tracing the dog back to the owner/breeder.
‘Fit for Breeding’ tests, alongside these identification measures, should also include aspects of health, character and conformation testing.

Please show your support by signing our petition, helping us to put an end to the needless destruction and abandonment of dogs in our country. Thank you.

A more in depth view of what we are looking to put in place:



´Chancepixies Act 2010´

An act to make responsible those people that choose to breed dogs, beyond the point of sale. That is to say, throughout the lifetime of those dogs produced, by way of ‘Fit for breeding’ tests, to reduce the number of abandoned, needlessly killed and unwanted dogs and control dogs that could present a serious threat to the general public.


These tests will include:


In the case of all dogs:
• Responsibility beyond the point of sale - if a puppy/dog owner is unable to continue with the dog, for whatever reason, that the breeder will take back the dog and find a suitable solution. Dogs, unlike children, do not grow up and become responsible for themselves, so if you choose to bring puppies into the world, you must retain some responsibility throughout that dogs life.
• Identification - breeders will ensure that all dogs are micro-chipped/tattooed and must be DNA profiled, thus providing 100% proof of parentage and a certified way of tracing the dog back to the owner/breeder, also ensuring banned and dangerous dogs are not reintroduced by falsifying pedigrees.
• Health and Character Tests - dogs pass on both genotype and phenotype and so should be of sound health and character to be bred from to help ensure that their progeny is of correct temperament and healthy. No dog that is fearful or aggressive should be bred from.



Pedigree Dogs:
Identification – DNA profile alongside micro-chip and/or tattoo
Conformation – checks should be carried out on a breed by breed basis to ensure that exaggerated or unsuitable dogs should not be bred from.
Character – it is important that each individual breed is ‘fit for use’, in other words that it still holds some of the traits that it was originally bred for. No dog that is fearful or aggressive should be bred from.
Health – should be on a breed by breed basis and those that do not sufficiently pass their test, should not be bred from.


Designer Dogs:
In casse of a breeding of first crosses, for example ´Labradoodle´s, the Pedigree dog criteria should be adhered to for the dog and bitch’s individual breed, in this example the Labrador and the Poodle.


Companion Dogs:
In the breeding of unregistered pedigree dogs, second crosses or mongrels, the above measures for identification should be adhered to, with health and conformation checks to be carried out by a qualified veterinarian, prior to breeding, to help ensure that health and conformation traits which could affect the health and well-being of the progeny are not passed on. A general character test should be carried out and passed to ensure that the dog is not nervous or aggressive as a minimum requirement.


In effect, there will be 3 databases to record the breeding of Pedigree dogs, Designer dogs and Companion dogs by using existing databases and/or creating new ones.


Penalties for not complying with these measures should be on a case by case basis but could result in the dogs being removed from the offender, a ban on keeping dogs, a fine of up to £1,000 and imprisonment to a maximum of 6 months for the more serious offenders i.e. breeding or re-introducing banned breeds through falsified paperwork, these measures are in line with current legislation regarding the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.


Imported Dogs
Imported dogs will also need to be registered and DNA profiled.


Code of Ethics
A code of ethics should be adhered to in the case of all dogs and there should be a code pertaining to each specific breed which should involve the welfare of each and every breed of dog regarding good breeding practices. For example; a minimum and maximum age for breeding, a maximum number of litters from any one female and length of time between each litter (not to be bred on consecutive seasons etc).

The infrastructure already exists in the UK and it would not take much to adapt to facilitate the above.


Note: Although the problem can often appear much worse in other countries, the reality is that we have dog wardens to remove straying dogs, so we kill our dogs, not on the streets, but behind closed doors - out of sight. Please remember – charity begins at home.
Legislation is already in place for the welfare of farm animals and fish, so why not dogs?


http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/control-uk-dog-breeding-now/