Puppy Farming Programme Tonight on BBC1 Wales

[Scuttlebutter]

I know not everyone can access BBC Wales, but if you can, there is a programme on tonight about puppy farming/likely changes in Welsh law. It will be illustrated by footage from a breeder in Ceredigion, who I'm sorry to say is licensed under the current regime.

Programme is Week In Week Out at 10.35 pm

What it shows will come as no surprise to me or to people like Val, but I really hope lots of people see it and hopefully think twice before buying a cute pup. I think the key point it will illustrate is that the current licensing regime is no protection for bitches or pups. At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, if you really must buy a pup (and rescues will be great for 99% of people) then please do your homework about the breeder. Simply being licensed is no guarantee of their standards.

Bumping for ScuttleButter and for all those pups who will never make it into adulthood, all those who will suffer a miserable life and all those dogs and bitches condemned to being breeding machines and devoid of care, treatment, love or even company.

NB - this programme can be seen by those who have Sky TV - just search for BBC1 Wales or Week In, Week Out.

I'm torn between watching to learn more and to update my knowledge and not watching because I've seen enough of this abuse and will doubtless spend the entire duration of the programme sobbing.

ScuttleButter, as it's been given the title "A Dog's Life" might I be right in assuming that Mo Davie is a contributor?

Hi Val, it looks like the usuaal suspects!! Do't know for sure as they often edit/chop/change quite late. Think Chris Laurence from Dogs Trust is on - he's been pushing quite hard on the microchipping issue - very expert - is chair of national Microchipping Forum.

See [[
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12811399 here ]] for link to story on BBC website about the programme.

Val, I know what you mean - however, I suspect that compared to what we know about a lot of farms, this is by no means the worst.

Thank you... I will watch but be warned that you'll be hearing me swear and sob all the way in Wales.

JESUS H FUCKING CHRIST! I swear I'd do time for those bastards...

For those who didn't see the programme, let me just describe the little Shih Tzu who hid, shivering behind her cold plastic bed in her tiny cell, shaking with fear. Her floor was covered in shit to the extent that you could barely see the concrete and there were mouse droppings mixed in with her food.

And her conditions weren't the worst... it was just how the poor little mite was trying to hide behind the basket, shivering, that sent such a searing pain and anger through me.

I would... I'd do time for the bastards...

And let's not forget that these conditions were at a LICENSED breeders - and a number of bodies including the Kennel Club are fighting to have the modest improvements proposed watered down.

While people buy pups cheaply and without asking questions, these are the conditions they are supporting.

I didn't sleep last night. Why isn't this prime time TV? Why don't one of the tabloids make this programme a front page story?

On BBC iplayer

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007hj4j

I have recorded this. (thanks Val, didn't know I could get BBC Wales).

Licensed breeders are almost always volume breeders and therefore IMO, undesirable however clean the conditions in which the animals are kept. These people are responsible for over 90% of KC registrations and they dont care less about the health, temperament or type of the dogs they are breeding, let alone what sort of home they go to or offering the new home lifelong support.

Ideally the KC would have it's own scheme where breeders are limited in the number of breeds a breeder may keep, the numbers of litters that may be bred and they would also further reduce the number of litters any bitch may have and also limit the number of litters a stud dog may sire so stud dog owners are encouraged to be more choosy as to which bitches their dogs cover. I would also like to see health testing absolutely mandatory. The Accredited Breeder scheme could have been such a good thing for dogs, but sadly it appears to be another money making scheme for the KC with the unsuspecting public thinking AB scheme breeders are somehow elite, when in fact, many are puppy farmers. It's a shame the KC aren't always less interested in the money and more interested in the dogs.

I am having trouble watching the video at the moment as my connection is too slow but, I will try later.

It should be far harder to own a dog then perhaps breeding wouldn't be such a lucrative business. It strikes me that animals which are farmed for food generally are better protected than dogs (don't want to get into a debate about factory farms/battery hens etc.thats for another thread).

I recently read a book called Dima's dog school in which the author who is Russian described how in Russia under the communists there were very strict tests you had to pass before you could own a dog. Something the UK and other countries could learn from I think.

Also unless you are properly licensed (for what its worth and it should be very expensive) you should have your puppy neutered as soon as it reaches the right age. And breeders should stop this practice of pricing bitches higher than dogs, because of the money to be made from puppies, as I'm sure it just adds to the problem.

Fines for breeding dogs without a licence, that includes accidental pet ones too, should be massive ie a lot more than you would get back from selling puppies.

Sorry am beginning to rant but, you know where I'm coming from.

oh my - wished I hadn't watched that But then again we need everyone to see such programmes to realise what is being done. rant away - you are all more eloquent with words than I am - I just get angry