Which is “Right”?

Ethics of Dog Breeding

Author : Sarah Turton

• To explore the issues surrounding an ethical topic, such as dog breeding.

• To discuss the issues around different types of dog breeding.

Objectives

• Moral principles that govern a person's or group's behaviour.

• The moral correctness of specified conduct.

What are Ethics?

• Freedom from hunger or thirst

• Freedom from the weather (adequate shelter)

• Freedom to behave normally (adequate exercise)

• Freedom from disease or pain (adequate medical care)

• Freedom from fear or distress

5 Freedoms

• Positives for - the animal - the owner - society

• Negatives for - the animal - the owner - society

What do we need to consider?

• The practice of mating selected dogs

• The intent is to maintain or produce specific qualities and characteristics

• Refers specifically to the artificial selection of dogs, in which dogs are intentionally mated by their owners

What is Dog

Breeding?

Dogs Bred for a Specific Purpose

• 5 freedoms in place

• Efforts to ensure that the genetic make-up of both dog and bitch will not result in inherited disorders

• Only dogs in good health and physical condition used for breeding

• Bitches that are due to whelp provided with a suitable, safe whelping area and checked regularly

• Unweaned puppies individually checked each day and regularly treated for parasites

Dog BreedingNZ Kennel Club Standards

Animal Welfare (Dogs) Code of Welfare 2010 Standards

• Sometimes called puppy mills or puppy farming

• 5 Freedoms often not in place

• Females are sometimes bred every time they are in heat

• Puppies are often weaned to early

• Dogs housed in overcrowded and unsanitary cages, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization

• Dogs and puppies often suffer from health and/or social problems

Dog BreedingNon NZ Kennel Club Standards

Non Animal Welfare (Dogs) Code of Welfare 2010 Standards

Sick/Neglected Animals

Confined in Unhealthy Conditions

Did not have Adequate

Food/Water

44%

32%25%

2005 Investigation Conducted on Pet Shops and Puppy Mills in

California

• A commercial dog breeding facility that is operated with an emphasis upon profits above animal welfare and is often in substandard conditions. Puppies often supplied to pet shops

What is a Puppy Mill?

Puppy Mills in NZ

• Uncovered near Levin in the last few months

• Levin breeder is a vet nurse

• Eleven puppies have died in the past few weeks in pet stores from hypoglycaemia and related illnesses, as well as giardia and canine parvovirus

• The puppies were young, and had not long been away from their mothers

• 20m-long breeding barn holding about 100 dogs

• A lady from animal welfare charity Huha (Helping You Help Animals), believed the Levin premises were a "battery farm", serving as a "puppy mill". It was the worst example of large-scale breeding she had seen.

Puppy Mills in NZ• 60 Minutes uncovered several breeding

operations near Gisborne in 2010

• “Specialising” in the popular poodle-cross dogs

• Often “labradoodles” (labradors x poodles) and “spoodles” (spaniels x poodles)

• Often sold at pet stores for up to $1500

• Over 100 dogs and puppies at one facility

60 Minutes Footage - Gisborne

“Kay McKnights” Property

“Other” Properties

Puppy Mills in NZ

Most Ethical?So, what do you think is the most ethical?

Can be measured through…

• Behaviour – lack of socialisation with other dogs or humans

• Aversion – to humans or cages

• Health – may not have ever received vet treatment, vaccinations, diseases, stress

Costs to the Animal

• Healthier dog and puppies

• More room needed as they are not confined in cages

Dog

• Has 5 freedoms met

• Can act naturally

• Well socialised

Society /

Futur

e Ow

ner

• Healthy pet

• Less vet costs

• Naturally acting & well socialised pet

NZKC StandardsBr

eede

r

Non NZKC StandardsBreed

er

• Cheaper

• Greater productivity

• Can easily sell to pet stores

• Puppies may be rejected

Dog

• Does not have 5 freedoms met

• Unhealthy dog = unhealthy puppies

• Unable to be “natural”

• Can easily be cross bred

• If puppies are rejected may be put down

Society /

Futur

e O

wner

• Un-socialised pet

• Scared, nervous

• Unhealthy pet, expensive vet bills

• Often not know puppies breeding & background

So, Is It Actually Illegal?• As long as the breeders give the dogs water, food and shelter,

everything they are doing is legal.

• “The minimum standards are quite minimal unfortunately so people can get away with quite a lot” said a representative from Paw Justice

• If you breach a minimum standard set out in the code, it is not an offence – though it can be used as evidence against you if you are charged under the act

• According to animal experts like Mark Vette, the code provides bare minimums; and it turns out that the code itself is toothless

Are we really doing as much as we can to look

after companion animals like dogs? Is that a way to treat man’s best friend?

How can change be effective?

• Communication and education

• Set standards / Code of welfare

• Changes to the law

Change

ChangeCommunication and Education

Inspectors visiting establishments to educate and advise

Articles on “best practice” and any new laws / codes of conduct, published in animal interest magazines, newspapers, pamphlets

Work with breeders to educate and improve instead of going in “all guns blazing” to start with

Offer an incentive for following the Code of Conduct

ChangeSet Standards / Code of Welfare

Minimum cage size eg 2m x 1.5m x 1.5m for two small dogs

5 freedoms must be met at all time

Breeders must belong to an approved kennel club

Limit on dog numbers

Inspections on premises that can happen at any time without prior warning

ChangeLaw

Make it illegal to not follow the Code of Conduct

Fines and/or prison

Seizure of all dogs and equipment

Must let inspectors in at any time

Options for Achieving the Same Gains?

• Will probably not be the same gains for the breeder, but will be increased gains for the animals

• These changes mentioned before will allow the breeders to continue their breeding, but with better practices regarding animal welfare