According to the 2008 and 2009 National Urban Animal Surveys there are more than a million cats and dogs being placed into Canadian homes each year. Of these homing episodes it appears that adoptions from legitimate animal welfare organizations account for 11%, registered breeders account for 8% and compliant retail establishments are thought to add another 16% of these placements. Only these 35% of placements come from inside the industry system of compliant homing organizations.
If these numbers are accurate, almost 65% of the cats and dogs placed into Canadian homes may come from breeders who could fly under the radar for business licenses and taxes, whose litters are not identified in any industry system and whose operations may not be compliant with accepted industry standards. It is these irresponsible breeder activities the industry wishes to elminate for the good of pets and pet families.
The International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in October 2010 brought the industry together to consider how animals are homed and gave rise to the OpenSpace conversation about this problem. To move forward with strategies that will support voluntary compliance, the industry has identified and segmented breeders in to three categories: Unintentional, Intentional Non-compliant and Intentional Compliant breeders. Each of these breeder segments represents a set of circumstances that requires a careful yet considered response.
The first iteration of a voluntary Breeder Code of Practice that responds to these circumstances will be presented for comment by Joe Mauro at the Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies. Joe is the former CEO of the Canadian Kennel Club and in addition to leading this industry conversation has intimate knowledge of the breeding community. The national surveys show the total population of cats and dogs in Canada is more than 14.5 million and trending slightly upward. A more responsible approach to breeding and homing animals will improve Canadian communities and make them healthier for pets and people.
On behalf of the Summit alumni and the national agencies, you are invited as a thought leader to attend and add your comments to this first iteration of the Breeder Codes of Practice at one of the four Regional Summits in Toronto, Halifax, Red Deer or Vancouver. The industry hopes to introduce the first iteration of these new codes of practice during the third quarter of this year. We hope you will come and have YourSAY!
To register click on the regional summits link above or contact Judi Cannon, Summit program manager directly (705) 749-6607 or judi.cannon@petlynxmail.com
Hi,
ReplyDeleteYou have mentioned 4 areas of the "industry" I believe, and no where is there mention of including responsible breeders. I know "responsible" is difficult to define, but in my mind they belong to breed clubs, are members in good standing with the CKC, register their dogs with the CKC..etc.. why have you not invited representatives of this group?
Very disappointing.
I am a "Intentional Compliant Breeder" I am also a member of CKC as well as my national breed club. Although I agree with most of your proposed "code" I am confused as to why it is needed since all breed clubs as well as the CKC have very good codes.
ReplyDeleteI am also VERY concerned about the inclusion of the CVMA Cod of Practices as it puts most Compliant" breeders in violation. The CVMA code was written as a guideline for large breeding facilities and does not address the in home breeder. Our floors, methods of nightime sleeping and many other points of a home based breeder is not even addressed. The CVMA code also puts our human rights in jeopardy and allows for the invasion of our homes by activist motivated individuals.
Joanne S