Register for Irish breeders?

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LEGISLATION has been published in the Irish Republic which, according to Environment Minister John Gormley, will put an end to ‘back-street dog breeders’.
The minister acknowledged that the proposed law, titled the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009, has been a long time in preparation – over three years – but promised to have it approved by parliament ‘at the earliest possible date’.
The Bill defines a breeding establishment is any premises which has six or more bitches who are more than four months old and ‘capable of being used for breeding purposes’. This does not include local authority dog pounds.
Anyone who already runs ‘a breeding establishment’ would have to apply to their local council for permission to do so no later than three months after the law is approved.
Every dog at the premises must be microchipped.

Proposed fees

The proposed fees breeders would face would be 400 euros for no more than 12 bitches, 800 euros for less than 13 and no more than 25, 1,600 euros for less than 26 and no more than 100, and 3,000 euros for no less than 101 and no more than 200.
Mr Gormley believes that if the legislation is passed it will provide safeguards for dogs in breeding establishments while offering assurances to customers about the treatment of puppies and their mothers.
“We have all seen some of the appalling images of illegal puppy farms,” he said. “This legislation will put and end to the operations of back-street dog breeders.”
The Bill requires all breeding establishments to be registered by the local authority and to pay an annual registration fee. Such establishments would be subject to regular inspections by the local authority which may refuse to register a premises deemed unsuitable or one in need of improvement. It would become an offence for any unregistered establishment to continue in business except where a closure order is being appealed.
Hunt clubs, commercial boarding kennels and charitable dog operations such as mountain rescue teams would be exempt from fees but must also register and be subject to inspection. Existing breeding establishments would be permitted to operate for three months after the legislation takes effect, but could then be closed down by the local authority if they did not qualify for the register.
All approved premises would receive a registration certificate which must be displayed prominently. Penalties for failure to display it, or for providing false information or obstructing authorised personnel, would range from a €5,000 fine to six months’ imprisonment, with the fines going to the relevant local authority.
The Bill also provides for an establishment to be removed from the register by court order if there has been a breach of regulations or a threat to public health or animal welfare.
The minister, who is also leader of the Irish Green Party, said there had been ‘significant ongoing consultation with a variety of interested parties’ on the legislation, including the Hunting Association of Ireland and the Irish SPCA, and that he believed the Bill was stronger as a result of their input.
“We think that the bad old days, with the cruelties of some dog-breeding establishments, will be left behind,” he said.
The proposed legislation was welcomed by the operations manager of the Dublin SPCA, Orla Aungier, who claimed the lack of regulation had led to the Irish Republic being dubbed ‘the puppy-breeding capital of Europe’.

Bateson enquiry

“We have seen animals in appalling conditions, being bred solely for commercial gain,” she said. “This Bill will afford such animals protection by providing for inspection, accountability and traceability. We see it as a first step in bringing Irish animal welfare legislation up to international standards.”
While the Irish Republic is hoping to clamp down on puppy farmers, the findings of the Kennel Club/Dogs Trust-funded independent enquiry into dog breeding are due to be revealed on Thursday. Professor Patrick Bateson has concluded his report and it has been sent out for peer review – but without its recommendations.
An article in The Times this week suggested that the report recommends a compulsory registration scheme for breeders of any kind of dog and that – like the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill – breeders will have to be registered and subject to checks on their dogs and premises. The article also suggests that puppies would have to be sold with a veterinary certificate guaranteeing their health and giving the names of their sire and dam and the breeder’s registered number. All dogs would have to be microchipped.
Neither the KC nor Dogs Trust has seen the report; the article’s contents have not been confirmed to DOG WORLD and was described by one source as ‘entirely speculative’.The inquiry’s secretary, Heather Peck, said: “The Times’ reporter did have a discussion with Professor Bateson but he didn’t tell her any of the report’s conclusions and recommendations because no one is being told until January 14. She may have drawn inferences.”