Marc Abraham, TV vet and founder of PupAid, has posted an open letter to the Pet Industry Federation, challenging the organisation's stance over the controversial sale of puppies in pet shops.
His comments follow a report in Pet Trade Xtra on the announcement of PIF's Quality Assurance Standard for the Sale of Puppies in Pet Shops.
PIF claims the Standard will ensure the highest standards are reached by pet shops when selling puppies.
But Marc Abraham disagrees and in his open letter posted on The Huffington Post he says: "This Standard is not going to make any radical demands on third party vendors, and sadly seems unlikely to improve animal welfare standards either.
"Furthermore it seems to reflect PIF's complete failure to grasp that the outdated practice of selling puppies in pet shops is inconsistent with the unanimous basic advice for buyers (from RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, The Kennel Club, PDSA, DEFRA, etc) to always see the puppy interacting with its mother."
Marc Abraham went on to state: "You claim this Quality Assurance measure will ensure the 'highest standards' are reached by pet shops but you do not appear to recognise that these ought to apply to the entire supply chain rather than just the sale premises - which rarely provide for the young puppy's emotional and developmental needs."
According to Abraham, the primary areas of concern relating to the sale of puppies through pet shops are:
- Puppies bred in high volume, low welfare commercial breeding establishments, e.g. puppy farms
- Puppies separated from their mothers at too early an age (improperly weaned/socialised)
- Buyers having no opportunity to see puppies with their mother
- Puppies being transported over long distances in unsuitable conditions
- Risk of disease and health problems through poor breeding practices; conditions at the breeding establishment; stress resulting in compromised immune systems; inadequate biosecurity both in transit and on sale premises
- Lack of socialisation and habituation (throughout supply chain) necessary to ensure puppies are fit for purpose as family pets
- Conditions on premises unsuited to meeting welfare needs of puppies as outlined in Animal Welfare Act 2006
- Impulse purchasing
- Unsold puppies
"Sadly your 'Quality Assurance Standard' does not seem to satisfactorily address any of these concerns," he added.
"The only conclusion that can be drawn from this latest PIF development is that far from being an 'enormous step forward in the debate about puppy sales' you are simply demonstrating an ongoing refusal to accept that it is impossible to improve the sale of puppies in pet shops to a point where it becomes acceptable and does not negatively impact on animal, or indeed human, welfare."
A full version of Marc Abraham's open letter can be found online, click here
The Pet Industry Federation told us that it wouldn't be providing any comments on Marc Abraham's open letter at this stage. An article entitled 'Politics and puppies' by Nigel Baker, Chief Executive of the PIF, can be found at http://www.petcare.org.uk/index.php/news/142-news/1854-politics-and-puppies
