Stop the Bill - Save Our Breeds

I don’t even know where to start, but I’m devastated and scared for the future of rare purebred dogs in the UK. I apologise that this is probably extremely disjointed but I’m writing from the heart and from fear.

Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill [2023-24]
ANIMAL WELFARE (IMPORT OF DOGS, CATS AND FERRETS) BILL EXPLANATORY NOTES

In particular, I draw attention to Clause 1, which this post will mostly refer to.
“Clause 1 Regulations about bringing dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom
Subsections (3) and (4) ensure that the first regulations made in each of England, Scotland and Wales under subsection (1) in relation to dogs or cats must prohibit the bringing into that part of the United Kingdom dogs or cats where they are below the age of 6 months, more than 42 days pregnant, or have been subject to non-exempted mutilations (cropped ears, docked tails or declawed).”
If this bill goes through, it will mean the end of the Kai Ken, and similar rare breeds, in the UK.

We have 10 Kai in the UK, 5 of those being breeding dogs/prospects. The rest are in pet homes/neutered. We have 2 possible stud dogs. We don’t have enough, and likely will not have enough in the next 50 years, to establish a genepool that could survive on its own without new imports- but even if that was possible, we NEED imports, all breeds do.

We cannot expect breeders to hold puppies until 6 months for us. I am sure there are many who would, but to expect it is unfair on the breeders and the puppies. It is not feasible to expect a breeder to train, house and feed a puppy until 6 months when they have their own dogs and their own program to worry about. There is also already a clear difference in dogs imported vs domestically born puppies due to the gap in age of going home. To increase that is not fair on anyone, puppies, breeders or puppy owners.
Those of us who breed here, we are hobby breeders, we do not have the money or the space to import a ton of dogs right now and establish a genepool here, nor would we want to do so. I always promised that my dogs are pets before all else, and I would not want to sacrifice that even if it means the end of me breeding.

We don’t have the luxury of falling back on the hope of the Kennel Club either as our breed is not recognised by them. If there is perhaps some sort of clause added to the bill to allow KC assured breeders to import, it would not help us. I do plan to reach out to them and ask, however, if they have any advice or plan.

This bill, which is supposed to combat ‘puppy smuggling’, is appealing to the UK public’s love of animals to promote something that will simply not change or stop those importing illicitly. Puppy mills and ‘smugglers’ are not following the CURRENT guidelines to bring dogs into the UK, they will be going around this. There is no talk of what this will do to reputable breeders and importers, only taking advantage of an outrageous headline to draw huge support. Of course we want to ban puppy smuggling, but this new law will change absolutely nothing to those people.

The bill ITSELF states that in 2023, 116 puppies and kittens were quarantined for being below the legally required minimum age for import. Why would those already bringing these animals in illegally be prevented by increasing the age of import, when they are ALREADY bringing them in below the minimum age? Even to those out there who do not support reputable breeding at all, surely you must see that there is no way this will change anything for the better.

IT WILL NOT WORK.

The only thing it will prevent is responsible breeders and owners from bringing new bloodlines of already endangered breeds into the UK.
I can’t let everything we’ve worked for come to an end like this.

I am not just asking, I am begging and pleading for all those who love the Kai Ken and other rare breeds in the UK, please, contact your MPs, contact the media, journalists, anyone you can and get the word out that this bill will do nothing but harm the already dwindling populations of rare breeds. If you want, copy and share these words, or those of our friends, and keep this bill from passing.

Even if your breed is not rare, THIS WILL AFFECT YOU. Even breeds with established populations need imports, need new lineage added to the genepool. This will be catastrophic for purebred dogs in general, but our rare breeds will be the first to feel it.
The Association of Nihon Ken put out a letter during the last attempt on this bill, please, if you are able, send it to your MP and help us.
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Assocation of Nihon Ken - We are reaching out to our UK based members today, to ask a huge favour.
If you wish to download an editable version of this letter, you may do so here.
To find your local MP and how to contact them, click here.

Please, don’t let them destroy our rare breeds. We are just getting our first steps in the UK, please don’t let this start die out before it can flourish.