25/10/2024
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL PEDIGREE DOG BREEDERS (AND LOVERS) IN THE UK
Written by Kate Acheson-Dumbravă
Unless we make enough noise, it's likely that there will be a blanket ban on importing dogs under the age of 6 months into the UK. This is part of a larger bill aimed at tackling puppy smuggling.
The bill as a whole will hopefully make a big difference to puppy smuggling, however this one sentence in one clause penalises legitimate importers who need to bring in imported dogs for their breed's genetic diversity, health, or even to establish a new breed.
Some of you will have no issue bringing in a 6 month old pup, but for many family breeders it poses a real challenge. So why is it hard to bring in an older puppy? (Note: the current age is 15 weeks)
🐕 Pack Integration Challenges: Older puppies may find it harder to join an existing "pack," especially if family dogs are already well-bonded.
😬 Fear Periods: Older puppies are often in or approaching a critical "fear period," which can make them more sensitive to new surroundings, people, and dogs.
🌸 Puberty and Heat Cycles: Around 6 months, many puppies start to experience puberty, with females potentially going into season, leading to hormonal shifts that can affect behaviour and training, and impact potential integration into a household
🧠 Training & Socialisation Needs: Finding a breeder willing to hold a puppy for several months and commit to quality training and socialisation is rare, and without this, the puppy may be behind in important life skills.
👥 Adaptation to Family Dynamics: Older puppies may struggle to adapt to established routines, boundaries, and interactions, as they have spent the last 6 months learning the routines of their breeder.
So, what are we asking our politicians for?
We are asking for an exception and a tightly controlled mechanism to allow responsible and legitimate importers to continue to import puppies to improve and protect the health of their breed. This is achievable without creating loopholes or undermining the core aim of the Bill to address low welfare puppy smuggling.
So even if you have never imported a dog or never intend to yourself, but your breed relies on imports for genetic diversity and health, please do the following:
1.Use the template letter provided by the Kennel Club and email it to your MP and copy in the BIll Sponsor Danny Chambers ([email protected]). Or write your own, that's fine too! https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/about-us/campaigns/puppy-imports/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGIS3NleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYH9ALq35zD0gA4uf7oa0S8CPyDMeP6ZwsGVnIiMRKx_bvvAelBbXvlBig_aem_FtQRtros7Qol9Jlywh66xw
2.Here is a a link to find out who your local MP is and how to contact them. https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
3.IT’S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU INCLUDE YOUR FULL ADDRESS AT THE END OF THE EMAIL AS MPS WILL NOT RESPOND TO ANYONE WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION.
4. If you are happy to speak to your MP at a constituency surgery, that would be especially great. In particular, we are urgently trying to find someone in Danny Chambers' constituency of Wi******er who would be happy to go to one of his surgeries (the next is on 25 October TODAY, followed by one in early November) and speak to him on behalf of the import breeds. If you know anyone in Wi******er who would be willing to speak to Danny on our behalf, please ask them to contact me asap.
5. There is also a letter template on the Kennel Club link that you can send direct to DEFRA
6. Please comment DONE ✅ and your constituency when you've sent your emails. Tag your breed friends!
We need to act quickly, as the bill is due for its second reading in less than a month. Tag other people who may be impacted. Let's make some noise!
The source for many of the updates will be on the Import Register Support Group where of course, all breeds who are on the Import Register are affected.
THE KENNEL CLUB URGES AWARENESS AHEAD OF POTENTIAL IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
The organisation is encouraging breeders to make their views heard to MPs via a downloadable template letter
Ahead of the second reading of The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill on 29 November, The Kennel Club is encouraging collective action from dog owners and breeders to ensure their views are heard.
The Bill is expected to include prohibitions on the import into the UK of puppies, kittens and ferrets under the age of six months as well as banning heavily pregnant animals and those with mutilations such as cropped ears.
The illegal importation of puppies presents significant welfare risks to dogs, and as such The Kennel Club welcomes the broad intent of the Bill and the benefit it will have on animal welfare, however it is concerned that, without certain provisions with regards to the six-month minimum import age, there could be damaging implications for the future health and genetic diversity of many breeds, such as the Bernese Mountain Dog, Lagotto Romagnolo and the Barbet.
As such, the organisation is calling for the Bill to introduce a tightly controlled mechanism which would allow responsible importers to continue to import puppies to improve and protect the health of our beloved dog breeds.
Dr Ed Hayes, Head of Public Affairs at The Kennel Club said: “While the Bill is a positive and necessary step for animal welfare, we know many owners and breeders will be concerned by the six-month minimum import age, and what that might mean for the future of some our most beloved breeds, who are heavily reliant on the importation of new gene lines.
“We are continuing to lobby policymakers to ensure there is provision for a tightly controlled mechanism to allow breeders and importers, who can demonstrate the need, from a genetic diversity perspective, to import a single dog under six months of age.
“We also urge anyone affected to download our template letter, which is available on our website, to ensure their views are heard.”
The downloadable template letter is available on The Kennel Club’s website: thekennelclub.org.uk/about-us/campaigns/puppy-imports/
The first U.K. Kai Ken breeder based in Shropshire, UK.
