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RSPCA, Dogs Trust and Crufts – Why Withdraw?
Over the past day I have heard many arguments put forward that the RSPCA’s withdrawal from Crufts is ‘pointless’ or ‘cutting their nose off to spite their face’. Now the Dogs Trust have (rightly) followed suit and made a rapid decision to withdraw from the event.
Some have argued that the RSPCA’s and the Dogs Trust’s presence at Crufts is essential in enabling the charity to promote their issues to the dog lovers in attendance. Some have suggested these charities should have continued to talk with the Kennel Club and come to a quiet resolution.
I disagree with all of these suggestions.
What the RSPCA and now Dogs Trust have done is show leadership. They have done something the Kennel Club needs to do but sadly can’t seem to muster the strength. The RSPCA have nailed their colours to the mast, they have stood up to be counted, they have taken a position on an issue that is very, very serious and very, very important.
So let us look at the options.
Keep attending Crufts and promoting the RSPCA’s work to the people in attendance. The RSPCA is a very well known charity with a very strong presence across the country. They are involved in many animal welfare issues and they have a number of initiatives to promote. Over the four days of Crufts, the RSPCA can certainly do *some* good work but in the grand scheme of things, it won’t make too big a dent on their overall animal education work for the year. In fact, with this decision to pull out of Crufts and the increased credibility it brings to their message they will be able to make an even bigger impression on dog owners nationally.
They could have done and said nothing. Let’s knock this one on the head straight away. This was never an option. What the RSPCA’s chief vet Mark Evans said in Pedigree Dogs Exposed needed saying. These are not new views being expressed in the wake of the documentary, let us not get confused (as some people have) with the notion that the RSPCA has reacted to Pedigree Dogs Exposed and made this move. The RSPCA were a central part OF Pedigree Dogs Exposed, the pre-broadcast publicity for the documentary was mainly centered around the views of Mark Evans BECAUSE he was speaking on behalf of the RSPCA. Whether people choose to agree or not, the RSPCA is nationally recognised name in animal welfare, their views carry weight. They did not sit at home and watch Pedigree Dogs Exposed and then say ‘Oh, we’d better do something’. No, via Mark Evans they were integral in the documentary itself. Let’s not forget that. So they did have a decision to make regarding their future involvement at Crufts and the decision they made was the correct one.
They could have kept talking to the Kennel Club in private. They are still talking to the Kennel Club. Dialogue is ongoing and will no doubt continue to happen for the foreseeable future. However, there comes a time when people have to accept that talk is, as the saying goes, cheap. Dogs lives and welfare are being compromised. I wrote on this very site back in January how ironic (and a little stomach churning) I found it to see the Kennel Club so pro-active in their mission to ban electric collars. Personally, I couldn’t care less about electric collars, they divide opinion massively and I feel people can and should make their own mind up how they feel about them. The fact that the RSPCA wishes to campaign against them has never given me a moment’s problem. The RSPCA is there to fight animal welfare issues. But for the Kennel Club to poke its beak in? That was something I found hard to swallow. I asked the question in January and will ask it again, how many dogs are sitting in veterinary surgeries now that are about to be put to sleep because of something an electric collar has caused compared to how many are about to lose their lives because of disease and illness caused by Kennel Club endorsed breeding practices?
The RSPCA and Dogs Trust needed to SHOW leadership. They needed to SHOW people that they were prepared to take a stand and that the status quo can not continue. The Kennel Club has argued for as long as people will listen that it is on top of the problems and is best placed to fix them. Well here’s my message to the Kennel Club, people don’t think you are doing enough. People don’t thing you are doing anywhere NEAR enough. It’s time to accept reality or further isolate yourselves from the right side of animal welfare concerns.
Much praise to the RSPCA and Dogs Trust. Others MUST follow their lead without delay.
The whole hypothesis behind the Kennel Clubs Breed standard system leads to deformities, suffering and death for a proportion of dogs their registered breeders produce.
The purpose behind winning these shows is to command high prices for stud fees and pups from the winning breeder’s bloodline.
It is simple commercial exploitation where the dogs are victims of humans seeking reward and fame.
Thus I conclude it is cruel and unjust.
This is a most appropriate decision by the RSPCA and Dogs Trust. They have their priorities in order. Welfare comes first. Appearance is nothing compared to quality of life and freedom from pain and discomfort.
It is difficult to comprehend how anyone in a humane society can condone or defend these practices let alone promote them, which is an act of malice and reflects poorly on a society that accepts it as a practice.
All dog rescue groups and charities should follow the example of the RSPCA.
It will be a good indication to dog rescue supporters as to the priorities of each organisation.
Those who prioritise money will attend Crufts and other KC events. Those who prioritise dogs will not.
There will be ‘political’ arguments offered by some dog rescues to ‘justify’ their continued attendance at Crufts and other KC events.
Hype about ‘working with the KC to make improvements’ and arguments about keeping doors open to enable influence for the better will be tabled – but it’s hype, excuses – nonsense. Anyway, too late for that.
Animal welfare societies should have used any influence they had many years ago instead of looking the other way and taking the KC’s money.
Now, the best way to make a change is a clean sweep and new beginning.
So those who really do care about dogs will disassociate themselves with KC activities and stand, united, against them.
This will be a true litmus test for dog rescue groups and will demonstrate who is worthy of public support.
The public, will be able to judge who best to support when a rescue appeals for funding in the future.
I would encourage any right thinking person not to support any organisation or business that is involved in, or associated with, inhumane animal welfare practices or is supporting activities that are.
Hi I live in Spain but am here in the u.k. to see family i came accross mark evans on the t.v. I am going back to spain next week and will email you their . when I want to tell you my story of my two severly disabled border collies both with heritary problems . who are still only 3 yrs 6 months old . I brought from Detania boarding kennels in the u.k.mrs gillespie is judge at crufts and i considered her repitable breeder . little did I know she would cause my family constant worry, tension and trauma as well as being heartbroken regards denise penning