Welcome to Houndmistress

Consultation on Dog Breeding by WG  

The Welsh Assembly Government (now usually abbreviated to WG) has devolved responsibility for animal welfare issues, and accordingly this is an area where it has taken action.  One high profile and very welcome development has been the banning of electric shock collars in Wales, ahead of the other UK administrations. 

Back in March 2010 the Assembly hosted a very useful and thorough workshop on Microchipping issues which I attended on behalf of GRW; this meshed well with my researches into chipping issues.  I have also attended a number of meetings co-ordinated by WAG as part of their development of policy in the area of puppy farming. 

In the autumn of 2010 WG published their draft consultation on puppy farming/dog breeding guidelines.  The closing date for the consultation was 13th January 2011.  Click here (link opens in new window) to visit the WG website pages on the consultation. 

I have prepared two responses to the consultation.  One is from Houndmistress and the other is prepared on behalf of Greyhound Rescue Wales. 

To see my Houndmistress response, click here (link opens in new window). 

To see my response on behalf of Greyhound Rescue Wales, click here (link opens in new window). 

The Kennel Club has published its response to the consultation. Not surprisingly, as the body that represents breeders, it calls for a watering down of the regulations.  You can read their response here (link opens in new window). 

Cardiff Council have published their own response to the consultation - click here to read the report (link opens in new window). 

Update: July 2011. Unfortunately, the Welsh elections prevented the regulations from being introduced.  After the elections, the Minister released a statement on the issue, acknowledging the interest in the issue and confirming that consultation has been pushed back to the autumn of 2011, with a view to legislation being brought forward. Click here to view the Minister's statement (opens in new window). 

Update January 2012.  WG published the second consultation just before Christmas.  To go to the consultation pages on the WG website, please click here (opens in new window).   This second consultation will run until 27th March.  I will publish my response here when it is completed and submitted.  

Updated 5th January 2012   

Comments? Queries? Contact me here