Pedigree Dogs Exposed - 5 Years On...

It’s 5 years since Pedigree Dogs Exposed, the documentary which uncovered the animal welfare scandal facing pedigree dogs due to way they’re bred, aired on the BBC. So what's been done to improve the welfare of pedigree dogs since then? Five years on, the RSPCA has produced a report highlighting what still needs to be done to reverse the welfare crisis facing dogs. Programme maker Jemima Harrison, who produced and directed Pedigree Dogs Exposed, has backed the RSPCA’s call for urgent action. She said: “Five years on from Pedigree Dogs Exposed, the Kennel Club is still in denial about the extent of the problems. “It is unethical to continue to breed dogs like Pugs and Bulldogs which have such flat faces that they cannot breathe – and yet the Kennel Club registers these breeds in their growing thousands and these dogs continue to be celebrated at Kennel Club shows. “The Kennel Club has done very little to tackle the suffering these dogs endure, despite an increasing amount of science which both articulates the issues and offers solutions. “The dogs continue to pay a huge price.” The RSPCA have acknowledged the progress made by the Kennel Club and dog breeders, including the development of DNA and health screening tests for hereditary diseases and the introduction of veterinary checks on ‘high profile’ breeds. However, the nation’s biggest animal welfare charity believes much more should have been done in the five years since Pedigree Dogs Exposed was first broadcast on BBC One in 2008. RSPCA chief vet James Yeates said: “Although some progress has been made by the dog world to address the issues raised in Pedigree Dogs Exposed, it has not been nearly enough. Five years on the problems are still far from being solved. “We are concerned that many pedigree dogs are still suffering because they’re bred and judged primarily for how they look rather than with health, welfare and temperament in mind. “We believe that meaningful action is urgently needed in order to make a real improvement to the welfare of pedigree dogs.” Three major reports were published on dog breeding in the UK in the 18 months that followed Pedigree Dogs Exposed. All three reports concluded that the welfare issues associated with pedigree dog breeding are very serious, and included a series of recommendations for possible ways forward. Many of the recommendations are solely within the Kennel Club’s control, and have not been acted upon. Some of the changes the RSPCA is calling for include:

• An independent review of Kennel Club breed standards
• Dog shows, such as Crufts, should judge dogs on their health, welfare and behaviour, rather than their appearance
• Revision of Kennel Club registration rules to prevent the registration of offspring from matings between second degree relatives (e.g. grandparent-grandchild or aunt/uncle-nephew/niece matings)

We’re calling on people who agree that the health and welfare of dogs should be prioritised over their looks to sign the petition calling for a change to the Kennel Club’s breed standards.

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