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15.04.2010/ watering down of puppy farm legislation
Groups Warning of Risks of "Watering Down"Puppy Farm Legislation A coalition of a number of groups associated with dogs in Ireland has issued a joint statement reflecting their concern that calls to amend aspects of the Dog Breeding Bill could result in ineffective legislation that fails in its primary purpose - the safeguarding of animal health and welfare.
Veterinary Ireland (the representative body for vets) have joined with the Irish Kennel Club and animal welfare groups including the ISPCA, DSPCA, Blue Cross and Dogs Trust to express their broad support for the Dog Breeding Bill that is currently passing through the Seanad and the Dail.
Joe Collins, President of Veterinary Ireland, states that his organisation has for many years been calling for legislation to control dog breeding, and especially the so-called "puppy farms". According to Mr Collins, "Ireland has become known as the "puppy farm capital of Europe", exporting tens of thousands of puppies annually to the United Kingdom and Europe, where the breeding of dogs is now well regulated. The unregulated Irish trade contributes to an animal welfare nightmare for the RSPCA and other dog charities in the UK. Low quality, battery-bred Irish puppies exported to the United States have seriously damaged the reputation of Irish dog breeding in North America, too. Licensing and monitoring of the industry in Ireland is long overdue, to ensure that animal welfare standards are improved and to restore Ireland's international reputation in this area".
The legislation will not have any impact on responsible individuals who breed small numbers of dogs as a hobby or as a small enterprise. Only larger scale breeders, with more than six breeding bitches will be liable to licensing and inspection. "Additionally" states Mr Collins, "the new regulations will not be draconian, and those breeders who are already keeping dogs in reasonable living conditions, with adequate attention to the animals' health and welfare needs, will have nothing to fear from their implementation".
Sean Delmar, of the Irish Kennel Club states that "The proposed legislation has been drafted following extensive consultation and submissions from all interested parties, including the large scale dog breeders. As such, it already represents a balanced approach to addressing this important welfare issue for the dogs in our country. The Irish Kennel Club has already made some suggestions for very minor adjustments to some of the detail of the bill, but these will strengthen rather than take away from the overall aim to improve animal welfare,"
The principal animal welfare groups supporting the joint statement, including ISPCA, DSPCA, Blue Cross and Dogs Trust, have already issued their own commentary on the details of the Dog Breeding legislation.
It has been claimed in certain quarters that the proposed legislation will undermine traditional country pursuits; however the principal aim of the Breeding Establishments Bill is to regulate and safeguard the welfare of dogs and to protect the consumer. It should in no way be seen as an attack on any rural activities. We believe no organisation or group should be above regulation and inspection under the terms of the Bill.
The combined group of organisations is calling for the Government to stand firm on this issue and act now to safeguard animal welfare.
For more press information and interviews with:
Blue Cross please contact
Christina Conneely
The Irish Blue Cross,
15A Goldenbridge Ind Est,
Tyrconnell Road,
Inchicore,
Dublin 8.
01 416 3030
Mobile: 0868099560
Email - chris@bluecross.ie
Dublin SPCA please contact
Orla Aungier
Operations Manager
01-4935502
Mobile: 087 6776552
Email - media@dspca.ie
Dogs Trust please contact
Kathrina Bentley
Communication Department
DDI - 01 - 879 1829
Mobile -086 021 3010
Email - Kathrina.bentley@dogstrust.ie
Irish Kennel Club please contact
Sean Delmar
Fotrell House
Harolds Cross Bridge
Dublin 6W
01453300
Mobile -
Email -
ISPCA please contact
Barbara Bent,
Chairperson ISPCA
0871264048
Email :bentshambola@eircom.net
Emily Maher
Carr Communications
Mobile - 087 7887880
Email: Emily.maher@carrcommunications.ie
Veterinary Ireland please contact
Mr Joe Collins MVB MRCVS CertEP CertVR,
President,
Veterinary Ireland
13 The Courtyard
Kilcarbery Park
Nangor Road
Dublin 22.
01 457 7976
Mobile:
Email - HQ@vetireland.ie
Veterinary Ireland Companion Animal Society please contact
Mr Pete Wedderburn BVM&S MRCVS CertVR
012821909
Mobile: 0868847966
Email: pete@brayvet.com
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