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Breed
Councils and KC tackle convention
THE
KENNEL Club is hosting a meeting for representatives of all
canine breed councils for those breeds under possible threat
if the British Government becomes a signatory to the European
Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, writes Nick Mays.
The meeting is due to take place next Thursday, February 13th
under the aegis of the special Study Group set up in 2002, consisting
of representatives from the General Committee, KC/BSAVA Scientific
Committee, the Breed Standards and Stud Book Sub-Committee and
staff members.
Initiatives to obviate the need to sign up to the Convention
have been devised. These include the identification of changes
made to Breed Standards over the last 20 years to safeguard
health and welfare, as well as new additions to the faults clauses
of all Breed Standards and Kennel Clubjudging
publications, to stress the importance of considering the health
aspects of dogs being judged.
Next week’s meeting will hear the views of parties involved
with those breeds under possible threat of restriction or banning,
as has been the case in many EU countries which have accepted
and signed the Convention.
A spokesperson for the KC Press Office told OUR DOGS: ‘As
per the Kennel Club press release of 18 June 2002, the Kennel
Club is currently involved in the process of inviting particular
breeds mentioned in the Convention to actively participate in
considering the situation. A report on the progress that has
been made by the Study Group will be issued later on this year.’
The Kennel Club has in recent months been giving close consideration
to the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals,
which has already been adopted by many European Union member
states. As yet, the UK government has not signed up to the Convention,
and the Kennel Club recently had the opportunity to put forward
its views on the matter to DEFRA Minister, Mr Elliot Morley,
as has recently been reported in the canine press.
For many years, when Breed Standards have been reviewed by the
Kennel Club, health and welfare aspects have always been carefully
considered. A detailed consultation process has been established
to facilitate feedback from Breed Clubs/Councils and generally
promote better awareness of these aspects.
Breed Clubs themselves have taken steps to further this by incorporating
statements on healthy breeding into their Codes of Ethics.
A great deal has therefore already been achieved. However, over
the course of the next few months, particular breeds highlighted
within the Convention will receive individual consideration,
in which Breed Clubs/Councils will be invited to actively participate,
as is the case with the meeting staged at Clarges Street next
week.
In a press statement issued in 2002 the KC said: ‘The Kennel
Club is endeavouring to persuade the government that it has
suitable mechanisms in place to ensure that the breeds it recognises
and supports remain healthy. In so doing, any need for the adoption
of far-reaching European legislation, which could potentially
threaten the future of some breeds, will be totally unwarranted.’
Last year the Government reviewed whether or not the UK should
sign the European Convention of Pet Animals. Plans to adopt
the Convention via the proposed Animal Welfare Bill have been
seriously considered by DEFRA .
The convention, originally adopted in 1987 contains a number
of clauses which are causing great concern to dog breeders,
as well as fanciers from many other livestock fancies. The council
of Docked Breeds has previously stated that, if ratified, the
Convention could see the banning of up to 100 breeds of dog
and many breeds of cat.
The convention is being considered by the Minister for Animal
Health and Welfare, Elliot Morley. Quoted last summer, Mr Morley
said that while he was ‘sensitive’ to the concerns
of animal breeders that some breeds were under threat, he considered
parts of the Convention to be ‘logical’. ‘If
the breeding of some animals is causing suffering it is an issue
to consider’, said Mr Morley.
The Kennel Club wrote to Mr Morley to express its concerns over
the issue and to seek clarification on his and the Government's
standpoint of the signing of the Convention and have since met
with Mr Morley on this matter. The minister is said to have
‘an open mind’, but is still drawn to many of the
clauses contained in the Convention.
Reassurance
As
well as several dog and cat breeds being at risk due to ‘abnormalities’
of their physique, another clause would seek to ban 'surgical
operations for the purpose of modifying the appearance of
a pet animal or for other non-curative purpose', which would
see an end to tail docking and the removal of dew claws.
Mr Morley said he was seeking clarification on some aspects
of the Convention and attempted to give breeders some reassurance,
saying: "We are well aware of the implications to some
breeds and are obviously sensitive to that issue," he
said. ‘The majority of the Convention is fine and we
have no objections to it but we do want to be sure that we
are not prohibiting certain established breeds by signing
it.’
The Minister added that he will ‘consult widely’
on the convention and seek the views of the KC and "all
mainstream groups" who were ‘welcome to contact
him’.
‘I would like to get it sorted out as quickly as possible
so we know where we stand on it. I am not being pressured
to do so but there are animal welfare groups who are keen
for us to sign it. Formal consultation will take place later,
but I have no time scale I can give you.’ added Mr Morley.
The issue of the Convention was raised in 2000 when the Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons took it upon themselves to
‘seek views’ on the issue of signing the Convention
from a large number of animal fancies, groups and welfare
organisations and to bring pressure on the Government to ratify
the Convention. However, they were inundated with responses
from many groups who totally opposed the Convention and the
RCVS' interference in the matter. Eventually, the RCVS was
forced into a humiliating climb-down on the issue, and were
aided out of their self-inflicted entrenchment by the KC.
Already news of the latest 'review' of the convention has
sparked concern amongst many animal fanciers, and the Internet
has been buzzing with messages to oppose the signing of the
convention. Moves are already afoot for officials from all
of the mainstream animal fancies – which would also include
Rabbits, Fancy Rats, Hamsters and other rodent species –
to stage a meeting along with the Kennel Club and the Governing
Council of the Cat Fancy and present a united front to the
Government on the issue.
Caroline Kisko, Secretary of the KC told OUR DOGS previously:
‘All dog owners, and owners of cats, rats and other small
rodents should be concerned regarding this issue, as it will
have wide -ranging implications for many. When the RCVS raised
the matter in consultation in 2000, we received a huge postbag,
predominantly from Breed Clubs, representing potentially over
70,000 dissatisfied parties.’
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