After reading the statement below I wonder is it possible to obtain the statistics in Ireland, in relation to how many litters are produced by Show Kennels versus the Hobby Breeder ?
Personally I think we in Ireland still have a long way to go in relation to educating people in relation to dog ownership. Educating the buyer would certainly put a dent in some of these puppy farmers profits.
Whilst exhibiting at Pet Expo last summer I was amazed at the amount of people that I spoke to that hadn’t heard of breed specific disease’s like Hip Dysplasia etc.
The Kennel Club in the UK run Discover Dogs at Crufts and Earls Court London twice a year, and this is seen to be a great aid in educating potential puppy buyers.
I think that something like this was tried in Ireland before in the past, and reckon that it would do no harm if it was given another go….It may even generate a bit of revenue ?
“Figures released by the Australian National Kennel Council, detailing all litters bred by registered breeders during 2009, show clearly that their membership is not causing the problems occurring in animal refuges, now overflowing with unwanted dogs.
In 2009 it was estimated that the dog population in Australia was 3.41 million (TNS & BIS Shrapnel). From an estimated annual demand of 341,000 puppies, ANKC registered breeders produced only 66,588 puppies. That’s only 20% of puppies born in Australia. In fact 70% of ANKC breeders bred only one litter.
These statistics give the Australian dog organisation the most powerful defence it has had to date against animal welfare groups, who attempt to lay blame against registered breeders for the excess of puppies that are finding their way into the pet market.
Puppy farmers not taken into account
In an interview with Dog News Australia, the President of the ANKC Mr Hugh Gent OAM said, “Since the screening of Pedigree Dogs Exposed I have been concerned, when meeting with Animal Welfare organisations and other bodies, who are seeking to influence our breeding practices and modify our Breed Standards, that they attribute all problems with pedigree dogs to ANKC Members and do not take into account the large numbers of breeders outside our influence, who are not subject to codes of ethics or breeding restrictions”.
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