The first lawsuit updates

Text: Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals. Published 20. march 2023.

The symposium was attended by veterinarians, geneticists, researchers, lawyers, behavioral biologists and veterinary nurses. All with a common desire; to turn dog breeding in a scientific direction where health carries much more importance than appearance.

Sky-high level of knowlegde

Of the Norwegian participants, representatives from the University of Life Sciences, the Veterinary Association, the Norwegian Veterinary Nurse Association and the Norwegian Kennel Club’s Health Committee were present. There was an overwhelming international interest in participating in the symposium. The Royal Veterinary College, the University of Cambridge, FECAVA, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal welfare, the Finnish veterinary association and various animal welfare organisations were represented.

The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals initiative against unethical breeding has reached large parts of the world. Professionals and scientists from all over the world share our concerns for the dogs’ wellbeing, and like us, believe that it is a matter of course that dogs should be bred healthy.

No scientific disagreement

There is no scientific disagreement that a hundred years of mating cousins to cousins and keeping a closed stud book causes disease. There is substantial scientific evidence showing that both the dogs’ extreme exterior and their high degree of inbreeding cause enormous disease burdens. The concept of purebreds has no scientific basis. It is based on an idea constructed by us humans. Unethical breeding has become the biggest animal welfare problem in our dogs, and it is our responsibility to fix these manmade health issues we have brought upon our innocent dogs.

With that as a starting point, the stage was set for two incredibly exciting days of lectures by some of the world’s best scientists and professionals in their field. Both genetics, veterinary medicine and national/international law were on the agenda.

The dogs have waited long enough

Although the Norwegian Food Safety Authority did not participate in this symposium, we hope that they rely on research and the EU’s guidelines for dog breeding in their ongoing work on regulating dog breeding. The upcoming regulation will be decisive for how quickly we can solve the biggest welfare problem for our dogs. It is obvious that the dogs’ right to be bred healthy, must be based on current understanding of science and available technology. Hence the new regulation of dog breeding must assimilate the current understanding of science and the available technology.

There are no good arguments for accepting dog breeding in its current form. We must start using science and prioritising health and temperament over looks. In Norway, the databases and technology to start breeding based on science are ready and available for use. There is no need to wait.

Text: Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals. Published 20. november 2022.

The verdict in Borgaring Court of Appeal was in on friday.

Breeds in violation of the law

In Norway, we have an animal welfare law that gives our dogs strong protection against unnecessary injury, disease and pain. The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals believes that this law is not followed in much of today’s dog breeding practice. We are therefore very satisfied with the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which shows us that the regulations have a real effect. Now two legal instances have established through the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed that parts of today’s breeding practices are in violation of the law. This is a huge victory for animal welfare.

For many decades, professional circles have been strenuously trying to raise concerns about these problems, now another legal instance agrees with this, says CEO of The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals Åshild Roaldset. This judgment therefore means that you cannot continue as before – and it is important to get it established.

Bulldog with reservations

The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals is at the same time surprised by the Court of Appeal’s conclusion on the English bulldog. This is a breed with a huge disease burden, and where a large proportion of the population suffers from breathing problems. The hereditary disorders of this breed have been well documented in the literature for almost a hundred years, and recent research clearly shows that the condition of this breed is critical. The Court of Appeal nevertheless sets the threshold higher than what the District Court did for the bulldog, claiming that the health challenges have not been sufficiently proven.

With an inbreeding rate in the bulldog of approximately 35% and so many different diseases, we believe that you have no opportunity to significantly improve the health of this breed without cross-breeding, says Roaldset. It is a shame if our dogs have to suffer for even more years, in order for us to be able to shed enough light on this.

Dog breeding of the future

It is important to point out that this judgment is not about the consequences of the court establishing a ban on further breeding of one of the two breeds. Although it has been mentioned a lot, the case is not about crossbreeding projects, or about the risk of illegal imports. These are of course also very important topics, which the Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals is actively working on, but they are outside of what the court has decided.

Our focus is and will remain on the dogs and their welfare. The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals has worked for animals since 1859. To not address the biggest animal welfare problem in the dogs of our time would be to fail the values ​​that the organisation stands for, says Roaldset.

The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals wants MORE and BETTER organisation of dog breeding, and that it must apply to all individuals – both purebred dogs, designer dogs and mixed dogs. We want all dogs to be sold with estimated breeding values ​​for temperament, function and health, and genomic relatedness. This is in line with the EU’s guidelines for dog breeding, which both breeders, kennel clubs, animal welfare organisations and the authorities should be able to agree on.

Geneticists must be involved in dog breeding. The time when selection of breeding animals is made by exterior judges, with the main focus on appearance, must be over. The price the dogs have had to pay for this type of unscientific breeding practice has been far too high for far too long. Dogs are descended from the wolf and did not look like they do today until humans started breeding. In other words, the ailments these dogs live with are entirely man-made.

Text: Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals. Published 16. september 2022.

The obsession with breed purity should long ago have been thrown on the scrap heap of history in favour of science and compassion for the well-being of our dogs.

Science is the solution

The problem with dog breeding is that breeding over the last century or so, has mainly been based on the dog’s appearance. In all these years, close matings, like cousins, mother to son, or grandfather to granddaughter, ​​have also been allowed and even desired. Because of this, inbreeding has become sky-high, and many breeds suffer today from dozens of serious hereditary diseases that are impossible to breed away from without bringing in healthy genes. Systematic breeding has thus created the biggest animal welfare problem in dogs of our time. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and English Bulldog are two of the breeds most affected by these breeding efforts.

The core of the case, which will now go before the Court of Appeal, is a disagreement between The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals (NSPA) and the Norwegian Kennel Club (NKC), the breed clubs and the breeders about how the wording of the breeding clause in section 25 of the Animal Welfare Act should be understood.

NSPA has always made it clear that an out of court settlement between the parties would be the best solution, but only if such a settlement includes scientifically based crossbreeding projects to save the two breeds in question: English Bulldog and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Professionals on both sides agree that crossbreeding is the fastest way to improve the health of these breeds. By carrying out scientific cross-breeding and scientific breeding work to improve the animals’ health, breeding of these dogs will thus be able to continue.

NKC, insists that these breeds must be purebred, and that crossbreeding is not an option. This is a disturbing point of view, which comes at the expense of health, welfare and the dogs’ life span.

– The stubborn attitude we encounter from those who are supposed to care for the dogs is the reason why NSPA sees no other solution than to fight this case further in the legal system, says Åshild Roaldset, CEO and veterinarian of The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals.

Health testing is just lip service

For over 20 years, information and dialogue has been attempted, to bring about change for the dogs, with little luck. Meanwhile, the situation for many of our purebred dogs is getting worse. NKC’s arguments about health testing and efforts of systematic breeding work is just lip service. Where has this systematic breeding actually taken the dogs..?

All cavaliers have, through human-controlled breeding, the anatomical features that can lead to extreme headaches. All English bulldogs have reduced respiratory function compared to dogs with normal noses, and they have a life expectancy of only 7.4 years. The list of problems is endless. Our dogs suffer because the systems for dog breeding in Norway today prioritize breed purity at the cost of science. The health challenges of the two breeds have been well documented and undisputed for decades. The Norwegian Kennel Club and the breed clubs have over the years, implemented unscientific measures in an attempt to improve the serious health problems they themselves have created and acknowledge exist. The measures have, of course, not had a significant effect, but continue to mislead puppy buyers and the public. For several decades, tens of thousands of puppies have been born to very challenging lives.

– To insist that the idea of a pure breed should trump the dogs’ right to good health and good function is a betrayal of our dogs. We can breed better, healthier and happier dogs. Our dogs deserve that we do our very best to give them good lives in a healthy body, says Roaldset.

The appeal case will take place at in Oslo at the Borgarting Court of Appeal from September 19th-23rd.

Kreuzzüchtungen sind vollständig möglich 

Ein gefälltes Urteil nicht das Verbot der seriösen Züchtung von Bulldogge oder Cavalier bedeutet, da seriöse und wissenschaftlich betriebene Kreuzzüchtung eine gut geeignete Alternative darstellen könnten. In den letzten 50 Jahren gab es eine rasante technologische und wissenschaftliche Entwicklung. In Norwegen haben wir die Infrastruktur und Technologie um eine gute, wissenschaftlich verankerte Zuchtarbeit zu erreichen. Unsere Hunde verdienen es, eine gute Ausnutzung dieser Entwicklung zu genießen, und die Art und Weise, wie wir Hunde züchten, muss ständig dem zur jeweiligen Zeit zugänglichen Wissen angepasst werden.

-Die menschengeschaffenen Gesundheitsprobleme der Bulldogge sind schon seit dem frühen 20. Jahrhundert bekannt. Dieses Urteil hat also sehr auf sich warten lassen, sagt die Geschäftsführerin des Tierschutzbundes, Veterinär Åshild Roaldset.

Über viele Jahrzehnte hat man kranke Hunde gesetzeswidrig gezüchtet. Was hier passiert ist ein systematischer und organisierter Verrat an unseren vierbeinigen Freunden. Heute wurde endlich festgestellt, dass dies ein Gesetzesverstoß ist.

Das Urteil verdeutlicht den Bedarf für Änderung

Der norwegische Tierschutzbund hat unter anderem die Einführung einer ID-Markierung und den systematischen Gebrauch von Gemüts- und Eigenschaftsmerkmalen sowie von Gesundheits- und Erbschaftsdatenbasen in der Zucht vorgeschlagen.

– Ohne Nachverfolgungsmöglichkeit und die Benutzung von Datenbasen ist es unmöglich für das Mattilsynet (die norwegische Behörde, die Brüche des Tierschutzparagrafen untersucht und anzeigt) eine effektive Aufsicht über die Hundezucht durchzuführen. 2020 hat die EU Richtlinien zur Hundezucht veröffentlicht. Es ist nur natürlich, dass diese Richtlinien grundlegend sind für jede Hundezucht in Norwegen, sowohl für Rassehunde als auch für Mischlingshunde, sagt Roaldset.

Viele europäische Länder haben eine entsprechende Gesetzgebung, und entsprechende Krankheitsbelastung bei ihren Hunden. Wir hoffen, dass dieses Urteil dazu beitragen kann, die Gesundheit der Hunde weit über unsere Landesgrenzen hinaus zu verbessern. Die “ærlig talt”- Kampagne (“mal im Ernst”, eine Kampagne des Tierschutzbundes gegen unethische Züchtung von Hunden) und dieser Prozess haben viele Teile der Welt erreicht.

Der heutige Tag geht als ein Feiertag für unsere Hunde in die Geschichte ein. ALLE, die Hunde mögen haben allen Grund, heute zu feiern!

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Cross-breeding fully possible 

A conviction does not imply a ban on serious breeding of Bulldog or Cavalier, as serious and scientifically based cross-breeding could be a good alternative. In the last 50 years, there has been a rapid technological and scientific development. In Norway, we have both the infrastructure and technology to achieve good, scientifically based breeding work. Our dogs deserve to benefit from this development, and the way we breed dogs must be adjusted according to the best available knowledge.

– The man-made health problems of the bulldog have been known since the early 20th century. This verdict is many years overdue, says CEO, BVSc Åshild Roaldset.

For several decades, sick dogs have been bred in violation of Norwegian law. What has taken place here is a systematic and organized betrayal of our four-legged friends. Today it has been confirmed that this is illegal.

The ruling clarifies the need for change

The NSPA has proposed the introduction of chip marking and the systematic use of temperament, traits, health data and kinship data in breeding.

– Without traceability and the use of databases, it is impossible for the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to conduct effective supervision of dog breeding. In 2020, the EU presented guidelines for dog breeding, and it is reasonable that these guidelines should be leading for all dog breeding in Norway, both for purebred dogs and for mixed breed dogs, says Roaldset.

Many European countries have similar legislation, and a similar disease burden in their dogs. The NSPA hope that this ruling can help improve the health of dogs far beyond our borders.

This is an historic day for our dogs. EVERYONE who loves dogs has reason to celebrate today!

– This is a day of celebration for our dogs! The Animal Welfare Act is intended to protect animals from the irrational actions of humans, and it has done so today. This is about the dogs’ right to feel good, says Åshild Roaldset.

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Important to use estimated breeding values

All the required tools are available

Norway has both the technology and the databases required to monitor EBV and should therefore be a driving force in this work. The NSPA believes that the new regulations play an important part in solving the issues of serious health challenges and extreme inbreeding in our dog population.

We are also convinced that enabling monitoring of dog breeding in Norway with relatively limited resources will be of tremendous value to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. By embracing the latest advantages in science and by using existing technology, we can improve the health of our dogs and ease the supervision of breeding.

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