The authors of the Convention are convinced that in the breeding of several breeds or types of pet animals, mammals and birds, insufficient account is taken of anatomical, physiological and behavioural characteristics which are likely to put at risk the animals' health and welfare.
They demand that if persuasive
measures are not sufficient, governments should consider prohibiting the
breeding and or phasing out the exhibition and the selling of certain types or
breeds when characteristics of these animals correspond to what they consider
to be harmful defects such as those presented in the following Appendix:
APPENDIX
- set maximum
and minimum values for height or weight of very large or small dogs,
respectively, to avoid skeleton and joint disorders (e.g. dysplasia of hip
joints or elbows, fractures, luxation of elbow or patella, persistent
fontanella) and collapse of trachea;
- set
maximum values for the proportion between length and height of short-legged
dogs (e.g. Bassethound, Dachshund) to avoid disorders of the vertebral
column;
- set limits to the shortness of skull,
respectively nose, so that breathing difficulties and blockage of
lachrymal ducts are avoided, as well as disposition to birth difficulties (e.g.
Persian cats, especially the "extreme type", Bulldogs, Japan Chin, King Charles
Spaniel, Pug, Pekin Palacedog);
- prevent the
occurrence of:
- a persistent fontanella (e.g. Chihuahua)
to avoid brain damages;
- abnormal positions of
legs (e.g. very steep line of hind legs in Chow Chow, Norwegian
Buhund, Swedish Lapphund, Finnish Spitz; bowed legs in Bassethound,
Pekin Palacedog, Shi Tzu) to avoid difficulties in movement and joint
degeneration;
- abnormal positions of
teeth (e.g. brachygnathia in Boxers, Bulldogs, Persian Cats) to avoid
difficulties in feeding and caring for the new-born;
-
abnormal size and form of eyes or eyelids (e.g.
ectropium: Bassethound, Bloodhound, St. Bernard; small deep lying eves with disposition to entropium:
Airedale Terrier, Australian Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Bullterrier,
Bloodhound, Chow Chow, English Toy Terrier, Jagdterrier, Newfoundland, Shar
Pei; large, protruding eyes: Boston
Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Brussels
Griffon, Japan Chin, King Charles Spaniel, Pug, Pekin Palacedog, Shi Tzu, Tibet
Terrier) to avoid irritation, inflammation and degeneration as well as prolapse
of eyes;
1 The breeds mentioned above are only examples in which these problems may occur.
- very long ears (e.g. English Cocker
Spaniel, Bassethound, Bloodhound) to avoid disposition to injuries:
-
markedly folded skin (e.g. Bassethound, Bulldog,
Bloodhound, Pug, Pekin Palacedog, Shar Pei) to avoid eczema's and in the case
of furrows around the eyes irritation and inflammation of eyes;
-avoid
or, if it is not possible to eliminate severe defects, discontinued breeding
of:
- animals carrying semi-lethal
factors (e.g. Entlebucher Cattledog);
- animals carrying recessive defect-genes (e.g.
homocygotic Scottish Fold Cat: short legs, vertebral column and tail defects)
- hairless dogs and cats (lack of
protection against sun and chill, disposition to significant reduction of
number of teeth, semi-lethal factor)
- Manx-cat (movement disorder, disposition to vertebral
column defects, difficulties in elimination of urine and faeces, semi-lethal
factor)
- cats carrying "dominant
white" (significant disposition to deafness);
-
dogs carrying "Merle factor" (significant
disposition to deafness and eye disorders, e.g.: Blue merle Collie, Merle
Sheltie, Merle Corgie, Merle Bobtail, Tigerdogge, Tigerteckel).
And of course you need to add to this list, all the
current breeds which are docked as whelps and/or have their dew claws removed
as whelps.
Whilst most of the allegations appearing in the Appendix will be rubbished by knowledgable breeders and veterinary surgeons alike, the danger is that governmental bodies might be led to believe that Conventions are originated by professionals who know better.
What would happen to pedigree and working dogs in the UK if the above was adopted? We dread to imagine.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is already receiving a stream of letters from respected veterinary surgeons who are horrified by the Colleges desire to have this Convention adopted in the UK.
If you wish to write to the RCVS giving them YOUR view, here is the address:
Mr Roger Green
Chairman of External Affairs Committee
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Belgravia House
62/64 Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2AF
Where does the UK Government stand on this issue?
List of breeds affected and major reason
Abridged
versions of the Convention and Resolutions,
plus an explanation of the Council of Europe
Chart of Signatures and Ratification's
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