FECAVA June 2018 Adpted by FVE and FECAVA June 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FECAVA, FVE Psitin Paper n breeding healthy dgs: the effect f selective breeding n the health and welfare f dgs Health and welfare shuld g befre lks, vets urge The breeding f dgs with excessive traits and/ r genetic disrders and the impact n their health and welfare has increasingly cme int the sptlight ver recent years. There has been an explsin in the ppularity f certain breeds with exaggerated traits, especially f thse with extreme brachycephalic cnfrmatin. While ften ppular with the public, such a cnfrmatin can lead t severe health and welfare issues. Althugh many gd breeders and breed clubs wrk clsely tgether with veterinarians and ther stakehlders t imprve the current situatin, unfrtunately this increased demand has als lead t an escalatin f numbers f dgs prduced by unscrupulus breeders r puppy farms, with little cncern abut the health and welfare f the dgs. Cmpanin animal veterinarians are regularly faced with health and welfare prblems in their patients that are breed related and have a strng genetic backgrund. Selective breeding has becme increasingly fcused n the appearance and n the ppularity f certain breeds with little r n emphasis n perfrmance, health r lngevity. Veterinarians have a duty t speak ut, help raise awareness and ensure breed-related health and welfare prblems are nt nrmalised r accepted as being typical fr the breed. Tw fields can be targeted t help imprve the situatin: the demand and supply. Demand The breeding f certain types f dgs is clearly driven by cnsumer demand, and addressing this demand is essential. The ppularity f certain breeds has further been enhanced by celebrities, scial media, advertising and films. The mst sustainable change is likely t happen by raising awareness and educating the public abut certain breeds r types f dg that will likely suffer severe health and 1
welfare issues. The public shuld als be educated abut all factrs t be taken int accunt when chsing a puppy r dg. Awareness-raising campaigns and the invlvement f media and celebrities as rle mdels are vital t establish a lng-term slutin, where future dg wners will chse healthy, happy* dgs fitting their lifestyle and becme a respnsible wner. Supply T imprve the quality f dgs, breeding practices shuld be encuraged that put the health and welfare f dgs first. Breeding unhealthy phentypes and gentypes must be avided t prevent exaggerated physical traits and/r genetic disrders predispsing t health r welfare prblems. Breeding standards shuld be revised and nt be left pen t interpretatin allwing the perpetuatin f traits with a negative impact n the health and welfare f the dgs. Educatin and raising awareness f all stakehlders invlved is key. The mandatry registratin f breeders, identificatin f dgs and the sharing f data n cnfrmatin-altering surgeries, caesarean sectins as well as relevant pre-breeding screening prgrams wuld all cntribute twards the breeding f quality dgs. The veterinary prfessin recgnises its respnsibilities and urgently calls fr all stakehlders t jin frces twards a future with healthier and happier* dgs. * t be understd as enjying gd welfare 2
POSITION PAPER BREEDING HEALTHY DOGS: THE EFFECT OF SELECTIVE BREEDING ON THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF DOGS. The impact f genetic disrders 1 and the breeding f dgs 2 with excessive traits n the health and welfare f dgs has increasingly cme int the sptlight ver recent years. Cmpanin animal veterinarians are regularly faced with health and welfare prblems in their patients that are breed related and have a strng genetic backgrund. As advcates f animal health and welfare, veterinarians have a duty t speak up. They shuld help raise awareness and make sure breed-related health and welfare prblems are nt nrmalised and cnsidered r seen as being typical fr the breed. The veterinary prfessin recgnises its respnsibilities and urgently calls fr all stakehlders t jin frces twards a future with healthier and happier* dgs. BACKGROUND The purpse f breeding dgs is t prduce ffspring with specific characteristics. The Fédératin Cynlgique Internatinale (FCI) currently recgnises 344 breeds 3 4. But nt nly purebred dgs 5 are bred selectively: crssbreds 6 can be created t aim fr a certain lk and/r behaviur, smetimes referred t as designer breeds. Originally, selective breeding 7 was directed twards the abilities f the dg, fr hunting, guarding and herding. Since the mid-19 th century, dgs have been increasingly kept as cmpanin animals. This meant selectin has becme mre and mre fcused n the appearance and n the ppularity f certain breeds, with little r n emphasis n perfrmance 8, health r lngevity. Selective breeding has many advantages. It maintains a diversity f breeds creating a wide variety in appearance, temperament, functin and utility; factrs that all play a rle in human animal interactins 9. It allws ptential dg wners predict t sme degree what kind f animal they buy. The natures f randmly bred dgs are less predictable, which may have implicatins fr the relatin between the animal and its wner 10. Careful selectin can als eliminate r reduce the prevalence f certain diseases. Hwever, selective breeding can als have a negative impact n the health and welfare f the dgs, fr example when selecting fr certain traits, such as shrt muzzles, excess skin, dme-shaped heads, drpy eyes, etc. While ppular with the public, this can lead t severe health and welfare issues fr the dgs invlved. Fr example, the brachycephalic bstructive airway syndrme cmmnly ccurs in flat-faced breeds and can cause amngst thers respiratry distress, eye prblems and impaired thermregulatin. 3
Urgent actin needed In 1967, the Wrld Small Animal Veterinary Assciatin Cmmittee appinted t cnsider Breed Standards in relatin t the Health and Welfare f Dgs 11 stated: The meeting unanimusly declares that cncern fr the health and welfare f dgs demands that breed standards shuld nt include requirements and recmmendatins that hinder physilgical functin f rgans and parts f the bdy. These wrds are just as true tday as they were 50 years ag. In the past years, there has been an explsin in the ppularity f breeds with extreme traits, especially thse with extreme brachycephalic cnfrmatin 12. This increased demand has lead t an escalatin f numbers f dgs prduced by unscrupulus breeders r puppy farms, with little cncern abut the health and welfare f the ffspring. HOW TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION? There are tw appraches t imprve the situatin. The first is t curb the demand: t educate the public, nt t chse a breed r type f dg that will likely suffer severe health and welfare issues. The secnd is t imprve the quality f the dgs supplied: t encurage breeding practices that put the health and welfare f the dgs first. I. DEMAND Althugh the issue is cmplex with many stakehlders invlved, it is clearly driven by demand: what the cnsumer wants will be prduced. Therefre, the mst sustainable change is likely t happen by raising awareness and educating the public nt t buy dgs f breeds with extreme hereditary traits and/ r genetic disrders that are likely t lead t animal health and welfare issues. CONSIDERING THAT: Lack f expertise The cnsumer is nt an expert. It can be very difficult fr them t judge whether they have bught a healthy dg r a defective prduct 13. They are ften ignrant abut prblems facing certain breeds and find ut when it is t late. Emtinal factrs Buying a dg is ften an emtinal and impulsive decisin, which makes the buyer less critical and mre likely t end up with a defective prduct. While many rdinary prducts can be exchanged r returned fr a refund this is ften nt s easy when it cmes t dgs. The legal guarantee perid 14 15 during which prduct defects shuld be identified is nt sufficient, as the perid after which genetic diseases are revealed is ften far lnger. And since cnsumers becme emtinally attached t the puppy, even if it turns ut t be a defective prduct, they usually g t great expense t treat their dgs rather than seek refund. Sme wners may see themselves as cmpassinate care-givers and may seek ut challenged dgs. Others will nt be swayed by health and welfare issues when chsing a certain breed. Certain cnsumers that have bught a dg f a certain breed in the past and have experienced breedrelated prblems were fund t nevertheless ften buy the same breed a secnd time. Different explanatins have been prpsed regarding the apparent paradx that peple acquire types r breeds f dgs predispsed t disease and welfare prblems, while at the same time caring deeply abut their 4
dgs 16. Fashin Specific breeds are ften prmted by celebrities, thereby increasing their ppularity. They are in fashin and peple fllw, and the impact n the demand f a certain breed is enrmus. The media als heavily influence the demand fr certain breeds, e.g. by using them in advertisements, cmmercials and mvies. The release f mvies featuring dgs is ften assciated with an increase in the ppularity f featured breeds, fr up t 10 years after mvie release 17. Scial media als play an imprtant rle. The fact that many dgs f fashinable breeds have their wn Facebk and Twitter accunts, smetimes with millins f fllwers, certainly cntributes t their ppularity. Banning a breed is nt the slutin, as breeders are merely respnding t cnsumer s demands. It will affect the gd willing breeders mst. In the case f a ban, lk-alike dgs are likely t be bred utside the fficial breeding rganisatins, with n standards r supervisin. It is als likely that the breed will be replaced and ther prblem breeds will becme fashinable. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS APPLY TO THE DEMAND: 1. Raising awareness and educatin f the public - bth children and adults - is essential t ensure that the cnsumers are able t make infrmed decisins when purchasing a dg. Awareness-raising campaigns shuld be as brad as pssible, invlving newspapers, the Internet, scial media, radi, televisin and schls. It shuld establish a lng-term slutin; whereby future dg wners will nt nly chse t buy r adpt a healthy dg that fits their lifestyle but als becme a respnsible wner 18. The veterinary prfessin shuld play an active rle in the educatin f the public and in awareness campaigns wrking clsely with ther stakehlders. Sme cuntries and rganisatins are already very active in setting up awareness campaigns and educatin prgrams, while thers need t be encuraged t increase their activities. Sharing gd practices shuld be prmted. 2. Future dg wners Future dg wners shuld be strngly advised t seek advice BEFORE buying a dg t understand the health and welfare needs f their prpsed purchase, t meet their expectatins and t avid any disappintment afterwards. Cnsulting a veterinarian abut health and welfare issues related t a breed f chice shuld be prmted. Veterinarians shuld advise against buying animals with extreme cnfrmatins. They shuld raise awareness amng future dg wners t make sure they buy a healthy dg, whether pedigree r therwise. 3. Dg wners Veterinarians shuld ensure breed-related health and welfare prblems are nt nrmalised and cnsidered as typical fr the breed fr example the snring in brachycephalic dgs. Vets shuld educate their clients abut any prblem the dg suffers frm and explain the impact it might have n the dg s welfare. Veterinarians shuld als infrm their clients abut breeding restrictins if a dg underges surgical crrectin f extreme traits r ther prblems linked t cnfrmatin. This als applies t dgs that are medically treated- r shuld be. Breeders cannt leave the dg untreated in rder t avid exclusin f the dg frm breeding. In cuntries where n breeding restrictins exist, veterinarians shuld strngly advise against breeding and prmte neutering at the time f crrective surgery r caesarean sectin if gd practice and natinal legislatin allws. 5
Veterinarians shuld als recrd these cnditins in the medical recrd f the dg, reprt crrective surgeries t central registries wherever these are available and natinal legislatin allws. 4. Puppy cntracts Prfessinal veterinary rganisatins shuld institute and prmte veterinary health certificates and/r puppy cntracts such as thse develped in Sweden and the UK 19. A Puppy Cntract is an invaluable tl t help future dg wners t ask all the right questins when chsing a puppy, in rder t help avid the prblems that can arise frm buying a puppy frm an irrespnsible breeder. A Puppy Cntract gives all the infrmatin they need, as well as specific checklists t ensure they are buying a healthy, happy and well-scialised puppy. 5. Pre-breeding health screening parents Healthy breeding animals prduce healthier puppies, therefre there shuld be a requirement f pre-breeding health screening fr parents f puppies ffered fr sale. Prspective dg wners shuld be made aware f these pre-breeding health screenings, than they can request the results frm breeders. Buyers shuld insist n seeing the bitch when buying a puppy. 6. Celebrity endrsement The huge impact celebrities have n the ppularity f a certain dg breed makes them ideal rle mdels fr awareness campaigns. Just as they have bsted the ppularity f certain breeds, celebrities shuld be recruited t highlight breed-related health and welfare issues and asked t be invlved in prmting the buying f healthy and happy dgs. 7. Advertising and media Prducers f media, including advertisers, magazines, radi, TV and film shuld be made aware f the health and welfare issues f which sme f the ppular breeds suffer. They shuld be asked t refrain frm using any f these breeds in cmmercial activities r mvies t avid enhancing their ppularity. There shuld be a review f the prtrayal f dgs in mvies and media. In tys, cartns and film, dgs are ften depicted with versized eyes, massive heads and ther exaggerated characteristics that may appeal t peple, especially children - and that may influence them t seek ut live animals that resemble these caricatures. 6
II. SUPPLY Fr selective breeding, the mst imprtant selectin criteria shuld be the health and welfare f the dg. Breeding shuld ensure the health and welfare f the bitch, the stud dg and the ffspring. CONSIDERING THAT: Respnsibility The health and welfare f a dg and any ffspring it may prduce, fr the duratin f its life, is essentially the respnsibility f wners. Breeding standards The breeding standards are internatinal and are cmmnly written by the fficial breeding rganisatin f the cuntry f rigin f each breed. Many natinal breeding rganisatins are member f an umbrella rganisatin like FCI 20 (America and the UK have their wn rganisatins: AKC 21, and the UK KC 22 ) and sme have Assured Breeder Schemes 23. Purebred pedigree dgs are bred accrding t these breed standards. All ther dgs are bred utside the fficial breeding rganisatins and the rigin and quality f these dgs is very varied. Dgs may even riginate frm s-called puppy farm and/r be legally r illegally imprted frm abrad 24. The percentage f pedigree dgs differs per cuntry but is ften nly a small percentage f the ttal number dgs f the same breed type, especially in the case f s-called ppular breeds. Hwever, even breeders f nn-pedigree dgs tend t fllw the fficial breed standards. This means breeding rganisatins and kennel clubs have a huge respnsibility regarding the health and welfare f all dgs f the breed, irrespective f whether the dgs are pedigrees. As stewards fr all dgs f a certain breed type, they als have a mral respnsibility fr nnpedigree dgs. This is als mentined in the statutes f many f these rganisatins. Designer breeds Cntrary t ppular belief, ppular crssbreeds r s-called designer breeds are nt healthier than pedigree dgs. Any dg type, whether pedigree, crssbreed r therwise, selected fr extreme traits may face the same issues as a pedigree dg. In fact, as these breeds are nt recgnised r verseen by the FCI and natinal kennel clubs, they might face even mre prblems than pedigree dgs. Stakehlders Many different stakehlders are invlved in breeding dgs and influence the selectin f the dgs. Strategies t imprve the health and welfare f dgs may need t be specifically targeted at certain grups. Elective caesarean sectins and cnfrmatin-altering surgery Due t their anatmical cnfrmatin, many dgs f certain breeds cannt mate nr give birth in a natural manner. In sme breeds it has becme cmmn practice t use artificial inseminatin, while caesarean sectins have becme the rule, and are ften even planned ahead. 7
Many dgs f breeds with extreme cnfrmatinal traits need t underg surgical prcedures t crrect these disrders. Rather than being exceptinal, such prcedures seem t have becme the nrm in certain breeds. Althugh dgs having undergne such prcedures shuld nt be used fr breeding r shwing, many d s, especially if there is n fficial register where veterinarians, breeders and/r wners can declare such a prcedure. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS APPLY TO THE SUPPLY: 1. An integrated, cmprehensive, lng-term apprach is recmmended, taking all factrs int accunt. Fr the success f such an apprach, gd cllabratin and cmmunicatin between all stakehlders is essential 25. 2. Educatin and raising awareness f breeders, breed rganisatins, shw judges and ther stakehlders is key t ensure that breed-related health prblems are nt nrmalised and cnsidered as typical fr the breed. Any breed-related defrmity and disrder shuld be acknwledged as such. Veterinarians shuld wrk tgether with ther experts in the field t advise all stakehlders abut health and welfare issues in dgs with extreme breed-related traits and/r genetic disrders. Shw judges first pririty shuld be t prmte functinally healthy dgs. Judges shuld be trained in this respect and this breeding bjective shuld be highly priritised within the natinal and internatinal breeding rganisatins. Sme cuntries and rganisatins are already very active in setting up awareness campaigns and educatin prgrams 26. Sharing gd practices wuld be very helpful and shuld be prmted. 3. Breeding rganisatins shuld revise the breeding standards t help prevent selectin fr excessive cnfrmatinal traits. The requirements and recmmendatins shuld nt be pen t interpretatin allwing traits with a negative impact n the health and welfare f the dgs. Breed standards shuld preferably include evidence-based limits n physical features (e.g. muzzle length). If needed, appraches such as utcrssing shuld be cnsidered. 4. Further research is needed t determine evidence-based limits n physical features t eliminate r reduce the prevalence f certain diseases and imprve functin, health and welfare. 5. T ensure the health and wellbeing f pedigree and ther selectively bred dgs, genetic diversity needs t be understd and apprpriately preserved and ptimised t imprve health and welfare utcmes fr the dgs. The selectin f unhealthy phentypes and gentypes must be discuraged and exaggerated physical traits predispsing t health r welfare prblems must be avided. The mst imprtant selectin criterin shuld be the health and welfare f the dg. A mderatin f selectin against extreme mrphlgy predispsing t disease is recmmended. Slutins such as evidence-based crss-breeding prgrams shuld be cnsidered, in particular fr breeds with a narrw gene pl. Tgether with ther experts in the field veterinarians shuld be invlved giving advice regarding ptential breeding stck. 6. Prfessinal veterinary rganisatins and/r universities shuld wrk tgether with natinal and internatinal breeding rganisatins and ther stakehlders t develp 8
evidence-based internatinal standardised prtcls fr the examinatin f breeding animals, e.g. regarding respiratry functin and thermregulatin. 7. Prfessinal veterinary rganisatins and/r universities shuld wrk tgether with natinal and internatinal breeding rganisatins and ther stakehlders t set up relevant screening prgrammes (pre-breeding examinatins). Each breed culd have breed-specific pre-breeding health screening requirements based n the mrphlgy and identified genetic disrders f the breed. Veterinarians shuld take an active rle in prebreeding examinatins, including fr breeders f crssbreds cmmitted t breeding healthy dgs. 8. Prfessinal veterinary rganisatins and/r universities shuld set up and/r prmte sufficient undergraduate and pst graduate training fr veterinarians allwing an increasing number f veterinarians t take a mre active part in prviding breeding advice t breeders, breeder rganisatins and judges, related t extreme traits, genetic disrders and screening prcedures. 9. Breeders and veterinarians shuld nt cnsider caesarean sectins nrmal r breed typical. Caesarean sectins are an emergency prcedure and any bitch that cannt give natural birth due t anatmical r inherited features shuld be excluded frm further breeding 27. If the breeder expects the bitch t need caesarean sectin befrehand, the bitch shuld nt be mated. Any dg shuld be able t give birth naturally. 10. Veterinarians shuld nt perfrm artificial inseminatin t vercme physical inabilities f the dg 28 and cnsider it an accepted necessity fr certain breeds. Any dg shuld be able t mate naturally. 11. Althugh individual dgs with extreme breed-related cnfrmatin may require surgical prcedures t crrect these, these dgs shuld nt be used fr further breeding. In cuntries where n breeding restrictins exist, veterinarians shuld strngly advise against breeding and may advise neutering at the time f surgery if gd practice and natinal legislatin allws. 12. Prfessinal veterinary rganisatins shuld wrk tgether with natinal breeding rganisatins and ther stakehlders t set up registers f cnfrmatin-altering surgeries and caesarean sectins as well as relevant pre-breeding screening prgrams. 13. Prfessinal veterinary rganisatins shuld prmte and participate in systems allwing the gathering and sharing f data frm veterinary practices regarding health and welfarerelated issues in dgs with extreme cnfrmatins and/r genetic disrders. 14. Deter unscrupulus breeders thrugh the mandatry permanent identificatin and mandatry registratin f all dgs in Eurpe. This is essential t ensure traceability, cmbat fraud, avid public health risks and t help eliminate r reduce genetic disrders. A centralised Eurpean database such as Eurpetnet is needed t imprve the exchange f infrmatin in existing databases. Micrchipping shuld be the identificatin methd f chice as the use f a transpnder ffers the mst advantages fr a pan-eurpean system. 15. Legislatin shuld ensure all aspects f animal welfare are maintained, nt just physical but als behaviural and psychlgical. Prsecutin f breeders wh knwingly prduce unhealthy dgs shuld be cnsidered. T be effective and prtect animal welfare 9
standards in dg breeding and trading all legislatin shuld be enfrced. Harsh penalties shuld apply if the rules are breached, as breeding and trading dgs can be a highly lucrative business 29. The level f such penalties must be an effective deterrent. TO CONCLUDE The veterinary prfessin has an imprtant rle t play and calls fr all stakehlders t jin frces. Gd cllabratin and cmmunicatin between all stakehlders is essential t wrk twards a future in which healthy dgs naturally prduce healthy puppies. Urgent actin is needed t ensure the health and welfare f dgs that are the result f selective breeding. Educatin and raising awareness f ALL invlved is key. Breed-related health and welfare prblems shuld nt be nrmalised r cnsidered as typical fr the breed. The mst imprtant breeding selectin criteria shuld be the health and welfare f the dg. The issue is demand driven: what the public wants will be prduced. Awareness-raising campaigns and the invlvement f celebrities as rle mdels are essential t establish a lng-term slutin, where future dg wners will chse healthy, happy* dgs fitting their lifestyle and becme a respnsible wner. * t be understd as enjying gd welfare 10
ANNEX: FVE, UEVP AND FECAVA call upn: Veterinary Organisatins and/ r regulatry authrities t enhance cmmunicatin and cperatin with all ther parties invlved t cllabrate with the FCI and the Kennel Clubs in rder t breed functinally healthy dgs taking int accunt animal welfare t participate in educatin and awareness campaigns and t prmte respnsible pet wnership t share gd practices t call upn their members t prmte breeding functinally healthy dgs taking int accunt animal welfare t prmte future dg wners t cnsult a veterinarian abut health and welfare issues related t a breed f chice. t institute and prmte veterinary health certificates and/r puppy cntracts t prmte pre-breeding health screenings t wrk tgether with celebrities t highlight breed-related health and welfare issues. t make prducers f media, including advertisers, magazines, radi, TV and film aware f the health and welfare issues f which sme f the ppular breeds suffer. t prmte and/r facilitate life-lng learning f veterinary surgens n breedrelated health and welfare prblems t set up relevant screening prgrammes (pre-breeding examinatins) tgether with natinal and internatinal breeding rganisatins and/r universities and ther stakehlders t wrk tgether with natinal breeding rganisatins and ther stakehlders t set up registers f cnfrmatin-altering surgeries and caesarean sectins as well as relevant pre-breeding screening prgrams. t prmte and participate in systems allwing the gathering and sharing f data frm veterinary practices regarding health and welfare-related issues in dgs with extreme cnfrmatins and/r genetic disrders if natinal legislatin allws Veterinarians t wrk tgether with ther experts in the field t advise all stakehlders abut health and welfare issues in dgs with extreme breed-related traits and/r genetic disrders. 11
t enhance cmmunicatin and cperatin with all ther parties invlved t participate in educatin and awareness campaigns and t prmte respnsible pet wnership t ensure breed-related health and welfare prblems are nt nrmalised t educate their clients regarding breed-related health and welfare issues t advise future wners n health and welfare issues related t a breed f chice t advise against buying animals with extreme cnfrmatins. T take an active rle in pre-breeding examinatins T be invlved, tgether with ther experts in the field give advice regarding ptential breeding stck. T infrm their clients abut breeding restrictins r prmte neutering if a dg underges surgical crrectin f extreme traits r ther prblems linked t cnfrmatin if gd practice and natinal legislatin allws. T make future wners aware f pre-breeding health screenings, f which they can request the results frm breeders t recrd extreme traits r ther prblems linked t cnfrmatin in the medical recrd f the dg, t reprt data regarding health and welfare-related issues in dgs with extreme cnfrmatins and/r genetic disrders t central registries wherever these are available and natinal legislatin allws. T nt perfrm artificial inseminatin t vercme physical inabilities f the dg 30 and cnsider it an accepted necessity fr certain breeds T cnsider caesarean sectins as an emergency prcedure T advise against any (further) breeding if a bitch cannt give natural birth due t anatmical r inherited features t cmmit t life-lng learning n breed-related health and welfare prblems and breeding advice T prmte mandatry permanent identificatin and mandatry registratin f all dgs t be alert fr animal cruelty and pssible cases f neglect and t speak up against wners, breeders, traders and ther parties that wuld endanger animal health and welfare as well as public health Breeding assciatins t priritise t breed functinally healthy dgs taking int accunt animal welfare and call upn their members t d s t educate and raise awareness amngst their members regarding health and welfare issues t ensure breed-related health and welfare prblems are nt nrmalised t clsely wrk with veterinary rganisatins and/ r regulatry authrities and veterinary surgens t enhance cmmunicatin and cperatin with all ther parties invlved 12
t share gd practices t participate as rganisatin in educatin and awareness campaigns and t prmte respnsible pet wnership t revise the breeding standards t help prevent selectin fr excessive cnfrmatinal traits. t wrk tgether with researchers t set evidence based limits n physical features t cllabrate with researchers t prvide further science-based infrmatin fr breeding healthy dgs t train shw judges t make it their first pririty t prmte functinally healthy dgs taking int accunt animal welfare t set up relevant screening prgrammes (pre-breeding examinatins) tgether with veterinary rganisatins and/r universities and ther stakehlders t prmte slutins such as evidence-based crss-breeding and genetic testing. t prmte and supprt the health and welfare f ALL dgs t be alert fr animal cruelty and pssible cases f neglect and t speak ut against breeders, traders and ther parties that wuld endanger animal health and welfare as well as public health Dg breeders T cnsider the health and welfare f the dg the mst imprtant selectin criteria in case f breeding. t breed under circumstances that d nt cmprmise the health and welfare f the bitch, the stud dg and the ffspring. t cnsider slutins such as evidence-based crss-breeding t ensure breed-related health and welfare prblems are nt nrmalised t wrk clsely with veterinary surgens and all ther parties invlved t share gd practices t participate in educatin and awareness campaigns and t prmte respnsible pet wnership t btain and keep their animals as a respnsible wner t ensure all dgs are crrectly identified and registered t be alert fr animal cruelty and pssible cases f neglect and t speak ut against ther breeders, traders and ther parties that wuld endanger animal health and welfare as well as public health Dg wners and future dg wners t cnsult a veterinary surgen befre buying a dg t btain and lk after their animals as a respnsible wner t have their dgs identified and registered 13
t be alert fr animal cruelty and pssible cases f neglect and t speak ut against breeders, traders and ther parties that wuld endanger animal health and welfare as well as public health, and infrm the cmpetent authrities Universities, educatrs, researchers t enhance cmmunicatin and cperatin with all ther parties invlved t participate in educatin and awareness campaigns and t prmte respnsible pet wnership t prmte and/r facilitate sufficient undergraduate and pst graduate training fr veterinarians n breed-related health and welfare prblems and breeding advise t determine evidence-based limits n physical features r develp functin tests t prmte and/r facilitate further research t eliminate r reduce the prevalence f certain diseases and imprve functin, health and welfare. t wrk tgether with prfessinal veterinary rganisatins, natinal and internatinal breeding rganisatins and ther stakehlders t develp evidencebased internatinal standardised prtcls fr the examinatin f breeding animals Nn-Gvernmental Organisatins (NGOs) t jin frces with ther NGO s and stakehlders in cntributing t public awareness and educatin abut btaining, keeping and breeding dgs t be alert fr animal cruelty and pssible cases f neglect and t speak ut against breeders, traders and ther parties that wuld endanger animal health and welfare as well as public health Prducers f media, including advertisement, magazines, radi, TV and film t participate in educatin and awareness campaigns and t prmte respnsible pet wnership t refrain frm using any ppular cmprmised breeds in cmmercial activities like advertisement r mvies t review the prtrayal f dgs with exaggerated characteristics in mvies and thers media and start aviding using these caricatures. Pliticians, legislatrs and administratrs t prpse, at EU and natinal level, relevant harmnised legislatin t raise the standard regarding the breeding and nline trade f dgs. t take all necessary measures t enfrce legislatin and prtect animal welfare standards in dg breeding and trading establishments acrss Eurpe. 14
t apply harsh penalties if the rules are breached, as breeding and trading puppies is a highly lucrative business and the level f penalties must be an effective deterrent. t prvide sufficient means and resurces fr educating the cnsumer and prmting respnsible wnership t prmte and supprt the breeding f functinally healthy dgs t make bth identificatin and registratin f dgs in Eurpe mandatry at EU level t cme frward with a Cmmunity Animal Welfare Law, which includes cmpanin animal issues such as breeding 15
References 1 Genetic disease: Genetic disease is a brad terminlgy that has been applied t anything frm mngenetic cnditins caused by specific genes and mutatin, e.g., CLAD in Irish setters and numerus PRA variants, t thse simply indicated t have a genetic cmpnent in their aetilgy based n breed predispsitin r a familiar pattern f segregatin, e.g., cmplex diseases like lymphcytic thyriditis, atpic dermatitis and diabetes mellitus in many breeds 2 This paper fcuses n dgs, which des nt exclude the fact that the health and welfare f ther cmpanin animal species like cats and rabbits can als be affected by selective breeding 3 Bth Darwin and Linnaeus described less than 20 types f dgs. Since the mid-19th century and the establishment f Kennel Clubs, pedigree dg registries and s-called breed standards, the number f ppulatins defined as breeds have increased dramatically. 4 The internatinal rganisatin Federatin Cynlgique Internatinal (FCI) http://www.fci.be/en/presentatinf-ur-rganisatin-4.html 5 The dg ppulatin in the Western wrld can be divided int fur grups: purebred pedigree dgs; dgs that are purebred and belng t a specific breed but that lack a pedigree; s-called designer breed that are selectively crssed between ne r mre breeds; and randm r accidental crsses between breeds frm Cmpanin Animal Ethics, - Peter Sandøe, Sandra Crr, and Clare Palmer -2016 publicatin f the Universities Federatin fr Animal Welfare (UFAW) 6 Selectively r randm crssed between ne r mre breeds 7 Deliberately prducing ffspring, typically thrugh intentinal mating r inseminatin. Definitin frm Cmpanin Animal Ethics, - Peter Sandøe, Sandra Crr, and Clare Palmer -2016 publicatin f the Universities Federatin fr Animal Welfare (UFAW) 8 Canine Genetic Health - Rles and Respnsibilities f the veterinary prfessin - Åke Hedhammar DVM, PhD, Prfessr Internal Medicine small animals, Dipl. ECVIM (CA), Department f Clinical Sciences, Swedish University f Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden Published in the Eurpean Jurnal f Cmpanin Animal practice (EJCAP) Octber 2013. 9 Cmpanin Animal Ethics, - Peter Sandøe, Sandra Crr, and Clare Palmer -2016 publicatin f the Universities Federatin fr Animal Welfare (UFAW) 10 There is sme evidence that crssbred dgs are mre ften euthanased fr behaviural reasns than purebred frm Mikkelsen, J.&Lund, J.D. (2000) Euthanasia f dgs due t behaviural prblems; an epidemilgical study f dgs in Denmark, with a special fcus n prblems f aggressin Published in the Eurpean Jurnal f Cmpanin Animal practice 10 (EJCAP) 11 1969 Jurnal f Small Animal Practice Vl.10 12 French bulldgs set t knck labradrs ff tp spt and becme the UK's mst ppular canine The Telegraph 12-02-2017: http://www.telegraph.c.uk/news/2017/02/12/french -bulldgs-setknck-labradrs-tp-spt-becme-uks-ppular/ 13 Article 13 f the Treaty n the Functining f the EU clearly reads " shall, since animals are sentient beings, ", s accrding t Eurpean legislatin they are cnsidered sentient beings. Nevertheless, in mst cuntries in the trade laws they are still cnsidered «gds» in certain circumstances". https://ec.eurpa.eu/fd/animals/welfare_en 14 http://ec.eurpa.eu/cnsumers/cnsumer_rights/rights-cntracts/sales-guarantee/index_en.htm 16
15 In the Eurpean Unin the cnsumer is prtected by a legal guarantee perid f tw years 15. Hwever, the prduct defects shuld be identified in the first six-mnths after purchase. If it is identified after six mnths, but within the tw-year legal perid the cnsumer must be able t prve that the defect existed at the time f delivery. 16 Why d peple buy dgs with ptential welfare prblems related t extreme cnfrmatin and inherited disease? A representative study f Danish wners f fur small dg breeds - P. Sandøe, S. V. Kndrup, P. C. Bennett, B. Frkman, I Meyer, H. F. Prschwsky, J. A. Serpell, T. B. Lund 17 (2014) Dg Mvie Stars and Dg Breed Ppularity: A Case Study in Media Influence n Chice - Stefan Ghirlanda, Albert Acerbi, Harld Herzg http://jurnals.pls.rg/plsne/article?id=10.1371/jurnal.pne.0106565 18 CARODOG. http://www.cardg.eu 19 https://puppycntract.rspca.rg.uk/hme 20 http://www.fci.be/en/presentatin-f-ur-rganisatin-4.html 21 http://www.akc.rg/abut/missin/ 22 https://www.thekennelclub.rg.uk 23 https://www.thekennelclub.rg.uk/breeding/assured-breeder-scheme/ 24 Wrking twards respnsible dg trade in Eurpe - The psitin f the veterinary prfessin in Eurpe - Prfit shuld never take pririty ver animal health and welfare - Psitin paper f the FVE, UEVP and FECAVA http://www.fve.rg/uplads/publicatins/dcs/066_wrking_twards_respnsible_dg_trade adptedfvefe cavaga.pdf 25 Where pssible t crdinate resurces and prvide a single natinal platfrm fr cllated infrmatin that highlights all resurces available, making it easily accessible t interested stakehlders. 26 Germany : «Nicht süß sndern gequält" : http://www.wir-sind-tierarzt.de/2016/10/btk-flyer-qualzucht-beimps-und-c/ Netherlands: KNMvD standpunt ver brachycephale hnden en katten: https://www.knmvd.nl/verns/standpunten/item/10889458/standpunt-ver-brachycephale-hnden-en-katten Prtugal: Psiçã APMVEAC relativa a raças braquicéfalas : http://www.apmveac.pt/site/uplad/files/braqui_prvet.pdf Switzerland : Psitinspapier de SVK-ASMPV Kürzköpfigkeit bei hunden http://www.apmveac.pt/site/uplad/files/braqui_prvet.pdf UK : Brachycephalic wrking grup : https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/bas/resurces-1/brachycephalic-wrkinggrup-bwg BVA plicy psitin n brachycephalic dgs : https://www.bva.c.uk/news-campaigns-andplicy/plicy/cmpanin-animals/brachycephalic-dgs/#plicy BSAVA statement n inherited diseases and exaggerated characteristics https://www.bva.c.uk/newscampaigns-and-plicy/plicy/cmpanin-animals/brachycephalic-dgs/#plicy 27 FCI breeding strategies Article 6: A bitch shuld be excluded frm further breeding if she is unable t give natural birth, due t anatmy r inherited inertia, r if she is unable t take care f the newbrn puppies, due t mentality r inherited agalactia. http://www.fci.be/en/breeding-42.html 28 FCI breeding strategies Article 6: Any dg shuld be able t mate naturally. Artificial inseminatin shuld nt be used t vercme physical inabilities f the dg. http://www.fci.be/en/breeding-42.html 29 Eurpean Cmmissin. 2015. Study n in the welfare f dgs and cats invlved in cmmercial practice. 17