What the documentary makers decided not to include in their programme

This article has 3 Comment(s)

SEVERAL people who appeared on the programme wanted an opportunity to clarify points and expand on some issues.
Lesley Jupp, chairman of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, said: “By the nature of its advance publicity I was expecting the documentary to be editorially biased, and this proved to be the case. But when I watched the programme, more than anything else I was struck by the almost complete lack of credit given to the extensive work carried out by our club, and many other regional clubs, to address health issues and support research.
“For the past 20 years or more we have conducted numerous health clinics and health programmes across the country, all involving ophthalmologists and cardiologists. Ian Mason, an ophthalmologist, recently said that eye problems in the breed have been greatly reduced, due in large measure to this initiative. Ian was interviewed by the film crew during our last championship show but this achievement was apparently considered insufficiently newsworthy to warrant mention on the programme.
“Other breed societies have also organised health-screening schemes, some of which have been very successful. Again none of these were mentioned. Syringomyelia (SM) first came to light approximately five years ago. Since then, the club has consistently endeavoured to educate and inform its members on the condition. Numerous research schemes have been established and assisted funding provided for MRI scans. Many seminars have been held, including the first International conference on SM, held at the Royal Veterinary College in 2006. None of this was mentioned on the programme.
“The Kennel Club Charitable Trust has supported many club research projects; £24,000 was raised jointly by Cavalier clubs to fund mitral valve disease (MVD) research at Edinburgh University. The Kennel Club matched this funding and the research is now in its fourth year. Again, this initiative was not mentioned during the programme. I genuinely believe that no club could reasonably have done more than the work carried out by ours. Our efforts were not inspired by the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) meeting earlier this year, but have been in progress for at least 25 years. Sadly, health research is a slow process. There can be no quick miracle cures for historic conditions in the breed. It should also be noted that only a minority of Cavaliers registered are bred by members of Cavalier breed clubs.
“The club has no mandatory powers to impose breeding regulations on its members, only the capacity to influence, educate and persuade. This we have done to the best of our ability. This was not reflected in the programme, even though its producers were aware of our efforts. As I watched the programme, it became very apparent that this did not coincide with the image they wished to promote.
“Finally, some reasons to be positive. Most Cavaliers lead happy, normal lives and some vets say they do not encounter SM. Eye problems are being eradicated. Brendan Corcoran, at Edinburgh University, is conducting the first investigation of the mitral valve ‘structure’ and why it fails. Simon Swift, at Liverpool University, has conducted cardiology clinics at our club events for 18 years, following Peter Darke’s retirement. Simon is involved with the exciting LUPA project, which is funded by the EU (580,000 euros) to unravel the genetic background of specific canine diseases, one of which is MVD in the Cavalier. The project has access to the top scientists in the field. Sarah Bott at Animal Health Trust is conducting groundbreaking research to produce an internet-based breeding programme of estimated breeding values. This is a science that has been used successfully for cattle and pigs. In the near future Cavalier breeders will be first to be given the opportunity to use this programme to breed healthier dogs. Sarah has received substantial sponsorship from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust. Perhaps just as importantly, she also has the enthusiastic support of all Cavalier breed clubs. This bodes well.
“Additionally, breed clubs are currently in discussion with the Animal Health Trust on the appointment of a panel of neurologists and radiologists, for standardising the certification of MRI scans. Currently, scans are assessed by individual neurologists and this inevitably results in differing opinions. The new panel should resolve this problem and will provide for an ‘appeal’ system to be established. Initially, this will be a Cavalier Club scheme for which we have received financial and practical assistance from the KC. Furthermore, we will continue to hold health clinics and promote heart testing, eye testing and blood sampling. We intend, in unison with other Cavalier clubs, to promote the permanent identification of dogs and cheek swabs.

Cavalier breeder and exhibitor Beverley Costello, who was interviewed by the film crew after her champion dog won BIS at a breed club championship show, said the programme had upset her greatly and that her remarks had been ‘severely edited.’
“I am very upset the way the programme was edited and the things said about my dog,” she said. “I have the support of the majority of club members. It was said that it was that it was known that my dog had SM because the MRI scan had been seen. But that’s not true because the scan has never left the house. I’m very angry because pet people will now believe that.
“I have been in the breed 15 years and have made up a champion. But life has got complicated. It is upsetting. The dog in question is five this year, and is healthy. His mother lives with me – she is fine and my friend has his grandmother and she is well, too. None of them is showing any symptoms. The line is good and an MRI scan is not the answer to everything anyway. I don’t think SM is the epidemic they are trying to make out it is. I have never had phone calls from anyone saying any of my dog’s puppies have had problems. I would be angry if they did not let me know if they had. I’m sure if any of the puppies did have a problem the programme would have found them and wheeled them out.”
Miss Costello said she would not breed any more litters: “I work full time and dogs don’t finance anything. I have nine Cavaliers – some retired – no litters and no intention of mating anything. My dogs live with me in the house and they do a lot of walking. They are like my children, and mean the world to me.”

Kirsteen Maidment, chairman of The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of GB, said: “The Rhodesian Ridgeback was introduced as a dog with a ridge which ‘serves no purpose.’ This is absolute nonsense as the ridge defines the breed from any other large brown dog without a ridge which might be considered a crossbreed, ie Mastiff cross pit bull, or Boxer cross Mastiff. Professor Serpell states, ‘Dogs were essentially bred for function… Dogs that did the job well were bred to dogs that did the job well.’ This is exactly how and why the Ridgeback breed evolved. From mixed packs of pioneers’ breeds, mongrels and the Hottentot ridged dog came the ridged dog who was noted for a particular reason – to hunt, guard and accompany their owners (often on horseback). The ridge is not, as the programme stated, ‘a mild form of Spina Bifida.’ Some vets and scientists believe that the dermoid sinus condition found in Rhodesian Ridgebacks is related to the human condition. Dermoid sinus can be palpated shortly after a puppy is born; it does not ‘burrow down to the spine or skull’ but is the result of malformation of skin tissue development in utero. Despite being requested to, the programme chose not to quote the code of ethics clause referring to ridgeless puppies in entirety, ie ‘Any mismarked puppy shall be described as such and sold not to be shown or bred from. This should be reflected in the price. Ridgeless puppies shall be culled at birth; if a breeder finds this morally impossible the puppy shall be homed, without a pedigree certificate at rearing cost only, with an understanding that it is to be neutered. Registration documents for all puppies referred to in this paragraph shall be suitably endorsed.’ It has never been mandatory to put a ridgeless puppy to sleep.
“Producer Jemima Harrison was also well aware that the club’s code of ethics was drawn up 20 years ago, and, in the light of changing attitudes, members had been reviewing this for the past 12 months with particular reference to the sensitive issue of ridgeless puppies. But again she chose not to include this information in the programme. There are no statistics in the UK for dermoid sinus or ridgeless in the breed. The statements, ‘One in 20 ridgeless puppies and ten per cent of puppies with dermoid sinus are born’ and ‘Dogs born without a ridge do not suffer from dermoid sinus’ refer to results of research in Sweden and in no way represent the breed in the UK.
“No mention was made of the information that dermoid sinus has been confirmed in a ridgeless puppy in the UK and indeed that this condition is found in other breeds and species without a ridge, eg Dobermanns, Boxers and humans. This club does not feel there is any reason to change the Rhodesian Ridgeback Standard on the results of the incomplete Swedish research. We have helped to fund this project in the hope that results will assist members in future breeding programmes. This club holds educational health seminars; Dr Jeff Sampson was a speaker some years ago when we attempted to set up a dermoid sinus project and recommends hip scoring, dermoid sinus checks for puppies, identification by microchip and/or DNA and/or tattoo for breeding stock. In general, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a healthy hound which is still bred for functionality, and most dogs live to enjoy old age.”

Ann Woodrow: “Dermoid Sinus, a form of spina bifida, is a problem we have inherited. It is no longer widespread and only in very rare, very slight form does it escape our searches and the affected puppies are humanely put to sleep at birth. It is very upsetting. In the 1960s we raised funds for Mann and Stratton’s research into the mode of inheritance. Recently we have helped fund research in Sweden which is not yet complete but now the canine genome mapping is complete; this research is to find the DNA marker and eventually a DNA test for the condition. None of this was mentioned in the programme.
“The research in Sweden was specific and consequently only nine ridgeless puppies and 11 dermoid sinus positive dogs were used. As it happens none of the ridgeless dogs carried the genes for dermoid sinus and on these false grounds, Ms Harrison revealed her true agenda against putting to sleep ridgeless puppies. We were told authoritively and incorrectly that the ‘deformity,’ the ridge, caused the dermoid sinus condition which was sensationalised with muddled, half-understood information and that we should use ridgeless stock to get rid of this problem. Nice to be such experts.
Help towards our goal of eliminating dermoid sinus came from Australia some years ago where data was collected from a large number of litters produced using various forms of folic acid/placebos. So promising were the results that it is used here, it would seem successfully. This information on the benefit of folic acid was just dismissed by Ms Harrison on the grounds that she had a scientific background and that the numbers were insufficient and there has been no update. Well, in human medicine, where the original tests evolved, the results were so conclusive it was not considered necessary to do further trials and indeed was considered unethical to withhold the benefits from the mothers being given the placebo. Very much worse was that she was told very clearly that dermoid sinuses had been found in ridgeless puppies.
Returning to Ms Harrison’s own real agenda, I gave my reasons, which were not aired, why a breeder might feel it a kinder option to humanely put to sleep a ridgeless puppy, however upsetting or horrid the task, and touch wood I have not been in this position. Our problem is in knowing the conflicting needs of this breed and some of modern society. Times have changed and instant gratification, unstable partnerships, busy lifestyles, limited patience and the throwaway society jeopardise permanent, suitable homes. If you need to be 100 per cent certain of your puppies’ wellbeing you have to be 200 per cent certain for any ridgeless one and it can become impossible. After the over-emotional desire to help the dog has faded and the dog becomes either an inconvenience or disappointment it is dumped, and being ridgeless it is devalued and becomes a second-class citizen. The necessary care in choosing a new home will not be repeated; the dog has to go and we are given no time. To this intensely loyal pack animal, intelligent and sensitive, this is a disaster and is too often repeated in a downward spiral.
As we in the breed know, at the bottom are the loathsome dog fighters and the guard dog trade which thinks Ridgebacks kill lions or that such a dog is a pit bull. To allow this possibility is certainly immoral and unethical. What we ask from the veterinary profession is a degree of support and acceptance that we do know what is best and are trying to do the right thing, and however much it may hold an alternative viewpoint it is ultimately our responsibility.”