Put your money where your mouth is.

Elaine | blog | February 6, 2011

I’m sure a lot of our regular visitors will know already why we started Pedigreedogs.ie

If not we make reference to the same in the “About US” section on the site.

Recently there has been a lot of talk and mainly anger at the proposed Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, (Animal Health & Welfare Policy Division) Welfare of Animals Bill in Northern Ireland.

Basically a person commits an offence if they show a dog that has been docked after the said bill has been enacted at a show where the public pay an admission fee

I think we all knew that this was on the cards after it was introduced at some shows in the UK

The following couple in the UK have stepped up to the mark, and put their money where their mouth is in relation to fit for function, Hunt, Punt, Retrieve (HPR) dual purpose dogs (i.e. used in the field and then shown at conformation dog shows)

The Docked and Denied campaign grew from an idea that Maxine McCullough and Wendy Oxman had one day, which was to have an advert in the dog press displaying dogs which were fit for function dual purpose gundogs, who were legally docked but could not compete in their relevant breed classes because of the law.

They have now launched a web site (www.dockedanddenied.com) which is open to everyone to make their comments, to gather information from breeders and owners of legally docked dogs, or any tail injuries leading to medical amputations etc.

Now I am not involved in a breed that involves docking, and tend to sit on the fence re this issue. I have been to shows held in Europe and even whilst on holiday have seen all breeds that we are used to seeing docked, un docked, and although at first it looks strange, after a while, the idea kind of grows on you (Excuse the pun!)

I know of some Irish Exhibitors who have seen the writing on the wall for a long time, especially in the likes of Rottweilers, and now un dock every litter.

Again, I’m not saying who is right and who is wrong, but I remember all the negative talk pre the introduction of the FCI in Ireland, especially from exhibitors in Group 4 (Dachshunds) which I am involved in.Things change, not always for the better, but now in the republic we pay for things in Euro, and drive in Kilometres per hour, God forbid we start drinking our beer in half litres !