CavalierCampaign.com
Campaign to improve the health of Pedigree Dogs
My Campaign - Companion Animal Welfare Council
The Companion Animal Welfare Council's Report on 'Breeding and Welfare in Companion Animals' was published in 2006. I contributed to this Report during the public consultation period and Syringomyelia in Cavaliers was highlighted as an inherited problem which was having a huge impact on the welfare of these dogs.
The Report was followed up in April 2008 by a Workshop meeting at the House of Lords to look at how the problem of Syringomyelia was being tackled and what more could be done. Representatives from the Cavalier breeder community, the Kennel Club, RSPCA, veterinary experts, scientists and canine geneticists were there. I was present as a pet owner accompanied by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP. It was an amazing day: a day when scientists and welfare representatives at the highest level came together to help Cavaliers; a day when all the hard work of the previous five years seemed more than worthwhile.
The Workshop was followed in July by a meeting of the Syringomyelia research team, Cavalier breeder representatives, Animal Health Trust experts and Dr Sampson from the Kennel Club, to discuss how to best facilitate the ongoing research. This was real progress and a sign of hope for Cavaliers.
Another outcome of the CAWC Workshop Meeting is that an official BVA/KC scheme for MRI screening has been agreed and will come into operation, hopefully some time in 2009. An official BVA/KC heart testing scheme has also been agreed in principle and will be introduced in due course. This is a remarkable outcome and demonstrates how effective the involvement of CAWC has been in attempting to tackle these two major health issues in the Cavalier breed.
Will Cavaliers breeders in sufficient numbers now co-operate fully with supplying the pedigree, MRI, DNA and MVD data that is so urgently needed for research? Time will tell.
My Campaign - 'Pedigree Dogs Exposed'
Whilst researching for her film, Jemima Harrison, from Passionate Productions tracked me down and asked if I would be willing to take part. Despite being unsure at first, as I got to know Jemima and her partner and cameraman, Jon, I could see their genuine love of dogs and determination to make a serious documentary film about inherited health problems in our canine companions.
I am so proud now that I did take part in the Pedigree Dogs Exposed film and helped to enlighten the general public about the consequences of irresponsible and unethical breeding. Maybe the vast majority of puppy buyers will no longer be quite so naïve. Hopefully they will properly research their chosen breed; know what questions to ask; insist that breeders perform health screening; only buy a puppy from a compassionate and ethical breeder who truly loves her dogs; and only buy from a breeder who accepts responsibility for the health and welfare of the breed as a whole.
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