A documentary, "Pedigree Dogs Exposed," will be shown on BBC One at 2100 BST on Tuesday 19 August.
The BBC documentary says an investigation has found that pedigree dogs are suffering from genetic diseases following years of inbreeding. The program shows a prize-winning cavalier King Charles spaniel suffering from syringomyelia, a condition which occurs when a dog's skull is too small for its brain.
The study also features boxers suffering from epilepsy, pugs with breathing problems and bulldogs who are unable to mate or give birth unassisted. It says deliberate mating of dogs which are close relatives is common practice and the Kennel Club registers dogs bred from mother-to-son and brother-to-sister matings.
In a related story, the MailOnline reports that the BBC could stop showing the Crufts dog show after the documentary exposed the diseases and deformities suffered by many of Britain's 5 million pedigree dogs.
Mark Evans, the RSPCA's chief vet, said: 'When I watch Crufts, what I see is a parade of mutants. It's some freakish, garish beauty pageant that has nothing, frankly, to do with health and welfare. We've become completely and utterly desensitised to the fact that breeding these deformed, disabled, disease-prone animals is either shocking or abnormal.'
Eamon Hardy, the documentary's executive producer, said: 'In light of this programme, the BBC will request a meeting with the Kennel Club to discuss the implications and potential impact of the film.'
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Britain's pedigree dogs plagued by disease
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I am an animal lover and own pedigree cats. I have always heard that some pedigrees are prone to health problems due to in-breeding. I was shocked when I watched the BBC documentary to know the extent of the problem and the suffering caused to innocent animals in this country.
I was further shocked by the attitude of the breeders who refused to admit or acknowledge the cruelty of their actions. It is clear that many dog breeders are more interested in the money the make from selling puppies than the welfare of the animals.
To deliberately breed animals in such a way as to perpetuate genetic defects and suffering should be treated as extreme cruelty, abuse, and neglect under the law and be subject to prosecution and inprisonment.
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