A feature on the state of dog breeding in today’s Sunday Telegraph gave brief mention to the Pet Owners Parliament.

Despite not quite getting our name or stated intentions correct - (P.O.P was not “set up to push for reform of the pedigree dog system”) - we are grateful for the mention, having answered a number of questions about how it may be possible to improve the state of breeding in the UK.

One area of the report which gives particular concern was this quote:

Holly Lee, from the Kennel Club, said: “We’re aware of the inherited health problems but we’re the best placed to deal with them.”

It would seem like stating the obvious to point out the fact that the KC can hardly be ‘best placed to deal’ with the problems of inherited health problems when it is the self same KC who have presided over the decline and major deficiencies affecting some breeds to date.

This is not a new problem and this is not a new Kennel Club and this quote smacks of the sot of arrogance and know’s-best attitude which has lead to many of today’s canine health problems going unresolved.

Read the Sunday Telegraph article in full - here