www.timesonline.co.uk/tol...icle6974649.ece

Thank you for the heads-up, Jane. I've had a quick look at the piece and this is what leapt out at me:

'In future it is envisaged that all puppies would also be sold with a veterinary certificate guaranteeing their health and stating the name of their parents as well as the registered number of the breeder.'

In other words, the vets are going to have to sign up to Professor Bateman's proposal. How many vets do you know who will be prepared to put their necks on the line and guarantee a puppy's health status at a few weeks old? And if they are, how much is this going to cost the breeder? And who will ultimately have to pay if not puppy buyers?

I think we may have a can of worms here.

I dont think you will find any vet that will put there necks out,
not even the most greedy vet, who would be in it for the money,
at the end of the day - its still them on the line if the pup develops something,

I can understand why they want something like this brought out,
and i think it would be good, as over the years ive met quite a few breeders,
who simpley shouldnt be breeding and not at the scale they are doing,
but even something like this would be hard to inforce, it even says for crosses as well,
how would they controal people breeding say Lurchers, a lot of them being breed
are 1st crosses.

Whatever they do, it will be the responsible owners who will pay, because the irresponsible owners don't, won't and never will.

Enforced registration of all dogs would be a good start. As long as the costs are within the means of the majority of owners, otherwise you will have thousands of dogs (pedigree and cross bred) dumped overnight.

This is one GIANT can of worms

I have to agree this subject opens a huge can of worms.I certainly agree something needs to be done concerning the health and welfare of certain breeds,but i'm not sure how this scheme would be workable or who would police it.There would still,i think,be "back street breeders" and those willing to buy puppies on the cheap.I also have no problem in principle to the re-introduction of the dog licence,but would the irresponsible dog owner bother to buy one?Lets face it,there are over a quarter of a million people driving in the U.K.without road tax or insurance etc-would they buy a dog licence?

I think this sounds like a very nasty can of worms. Once again it will be the genuine breeder to pays for it, not the person breeding the various oodles or whatever.

Pam

Hi, I read this one too - there is an article today in the Sunday Times on the same topic.