Dogs Trust: Dog manifesto

Tuesday, 9 March 2010 12:00 AM

Dogs Trust is the UK's largest dog welfare charity. We have eighteen state of the art rehoming centres across the UK and Ireland and our work makes a real difference to the lives of dogs in the UK and beyond.

Founded in 1891, Dogs Trust, formerly known as the National Canine Defence League (NCDL), has
always campaigned on dog-welfare related issues to ensure a safe and happy future for our four-legged friends. The health and happiness of every dog is at the heart of all our efforts and we never destroy a healthy dog.

In the last year alone we have found new homes for over 14,000 dogs and we have helped to neuter nearly 35,000. We have also carried out 1,846 educational workshops, established our newest rehoming centre in Dublin and set up our latest international project in Malta.

We are calling on politicians and policy makers to think carefully about the wider social impact of dog welfare and how important dogs are to us as individuals and to our communities.

The Dogs Trust 'Doggy Manifesto' sets out our proposals to the political parties for commitments we would like to see them make in the run up to the next General Election.

. The introduction of compulsory microchipping.
. Measures to protect the welfare of Greyhounds from cradle to grave.
. A constructive dialogue on the social problem of dangerous and status dogs.
. The introduction of all promised Secondary Legislation under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
. A total ban on the sale of puppies in pet shops.
. Action to address the welfare concerns associated with selective breeding practices.

Compulsory Microchipping
The 2009 stray dog survey* revealed that over 107,000 dogs were picked up as strays by Local
Authorities. Only 42% of these dogs were successfully reunited with their owners.

The numbers of strays dealt with by Local Authorities has increased by a staggering 11% in the last year, with over 9,000 unclaimed strays being euthanised as a result. Dogs Trust is now calling on the Government to introduce compulsory microchipping for all dogs in the UK.

A policy that requires all dogs to be permanently identified would ensure that many more strays are returned home, reducing both the number of dogs destroyed and costs for Local Authorities.

The Control of Dogs Order 1992 currently imposes a requirement on owners to ensure that their dogs wear a collar and tag when in public. Dogs Trust believes the time is right to review the Order to make permanent identification a requirement.

The ability to rapidly identify a stray dog and return it to its owner has a clear welfare benefit for the dog. Most dog wardens are already equipped with microchip readers and therefore we believe that enforcement would not result in significant additional costs to the Local Authority. Indeed we believe considerable cost savings would be made by reducing the need for kennelling.

Greyhounds
Around 10,000 Greyhounds are bred each year for use by the racing industry. Most dogs are past their racing peak and are retired by the age of five because of injury or from loss of racing form.

We want to see the following measures embodied in effective legislation to ensure a minimum
welfare standard for all Greyhounds:

. The introduction of Statutory Regulation.
. One system to track all Greyhounds from cradle to grave.
. An injury database which can be used for research to reduce injuries and wastage of dogs.
. The independent and regular inspection of breeders' and trainers' kennels by an appropriate inspector authorised by DEFRA.
. A requirement that Greyhounds are transported in cages which enable them to stand up and turn around.
. Greyhounds to be euthanised by a vet only if rehoming is not an option.

Status Dogs and Dangerous Dogs
The issue of dangerous dogs and protecting the public remains an important social issue. The implementation of the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) has not prevented dog attacks, despite having devastating consequences for the welfare of certain breed types.

Dogs Trust considers the following commitments are essential to begin to deal with this problem:

. Rather than penalising certain breed types, which compromises the welfare of the animal, Dogs Trust wants to see a clear legislative focus on 'deed not breed' and a new dialogue on the social problem of 'dangerous owners'.
. Action to tackle the worrying trend in Bull breed-type dogs being used in anti-social behaviour. Desired for their 'status' appeal, these dogs are often used for gang related activity or to intimidate, and are frequently ill treated and/or abandoned.
. The implementation of a cross-departmental strategy to address this issue, involving the Home Office, the Department of Health, DEFRA, and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Dog Welfare
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 was the most important shake up of animal welfare legislation for over a century.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, people have a duty of care not only to ensure that an animal
doesn't suffer unnecessarily, but also to take reasonable steps to ensure that the animal's welfare needs are met. This was great news for dogs, however Dogs Trust believes there is still more to be done.

. We want to see a total ban on tail docking and on the use of shock devices across the UK.
. The Animal Welfare Act was an 'enabling' Act, providing a general framework for the protection for animals. The Government must introduce detailed Secondary Legislation to address specific issues as soon as possible.
. Local Authorities should ensure that practical and consistent arrangements are made to deal with stray dogs out of hours.
. Local Authorities must ensure that officers responsible for inspecting, for example boarding kennels, Greyhound racing tracks and breeding establishments, have a level of competency in their specialism, and whose details are recorded on approved lists to be held by the Secretary of State.
. All Local Authorities should appoint a dedicated Animal Welfare Officer, with specialist training and qualifications.

Pet Vending and Dog Breeding
Sadly, many dogs are bred for a quick profit by intensive breeders who have little or no regard for their basic needs. Many of these battery farmed dogs end up for sale in pet shops

A lack of knowledge about how to properly go about acquiring a puppy results in many people
unwittingly supporting the trade in puppy farmed and trafficked dogs. To promote the welfare of
puppies and breeding bitches Dogs Trust considers the following measures to be essential:

. Proper welfare standards must be rigorously enforced by Local Authorities in any premises where puppies are bred or sold. Local Authorities must actively prosecute those individuals breeding dogs on a large scale without a licence.
. The introduction of Secondary Legislation on Pet Vending under the Animal Welfare Act which would prohibit the sale of puppies in pet shops.
. We want to see action to address the practice of breeding dogs to produce changes in bodily form and/or function which are detrimental to their health or quality of life.
. Close working with the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) to ensure that all online, print and classified advertising contains appropriate welfare messages, and that publishers do not advertise dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act or those from establishments which are not fit for the breeding of animals.

Download Dogs Trust Dog Manifesto for more information

For more information on Dogs Trust visit the website.

For further information or to discuss any other dog-related matter, please contact Rachel Cunningham, Public Affairs Manager at 020 7833 7620 or at publicaffairs@dogstrust.org.uk.

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