Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-20T08:25:58.340Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Can the law help us to tackle genetic diseases that affect the welfare of dogs?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

I Boissevain
I Boissevain*
Affiliation:
Department of Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, PO Box 80 166, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
*
email: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Some pedigree and other dogs suffer from serious genetic health problems. It is sad to acknowledge that this is not new. Dogs have been exposed to an increasing number of hereditary diseases for decades. Some of the diseases are the result of naturally occuring processes that result in mutations and the close linkeage of undesirable traits with desirable ones, others, however, are the result of choices made by breeders and owners about what is desirable for the dog breed. An owner with a sick dog, has recourse to consumer's legislation should they wish to get some of the money back that they paid for the ‘defective’ animal. Consumer's law is based on EU standards, and does give the owner some opportunities to litigate. This paper explains EU legislation, and provides an overview of the opinion of (Dutch) judges regarding cases involving animals with genetic defects. Legal and veterinary perspectives do not always work together in a satisfactory manner. The need for further legislation to prevent the continued breeding of dogs with serious genetic defects is discussed.

Keywords

animal welfareconsumer's lawdog-breedinghereditary diseaseslawsuitpedigree dogs
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 21 , Issue S1: Proceedings of the UFAW International Symposium ‘Making animal improvements: Economic and other incentives and constraints’ Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, UK, 2011 , May 2012 , pp. 151 - 154
Copyright
© 2012 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

APGAW 2009 A healthier future for pedigree dogs. Report of the APGAW Inquiry into the Health and Welfare Issues Surrounding the Breeding of Pedigree dogs. The Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare: London, UK. http://www.apgaw.org/reports.aspGoogle Scholar
Bannasch, D, Young, A, Myers, J, Truvé, K, Dickinson, P, Gregg, J, Davis, R, Bongcam-Rudloff, E, Webster, M, Lindblad-Toh, K and Pedersen, N 2010 Localization of canine brachycephaly using an across breed mapping approach. PLoS ONE 5(3): e9632CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bateson, P 2010 Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding. University of Cambridge: Cambridge, UKGoogle Scholar
Brambell, FWR 1965 Report of the Technical Committee to Enquire into the Welfare of Animals kept under Intensive Livestock Husbandry Systems. HM Stationary Office: London, UKGoogle Scholar
BBC 2008 Pedigree Dogs Exposed. BBC: UKGoogle Scholar
CAWC 2006 Breeding and welfare in companion animals. Companion Animal Welfare Council Report on Welfare Aspects of Modifications, Through Selective Breeding or Biotechnological Methods, to the Form, Function, or Behaviour of Companion Animals. CAWC: London, UK. Available at: www.cawc.org.ukGoogle Scholar
CAWC 2008 Approaches to tackling genetic welfare problems in companion animals. Report of the Companion Animal Welfare Council Workshop. 9 October 2008, Westminster, UKCAWC: London, UK. Available at: www.cawc.org.ukGoogle Scholar
CAWC 2009 Towards an independent advisory body on tackling genetic welfare problems in companion animals? Report of the Companion Animal Welfare Council Workshop. 17 February 2009, The British Veterinary Association, London, UKCAWC: London, UK. Available at: www.cawc.org.ukGoogle Scholar
Court of Appeal 2007 Arnhem, June 11 2007, LJN BC2967. Arnhem, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
EU Directive 1999 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 on Certain Aspects of the Sale of Consumer Goods and Associated Guarantees. EU: Brussels, BelgiumGoogle Scholar
European Court of Justice 2008 62006CA0404, Case C-404/06: Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 17 April 2008, OJ C 142, 7.6.2008 p 6-7, Brussels, BelgiumGoogle Scholar
European Court of Justice 2011 62009CA0065 Joined Cases C-65/09 and C-87/09: Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 16 June 2011, OJ C 226, 30.7.2011. Brussels, BelgiumGoogle Scholar
Gubbels, EJ and Scholten, J 2005 Erfelijke problemen bij honden. Institute for Genetic Counselling Services: Westerhaar, The Netherlands. [Title translation: Problems with inherited diseases in dogs]Google Scholar
Klein Swormink, B 2011 Rashonden balanceren op smalle genetische basis. Tijdschrift voor Diergeneeskunde 136-1-1: 39-40. [Title translation: Pedigree dogs balance on a very small genetic base]Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture 1988 Mooi, Mooier Mooist, schadelijke raskenmerken bij honden. Sdu uitgevers: Den Haag, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Packer, R, Hendricks, A, Axe, J and Burn, C 2012 Preliminary indications of a lack of owner recognition of clinical signs related to a conformational inherited disorder: a potential constraint to improving breeding practices in pedigree dogs. Animal Welfare 21(S1): 81–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.7120/096272812X13345905673809CrossRefGoogle Scholar
PDSA 2011 Animal Wellbeing Report. PDSA: London, UK. Available at: www.pdsa.org.uk/pawreportGoogle Scholar
Peelman, LJ 2009 Erfelijke afwijkingen bij de hond. Euroscience: Bilthoven, The Netherlands. [Title translation: Inherited diseases in dogs]Google Scholar
Regional Court 2001 Leeuwarden, August 14 2001, LJN AD6033. Leeuwarden: The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Regional Court 2007 Maastricht, April 4 2007, 244038-CV EXPL-07-58. Maastricht, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Rooney N and D Sargan 2009 Pedigree dog breeding in the UK: a major welfare concern? RSPCA: Horsham, UK. Available at: http://www.rspca.org.uk/ImageLocator/LocateAsset?asset=document&assetId=1232712491490&mode=prdGoogle Scholar
Rusbridge, C 2007 Chiari-like malformation and Syringomelia in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Utrecht University: Utrecht, The Netherlands Supreme Court of The Netherlands 1998 January 9 1998, nr. 16.503. The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
UFAW 2011 Genetic welfare problems of companion animals, an information resource for prospective pet owners. UFAW: Wheathampstead, Herts, UK. http://www.ufaw.org.uk/dogs.phpGoogle Scholar