Comments on: Kennel Club Hits Out at Cavalier Club; Supports Margaret Carter

By: Peggy

Peggy — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:19:38 +0000

My goodness me. I came across these comments in my research on cavalier king charles spaniels. I must say that i am now extremely concerned and at a real loss as to where to go to try to find a puppy. Am i to take it that i cannot trust a breeder who is kennel club registered? How will i know if i am buying a healthy little dog? any advice gratefully received. I live in London.

By: Delta Atm

Delta Atm — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:08:11 +0000

What is AKC getting out of this? Remember they are hand in glove with puppy mills. This makes me question everything they do. They admit they have been backing puppy mills and registering dogs from this venue. They also admit why they have recently welcomed a large puppy mill that distributed puppies to pet stores. They said this was strictly financially motivated. Their claim that they need the revenue. They also disclossed they have a ten to thirteen million dollar slush fund. I am suspect of anything AKC does. All breed clubs should beware of a wolf in sheeps clothing.

By: carla

carla — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:26:03 +0000

How about putting an end to all the puppy farms that are breeding from ill dogs, cross breeding, and producing and selling sick unhealthy puppies, but breeding from dogs with no heart or eye tests..

the amount of phone calls that I have had from what I consider to be puppy farmers, who have wanted to use my dogs for stud, (which I have not even done myself) and reckons their dogs have had the correct testing, yup right

Firstly, from my experience, it is the puppy farmers that have helped give our lovely breed such a bad name concerning health problems of mostly and firstly, hearts and eyes.

These are the primary tests that should be carried out before any breeding should take place… most breeders that I know are now testing for SM, although this is still no guarantee that the dogs or off springs will not produce or inherit this horrid disease.

I was at the cavalier club dog show where the BBC were filming, and have to say that they ‘lied’ about what the program was for to myself and my little lad who went and asked them.
How dare they talk about things that they know nothing about, they really dont, the information that they had was biased and not based on any factual information at all. They could have done more research, asked peoples views and comments, there would have been plenty, but no, they did not bother. They might have been pleasantly surprised and could have produced a far better programme, won credits even for their research if only the researcher and producers had done their ‘real job’ more efficently.

A lot more could have been gained from this, to have helped the breed, widen peoples knowledge of difficulties in the breed and could have been done without the slating of any individuals.

By: Ann Brownell

Ann Brownell — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:20:21 +0000

I saw the programme on the BBC with regard to genetic disease in Pedigree Dogs. The situation is outrageous and needs to be stopped.
I believe that:
1. The breeders and the Kennel Club are responsible for this situation and that they are breaching Consumer Law. A class action of purchasers who have purchased puppies should sue the Kennel Club for damages. A large award of damages against the Kennel club and the individual breeders will immediately cause breeders and the Kennel clubs to stop and review their actions.
In addition to the above class action I would recommend:
1. Heavy fines for any Kennel club who registers an animal with a genetic disorder.
2. Should a breeder at any time during this animal’s lifetime become aware that the animal has a genetic disorder they must immediately de-register and de-sex the animal producing vet certificates as evidence.
3. Their direct progeny must also be removed from the register and de-sexed. A failure by a breeder to act responsibly and take this action to be fined $50,000 pounds and barred forever from breeding forever.
4. No animal allowed in the show ring with a genetic disorder and breeders to increasingly be required to undergo testing of their animals for genetic disorders starting with the most common genetic diseases for that breed.
5. Breed Standards to immediately be amended so that practices that distort, maim dogs are removed for example ‘ridges on the ridge backs’. Breed standards to disallow disfigured and maimed dogs from entering the show ring.
6. The Kennel Club to have the power to request any breeder to present their animal to a registered specialist vet for genetic testing and should the breeder be found to have breached the above heavy penalties to be applied.

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:30:18 +0000

I am a heartbroken cavalier owner. I did all the research before I purchased my puppy. I avoided puppy mills, did my research and finally I choose a breeder on the west coast. I traveled all the way to California to pick up my little puppy from the breeder who had assured me that my puppy was perfect. I paid $5000.00 dollars for my darling dog. Today I just got back from the vet with my MRI results. My Cavalier has an advanced case of SM. It cost me $4500.00 for the MRI and this is just the beginning of the hard road ahead. I have gone into my retirement savings, and I now know that I need to choose between paying for an operation for the sweet little guy, letting him get worse and have more pain, putting him down, or spending all my savings. I love him so much and really do not know what to do. I feel extremely bitter towards the breeder for putting me in this situation and will pursue legal action in the future. I have been crying for two days straight and know I will shed more tears in the future..I just wanted you to know the pain and suffering this breeder has caused a real person in the real world.

By: Just love Cavaliers

Just love Cavaliers — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:27:35 +0000

I admire Margaret Carter for her campaign to highlight those Cavalier breeders who breed only for beauty. This beautiful little breed is being destroyed by greedy breeders. I have had two cavaliers who did not see their eighth birthdays. They had bowel problems also MVD they were bought from the same breeder in N. Ireland who has shown her dogs all over the UK and has many champions. Our home has been left broken- hearted shame on you all

By: May

May — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:04:32 +0000

I have had two dearly loved Cavaliers, both shared a similar pedigree although they were bought from very differnt breeders in different locations. One from a family home. Both suffered spinal defects; my first lost the use of her hind legs with paralysis gradually creeping up her spine from there, she was a cheerful happy bitch so I kept her until her quality of life became too bad to bear. I feel deeply angry that to due indiscriminate breeding this Cavalier, who was in pet terms the ‘love of my life’ had to be euthanized. My second Cavalier had some symptoms of syringomelia, and also suffered spinal deterioration, though in her case the vet prevented paralysis, but she was physically hampered by her condtion and after about five years of age was not a very happy dog. Some breeders are to blame for all of this by breeding from Cavaliers with known health problems and should feel deeply ashamed that they put money and show ring fame before the health of this lovely breed. The Cavalier is probably the world’s sweetest natured breed of dog, no finer companion can be found in the dog world. We should fight to restore this breed back to a fine state of genetic health so that future generations can enjoy owning this delighful breed

By: bet hargreaves

bet hargreaves — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:28:52 +0000

What can Margaret Carter do ?

There will be no Mandatory Health Testing until the Faulty Gene or Genes are found for MVD and SM in the Cavalier Breed

What is a Clear Certificate for SM and MVD ,the Cavaliers could be Carriers of those two conditions .

Bet Hargreaves

By: c lindley

c lindley — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:20:28 +0000

Well done margaret carter for speaking out i am with you all the way do you no why because you are for the cavalier and the others are for the money they are frightened of having them scanned the top breeders and show people frightened of the results they will get when they have them scanned they want to carry on making money out of the very dear cavalier well done margaret thats why they voted you off they must go to bed seeing pound signs they need to be banned from breeding and showing. they need to show a clear heart and sm cert before showing and breeding i think starting from now. not two years down the line.

By: Snoringbear

Snoringbear — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:53:57 +0000

Sheila, while I do not doubt that the majority of cav breeders are deeply committed to the health of their breed, I find it derisable that someone appointed to safeguard the health of the breed be ousted for speaking out against individuals who are knowingly propagting devastating health disorders. Although I do not agree with the sensationalist and one-sided presentation of the BBC programme, ostracising an individual who only has the wealthfare of the breed in mind is sheer madness as most of the general public whould not now touch pedigree breeds with a bargepole. “Breaking confidentiallity” merely suggest that something is deeply wrong and should not be made available to the public. My one quesion is – if that BIS cav stud didn’t have SM, why hasn’t she publically published the MRI scans? That would be the first thing I would do, not least to proove my own innocence but to reassure the owners of the 30 odd litters it had sired.