The Industry Drives to Eliminate Illegimate Breeding Practices

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

PetLynx and IdentiGen North America Sign MOA

PetLynx Corporation is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with IdentiGEN North America, Inc.  The purpose of this agreement is to bring DNA services to the companion animal industry.  During 2011 the parties will collaborate to conduct a pilot program with PetLynx associates in the Canadian industry.  The Parties believe DNA services will add an important element to the National Codes of Conduct and for identifying compliant breeders in the Canadian marketplace.

It is expected this service, together with the new BreederLynx™ portal, will assist compliant breeders to demonstrate the level of professionalism they bring to homing pets with Canadian pet families.  In the future, this service can also provide confirmation for those who acquire pets from compliant breeders, retailers and adopters that their animals have been screened for common genetic disorders.