Irresponsible breeders cash in on canine craze
The Kennel Club (KC) has released figures demonstrating that official registrations of "wolf type" dog breeds have dropped, whereas rescue figures are on the rise. The new figures have prompted fears that unscrupulous breeders are cashing in on the latest canine craze, which is thought to have been triggered by films such as Twilight.
There was a 23 per cent drop in pedigree registrations for Alaskan Malamutes in 2012, a 15 per cent drop in Siberian Huskies and a 30 per cent drop in Akitas. At the same time, breed and general rescue homes are struggling to cope with the increasing numbers coming through their doors. It is believed these breeds may have gained popularity due to the likes of Jacob Black's half man half wolf character in the hugely popular film Twilight, and the direwolves in Game of Thrones, which are based on the Northern Inuit dog.
The KC Breed Rescue organisation Akita Rescue and Welfare Trust, saw the number of dogs coming through their doors treble to 91 in 2012, and the Friends of Akitas Trust and the Japanese Akita Trust took a further 135 dogs between them.
Stephanie Brown, from Akita Rescue & Welfare Trust said: “We simply cannot cope with the ever growing number of Akitas we are being asked to take on. Akitas are big strong dogs, should not be let off lead in public due to their prey drive and lack of recall. They are a luxury to own and are not cheap to look after."
As with Akitas, rescue homes are "inundated" with Siberian Huskies coming through their doors. The Siberian Husky Club of GB Welfare Scheme reached maximum capacity last year, while other rescue organisations took 158 huskies.
The Kennel Club has voiced concerns about the unscrupulous breeders who are willing to sell puppies to people regardless of their suitability. Sally Leich, a Kennel Club Assured Breeder of Siberian Huskies, said: “Too many breeders are selling their puppies with no questions asked, in order to cash in on the latest canine craze. The internet makes this so much easier because you can simply get a puppy delivered to your door."
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
