Pet owners are key to dog breed debate, says The Blue Cross

ANIMAL CHARITY The Blue Cross has announced that it will attend Crufts - one of the world’s largest dog shows - in order to support pet owners who are concerned about the health and welfare of pedigree dogs.

By championing the pet owner and providing them with practical and reliable advice, the charity believes that individuals can really influence the issue of hereditary disease through their informed choices and by supporting responsible breeding practices.

Kim Hamilton, The Blue Cross chief executive, said: ‘While there is some very positive work going on at high-level to tackle the problem of inherited diseases in dogs, we mustn’t forget the millions of pet owners in this country who also have a powerful voice. The British public has voted with its feet on other animal welfare issues in the past and we believe that by making the right choices, every single pet owner can make a difference to the health of pedigree dogs.’

In a survey of over 1,000 pet owners commissioned by the charity last month, 74% admitted they were concerned about the issue of inherited health defects in some dog breeds but 38% felt powerless to do anything about it. A further 33% of pet owners thought they could help reduce the problem if they knew more about it but 65% did not know where to find reliable information about the health and welfare of pedigree dogs.

As one of the UK’s oldest animal charities with a network of animal adoption centres and hospitals, The Blue Cross sees the daily impact of irresponsible breeding practises on all species of companion animal and is well placed to offer practical advice to pet owners. Following the controversial BBC documentary on pedigree dogs last year, the charity is keen to ensure that pet owners can access information from a trusted, independent source.

The Blue Cross stand at Crufts will feature guidance for pet owners on the health and welfare of pedigree dogs and the charity’s experienced animal behaviour advisers and veterinary professionals will be on hand to answer questions about how to find and keep a healthy pet.
Further advice is available to download free from www.bluecross.org.uk and www.allaboutpets.org.uk - the charity’s online community for pet lovers - which hosts over 70 pet care advice leaflets from The Blue Cross.

Ms Hamilton added: ‘We know that three quarters of pet owners are concerned about inherited health defects in dogs, so it’s important that we are at Crufts to reach many thousands of dog owners and give them practical advice on how they can help achieve a brighter future for our pets.’

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