Despite an update in legislation it is a problem that just won't go away, as shown in this documentary from BBC Scotland, aired just a few days ago.
Illegal dog trafficking and trading is still a profitable business and despite being prosecuted and convicted, the perpetrators continue with their foul business under the cover of illegality. The money is just too easy, the penalties are too low to deter. One out of every three dogs in Scotland, comes from illegal trafficking.
Maybe even more alarming, is how legislation designed to protect animals, is being used against the very animals it is designed to protect, and how factories are erected that farm dogs on a huge industrialized scale, like "Furnish kennels" in the documentary. They are legal and licensed by authorities - the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, or DARD, in the case of Scotland. The equivalent of the FDA. The license provides the perfect cover up.
BBC reporter Samantha Poling goes undercover and shoots footage from inside "Furnish kennels", with five hundred breeding dogs stricken from any form of human contact by automatic feeders, in cages and facilities sized according to legal requirements. The scale of the operation is humungous.
A show case of failed legislation. In stead of helping the dogs, they are even more degraded into breeding machines. Which is sadly something we are seeing all over Europe. The high-volume breeders adapt to the national legislation and let it work in their favor. In Denmark there are multiple licensed breeders that hold more than one hundred breeding dogs in their facilities, just like these of "Furnish kennels".
It is not a Scottish problem, nor a Danish problem, and all countries in Europe fight the dog trade in one way or the other. They have one thing in common though. They have no effect. In Denmark at the moment there is a discussion to erect an animal police, like the Scottish SPCA we can see in the documentary. Although an excellent idea, you'll see in the documentary that even the SPCA can not do anything about these licensed high-volume breeders.
How many high-volume licensed breeders do you think, operate in your country? You might be surprised of what you'll find.
It was interesting watching, although it showed nothing that many of us don't know already. However, it did give a good into the minds of people who breed dogs in this way - an unhealthy mix of downright and deliberate cruelty, an utter ignorance of the needs of dogs and sheer greed. And, let's be honest - it isn't just dogs who are bred like this. Many animals are kept in conditions like this - no daylight, no natural living conditions, no care for welfare, no space, no allowance for movement, just day after day after day of boring repetition to drive you stir crazy. Nobody kind enough to give you the time of day, a kind word, a salve to ease any sores. I don't consider these people to be fully human - I believe they are a sub-species who are lacking the compassion gene. I am glad I am not one of them.
ReplyDeleteAnd as you say - the SSPCA is powerless as long as these places have licenses. Until legislation changes drastically nothing will change. That said - this programme will have reached a few people who were oblivious to this kind of operation, and that at least is a good thing.
Ugh, it is SO frustrating! All over the world, these vile people continue to force dogs into a life of misery and suffering. All for the almighty dollar (or euro, or whatever)...we must push for outright bans, making it all completely illegal, and with heavy, frightful fines! Dogs are way too precious for such awful treatment.
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