Recently on British TV a programe was aired where the truth was exposed on some of the issues surrounding "ethical breeding". The programme "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" outlined the genetic faults of numerous breeds, such as hip displacea in several large breeds, digestive disorders in GSD's, eye problems in B Collies, severe breathing problems with all the breeds who have flat faces (Bulldogs, Pugs, Pekes, etc) and highlighted the opinion of many that developing and continuing these breeds of dogs is cruel and not condusive to the betterment of any of the breeds. One of the breds highlighted was the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel of which a very high percentage suffer from a severe neurological disorder.
The programme also highlighted some of the most terrible conditions and breeding practices of so called "ethical" registered breeders. One usually associates such people with the back yard breeders, but the investigations showed that many of the "ethical" breeders were not much better than the supposed back yard competition ............... mmmn makes you think doesnt it!
I will try and get the report on the origional "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" for the next post!
This is some of the newest news from the UK.
Crufts On TV: Nicky Paull and The BVA Have Got it Wrong
July 12, 2009 by Ryan O'Meara
In the week that niche broadcaster More 4 announced it would screen Crufts in a ‘new style’, head of the British Veterinary Association Nicky Paull said: “We welcome More 4’s commitment to screening Crufts as a way to highlight health and welfare issues and inform viewers in an interesting and engaging way.”
This is, plainly, misguided and a frankly galling line of thought,one which again raises questions over the role of vets in the reform of canine health.
Following the head of the BVA’s support of televising Crufts, K9 Magazine spoke to a number of vets and asked for their views on the decision for their professional association to back the re-telvising of the largest British dog show.
The overriding view of the vets we spoke to was that the world of pedigree dog shows had not only done nothing for the benefit of canine health, it was one of the single most significant contributing factors to the problems affecting many thousands of dogs in many thousands of households.
“I am amazed that Nicky Paull has given this support. She speaks for our profession, as the head of the veterinary organisation that represents us and I an say with great certainty that neither I nor my colleagues feel the same way that what we needed was for Crufts to be back on the TV. It’s never educated anyone in the past and I’m 100% certain it won’t do in the future. I’m stunned.”
“If the documentary aired on the BBC last year showed us one thing it is that there is a massive problem that needs tackling amongst breeders and the pedigree dog world and that simply hasn’t happened yet. So why on earth is the head of the BVA coming out in support of Crufts being televised again? I thought we were starting to get somewhere. I thought that finally our clients were asking more of the right questions about health. I think this sends out a really confusing message about where vets actually stand on the issue of breeding for looks.” - said one of the vets, practicing for more than 23 years, who spoke to us.
Ms Paull’s logic is obscure and odd.
Suggesting that by giving airtime to the dog show, described by the RSCPA’s chief vet as ‘a parade of mutants’ it can help to “highlight health and welfare issues and inform viewers in an interesting and engaging way” is like saying we should be airing dog fights in order to educate and inform people as to the dangers and welfare horrors of that sport.
It’s an offensive suggestion and one which misses the greater point; that dog shows still have questions to answer and that nowhere near enough has been done to even begin the reforms in welfare and health standards that are required for dogs to be given a brighter future.
The BBC dropped Crufts for a REASON. The RSPCA walked away from Crufts for a REASON. The PDSA backed out of Crufts for a REASON. THOUSANDS of dog owners felt disgust at what Pedigree Dogs Exposed highlighted, for a REASON - but Nicky Paull obviously knows something that all of those organisations and well-informed people don’t. She has sold out dogs and sold out vets by giving support to Crufts on TV when there is still an ongoing report being conducted, which the BVA themselves are in involved with. It raises serious questions.
Speak to your own vet, see how much they support the view that Crufts is an ideal platform to highlight welfare issues in dogs. It’s an absurd idea -UNLESS, of course, the idea is to show dogs such as Bulldogs, Pekingnese and others and to explain how and why the dogs on your screen are very likely to die before they reach the age of 8, will suffer with a number of breathing problems, won’t be able to go out in hot weather and basically flash up a massive health warning on the screen saying ‘Do not buy this dog breed unless you REALLY want to spend a lot of time at the vets” - and the chance of that happening, as we all know, are nil.
After all, the BBC proposed a coverage of Crufts that would be more focussed on highlighting the health concerns, eliminating breeds that are ‘at risk’ and generally using the event as a platform to tell the truth about the dogs in question - and their proposal was REJECTED.
Let’s not kid ourselves. Would the KC really prefer Crufts on More 4 - a tiny channel in comparison to the world famous BBC - if More 4’s intention was to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the state of health of ALL the pedigree breeds it will showcase to its minority interest viewers?
Are we really expected to believe that millions of dog lovers will tune in to More 4 to get an education about the health and welfare of pedigree dogs, by watching Crufts? Would we tune in to watch a world heavyweight boxing match in order to get an education about brain damage or would we watch the boxing because we simply enjoy watching boxing, regardless of the well-known downsides and consequences associated with that sport?
Don’t treat us like fools, BVA. We’re not. And neither are vets.
The vets we spoke to, rather than suggest you watch a controlled, entertainment event where dogs are there to be gawped at, were more enthused by the idea that viewers be invited to watch what happens daily in their surgeries up and down the country each day, to allow viewers to sit and watch the countless operations, treatments and procedures they are tasked with in helping to find solutions and care for diseased dogs who are suffering as a result of ‘competitive’ dog breeding.
If they REALLY wanted the public to have welfare issues ‘highlighted’, Crufts is probably ideal - but only if it is shown with constant warnings and a stream of cautions about the dogs. This won’t happen. Mark my words, this will not happen, for reasons already stated.
Crufts is at the very heart of competitive dog breeding and the notion that by putting it on the TV, the viewer will be given the full facts as to the problems within breeding and competitive dog exhibition is laughably short sighted and plainly wrong. One would have credited the head of the BVA with more sense than to assume otherwise.
Do we now ask channel 4 to brodcast live muggings in order to ‘highlight’ the harmful effect they have on families and victims?
Do we ask them to broadcast bull-fighting in order to ‘highligh’ the terrible suffering that goes on and to educate the public as to the welfare implications of that particular sport? Do we also expect that the broadcast coverage of these events to be done in association with the very body who organises the event in question and who profit from it?
Crufts has not been given a clean bill of health. Since Pedigree Dogs Exposed, the Kennel Club rushed through a set of breed standard changes, none of which have even had the time to take effect, let alone be measured - they outlawed first generation matings (Wow! How progressive of them) and they batted back the RSPCA review - which supported EVERYTHING that Pedigree Dogs Exposed revealed - as meaningless. There is another review currently underway - The Bateson review - which the BVA are involved with. So one is left to wonder how or why has Nicky Paull reached the conclusion that what the UK’s dogs and dog owners need is for Crufts to be back on TV after a year away?
K9 Magazine asked the question last year: Are vets playing their part in the fight against bad breeding practice and genetic disease in pedigree dogs?
Well that’s a question that is now even more shrouded in doubt.
MOST vets support better welfare and breeding practices for pedigree dogs. Nicky Paull’s support for a non reformed Crufts to find its way back on to TV is a shocker. It shows a lack of judgment and it is offensive to EVERY dog that has had to suffer as a result of horrendous breeding practices that have yet to be reformed and corrected and will be proudly showcased on More4 in 2010.
That none of the major broadcasters took up the opportunity to broadcast Crufts - the BBC, ITV, Sky etc - says a lot. That even Channel 4 wouldn’t put it on its ‘main’ channel is revealing. Yet the support of the head of the BVA is what raises the biggest questions.
The vets K9 Magazine have spoken to are amazed and dissapointed. One step forward, two steps back - and the head of their own veterinary association is happily leading those steps, in the wrong direction.Author DetailsRyan O'Meara is editor-in-chief of K9 Magazine, the lifestyle magazine for dog lovers.
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