norway bans bulldogs and cavaliers

Professional breeders readily admit that the two breeds do pose "challenges", but say these can be overcome by selective breeding of individuals that meet certain requirements. The case was taken to court by Animal Protection Norway in 2018, which suedthe Norwegian Kennel Club (NKK), the Norwegian Cavalier Club, the Norwegian Bulldog Club and six breeders of English bulldog and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Lawyers representing theanimal rights group successfully argued for the ban, saying that because of the history of selective breeding in the country, none of the animals currently living in Norway can be considered 'healthy'. That's why we have been working hard to improve the health situation. Could Australia follow Norway's lead and ban breeding of dogs on animal welfare grounds? Since it's still allowed to import and own the breeds, and these are very popular breeds, we believe people will continue to buy them - but from irresponsible breeders, and breeders from countries which has a lower health standard then the ones connected to the Norwegian Kennel Club and the breed clubs in Norway. RFI is not responsible for the content of external websites. "In the judgement it was said that the dogs are born with headaches, I cannot understand that," says Lise Gran-Henriksen, who has been a breeder for 25 years, as she watches five of her Cavalier King Charles Spaniels frolic on the ice outside her Oslo home. "Data ispowerful, and will reveal how we as a country are shaping up. Cheryl White fell in love with Cavalier King Charles spaniels the first time she locked eyes with a puppy in a pet store in the 1980s. Professor McGreevy sayshe is hopeful the Norwegian court ruling will advance calls for more ethical dog breeding. "There's absolutely no joy in having to treat animals for chronic breathing difficulties all their life," he said. While he admitted these issues are emotive, as a dog owner himself, Professor McGreevy said we cannot "shy away" from serious questions. "So if we've bred them out, we could breed them in.". We have strict health requirements for the various breeds, and we work closely with specialists and research institutions to ensure that breeding goes in the right direction health-wise. Issued on: 22/02/2022 - 06:30Modified: 22/02/2022 - 06:29. Are we doing more eye surgery, more dental surgery? More than half of all bulldogs born in Norway over the past 10 years had to be delivered by Caesarian section. From our point of view it is far from obvious that this is a strengthening of the dogs' welfare. Follow the latest updates asNancy Pelosi visits Taiwan despite warnings from China, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media following a review into the ADF was announced. Audience ratings certified by ACPM/OJD. The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore. He pointed to modern efforts to breed out hip problems in German Shepherds as a positive. They also have heart and eye problems. But it delivered a shock to professional breeders. But dogs have the right to be bred healthy., But the NKK spoke out against the ruling, contesting the idea that the decision was made to protect the welfare of the dogs: -. In a recent ruling, the Oslo district court banned the breeding of the two purebreds on the grounds that it inflicts harm on them, in violation of Norwegian animal protection laws. Professor McGreevy said that while the news of banning breeding of certain breeds, due to animal welfare, may come as a surprise, it hadbeen a topic of discussion among vets and animal ethicists for decades. "Demand will not decline. The verdict from Oslo district court also recognizes that this party are the best practise among breeders in an health perspective. 'This absolute approach, which will be difficult to enforce, could further fuel the ongoing crisis of irresponsible breeders, illegal puppy smuggling and uninformed puppy buyers, and actually worsen the issues the legislation seeks to address. Ms White said COVID-19 lockdowns, and the strong demand for companion dogs, hadled to more backyard breeding, which hadexacerbated the problem. "Good intentions disappear when you see a cute face," he said. Along with the English bulldog, the Cavalier has been prohibited from being bred in the Scandinavian country. Since then - in July 2021 - The Norwegian Parliament voted to amend the wording of the breeding clause in Norway's Animal Welfare act to say that the NKK, breeder groups and private breeders were responsibly for breeding healthy animals. "It's not cheap to look after a dog with MVD.". This can lead to dogs having difficulties breathing, making snoring sounds, wheezing, limited endurance and heatstroke. "And if it means that the 'Brachys' have longer noses, and can still be called Bulldogs then bring it on. And the dogs that are sold will be more sick," she says. Norway has banned the selective breeding of British Bulldogs andCavalier King Charles Spaniels, after a court ruled that the practice is cruel and results in'man-made health problems' for the animals. ", "But if we allow the demand for extreme morphotypes to prevail over the need for animals to have a life worth living, then we've got to take a long hard look at ourselves.". "Animals are always holding a mirror up to us, and what we value," he said. It can also further fuel the crisis of illegally bred and imported dogs,' he continued. The Oslo court left some hope for lovers of British Bulldogs andCavalier King Charles Spaniels, ruling that breeders working to end the animal's health problems could continue. Oslo (AFP) Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are known for their tiny heads, English bulldogs for their smushed wrinkled muzzles -- traits their owners love. "They've got these gorgeous chocolate-drop eyes, and when you get to know them, you find they are so sweet and loving," she said. The decision bans the two iconic dog breeds that originated in Britain, with the British Bulldog commonly referred to as the national animal of the United Kingdom. "Unfortunately, for some reason the Cavalier has become a dog of choice for backyard breeders," she said. "The 'pin-up child' for breathing problems is, and always has been, the pug.". "Norway tends to be a leader in animal welfare they banned the whip in racing 30 years ago Australia doesn't generally get onto the list of leading countries for animal welfare.". In addition, they note that the court ruling does not ban the ownership, sale or import of bulldogs or cavaliers -- only their breeding. As for cavaliers -- which have won the hearts of many over the years, from Queen Victoria to Ronald Reagan and Sylvester Stallone -- they often suffer headaches because their skull is too small. Inbreeding has caused the two breeds to develop a "disease guarantee", a long list of hereditary illnesses that affect most individuals, if not all. 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Too much in-breeding means the English bulldog has developed respiratory difficulties due to its flattened muzzle. They've got a big heart," she said. But it is their heart that has been at the centre of a court case in Norway. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear all about the latest HKALPO related news, updates and projects. "The race's genetic inability to give birth naturally is reason alone for bulldogs not to be used for breeding," the district court judges wrote in their ruling. shild Roaldset, who heads up the charity, said: -, This is first and foremost a victory for our dogsIt is a historic verdict that attracts international attention. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Her organisation brought the legal case against dogbreeding companies and individuals. This has simply served to drive the breeding of these dogs underground, leading to large numbers of unregistered animals where it is impossible to reach the breeders or buyers of these dogs or have any impact on the breed's health and welfare. Some 30 years later, she has shared her home with dozens of Cavaliers, both as an owner and foster-rescue volunteer. "It's going to look a little bit different, but you can still call it a bulldog.". We know that outright breed bans do not work - we have seen this in the UK where attempts were made in 1991 with the Dangerous Dogs Act. Walking her English bulldog Oscar in an Oslo park, Anne Grethe Holen fears a rise in "undocumented dogs" from "puppy factories" abroad. He said veterinary schools in Australia werecontinually collecting clinical data from vets around Australia in a government-funded project called Vet Compass. They are happy dogs that run around and look very healthy, and that's what I think they are," she insists. "The Cavalier is a wild card in this because it's nowhere near as airway-compromised as the bulldogs that are still booming in popularity. And they've proven handy on her property on the outskirts of Toowoomba. The two breeds will eventually be led to extinction, she said. They have 30 per cent shorter lives.". In this way, we can ensure that healthy animals are used in breeding, and that the sick are excluded., However, others have expressed concern about the blanket breeding ban in Norway, including Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeder Services Executive at the UKs Kennel Club: -. Heart medication can cost $100 a week for each Cavalier. "I don't want to imagine a world without Cavaliers," Ms White said. "The way we breed dogs was maybe acceptable 50 years ago but is not acceptable anymore.". Figures from The Kennel Club reported the popularity of flat-faced dog breeds has increased by 2,747 per cent in the last 17 years but on the whole, owners cannot recognise their pets are in pain. So what will the future look like? 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"They won't be subjected to any veterinary requirements and you won't know anything about their pedigree," she adds. "And it's going to be painful for them because they're just going to get more and more diseases," she said. "I think we should be breeding for quality of life," said Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare at UNE. "Backyard breeders charge a lot of money, but you have to add on the cost of caring for the dog on top of that. The man-made health problems of the bulldog have been known since the early 20th century. "People really need to go into owning dogs with their eyes open," she said. Hailed by animal rights activists and criticised by breeders, the verdict comes amid a growing debate: is the quest for cute pets going to extremes at the expense of the animals' well-being? We believe a more effective approach is to continue to work collaboratively with breeders, vets, scientists and welfare organisations to research, understand and take evidence-based action via tools like the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme for Bulldogs to reduce and ultimately eliminate the health problems that these breeds can face, and to educate and influence uninformed puppy buyers and breeders. Cavalier King Charles spaniels are susceptible to heart mitral valve disease (MVD), which affects many Cavaliersby the age of five, and nearly all by the age of 10. The January 31 court ruling has been appealed and has therefore not come into force yet. "Oh, they've fought brown snakes, and won! This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. He said Cavaliers may have been a little unlucky to be singled out with the English bulldog by Norway, as breathing issues in short-nosed dogs affect a large number of breeds. The Court said in its ruling: -, 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.. "We don't want to pick on people who've got these dogs, but it's very much about trying to change the future thinking so that generations in five and 10 and 20 years' time don't have this problem," he said. "Certainly every breed comes with its problems.". Roaldset said these diseases cannot be bred away with other purebreds from abroad due to an overall lack of genetic diversity. British Bulldogs suffer from BOAS which stands for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome - which is caused by their distinctive short skull and snout. ", "Brachycephalic breeds die younger. The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals arguesbreeding dogs with known health conditions violatesthe country's Animal Welfare Act. Meanwhile, the Animal Welfare Society says the future of the two breeds lies in crossbreeding them with other types of dogs to get rid of their genetic flaws. "We need to change the way we breed dogs," she said. "If you look at the breeding standards from 150 years ago dogs that were called pugs had cute little noses rather than no noses," he said. "If the cavalier gets a slightly larger skull to fit their brain, it's still going to be the cutest dog in the world," says Roaldset. Are we improving? The Norwegian Kennel Club, the breed clubs and the six breeders are of course aware of the health challenges in these breeds. The disease can worsen over time too - with indigestion issues. But in an unprecedented move, Norway has banned the breeding of these dogs because being cute is causing them suffering. Experts say Australia is 'miles behind' in COVID-19 testing technology. As for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, selective breathing has led to heart defects, problems with their eyes and joints, as well as headaches. But Dr Webb admits the short-nosed dogs could be too "good looking" for their own good. "If so, they would not be so happy. 'For us, it is obvious that the answer to solving the health challenges lies in working with registered dogs. Fierce-looking but gentle -- and since World War II a symbol of British tenacity -- the English bulldog has developed respiratory difficulties due to its flattened muzzle, as well as dermatological, reproductive and orthopaedic problems. Alistair Webb is a Toowoomba vetand a director of the Australian Veterinary Association. Therefore, none can be used ethically for breeding purposes, they argued. "And this is where one of the problems lie; common sense often disappears [when choosing a pet] because the 'cute factor' takes hold.". 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