RSPCA Condemns Deplorable Puppy Culling Advice from Breed Club

The RSPCA has cautioned breeders who do not kill their puppies humanely that they will face animal cruelty charges should they follow the Rhodesian Ridgeback club of Great Britain’s advice to ‘cull’ puppies born without a ‘ridge’.

Commenting on the news reported on DogMagazine.net two weeks ago, that a breed club was issuing its breeders with advice to ‘cull’ any puppy which is born without a ridge, the UK’s largest animal welfare organisation has hit out at what it regards as a deplorable attitude.

Speaking to K9 Magazine, the charity said:

“The RSPCA deplores the idea of puppies being killed just because they don’t have the desired physical traits and urges breeders to be responsible.

Also there is no advice in the code of ethics about how puppies should be killed - if dogs are not killed humanely, owners could face prosecution.”

The Kennel Club commented earlier in the week that they were ‘extremely concerned’ that the breed club was issuing this termination instruction.

Ironically, there are some canine genetics experts who have commented that ridgeless varieties of the breed are actually less inclined toward certain health problems affecting the ridged examples. Furthermore, they say, culling ridgeless dogs from the breed’s genepool has the potential to leave the breed open to major inherited health defects in the future.

LINKS:

Rhodesian Ridgeback club of Great Britain members to ‘cull’ healthy puppies

Kennel Club deeply concerned by culling of healthy Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies

Author Details
Ryan O'Meara is editor-in-chief of K9 Magazine, the lifestyle magazine for dog lovers. He lives in the East Midlands with his own two dogs, Mia and Chloe. - See this author's webpage

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