PETA claims 67 dog breeds could be banned in UK under new laws

An animal rights group has claimed that 67 dog breeds “could be banned” in the UK. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) first reported in March that breeds including beagle, bulldog and dachshund might be “phased out” as a result of “potential” legislation.

What does the checklist say?

Guidelines developed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) include 10 checks to determine if a dog is healthy or not. Under the guidance, a dog needs to pass eight or more “tests”, which include having a flexible spine, a tail long enough to wag and no underbite or overbite.

PETA said previously that the checklist is used by some councils to rule whether to grant a breeding licence. The use of the Innate Health Assessment checklist is voluntary, but PETA said obligatory use of the IHA “would be an excellent first step towards ending cruel and exploitative dog breeding for good”.

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PETA's concerns

PETA lists a number of issues affecting certain dogs that are selectively bred to look a certain way at the expense of their health. The list includes French bulldogs with squashed faces that struggle to breathe, Welsh corgis with short legs that struggle to walk and Cavalier King Charles spaniels with brains bigger than their skulls.

MPs dismiss the claim

While PETA reported that there were calls for the IHA to become law within five years, the APGAW insisted it will not be banning breeds, but seek to make them “sustainable and healthier”.

PETA's list of dog breeds “that could be banned” was dismissed as misinformation by the group of MPs. The APGAW, writing in March, said 90% of the breeds from PETA's list of 67 breeds would pass the checklist's tests while the remainder “can be bred more moderately” to pass.

The APGAW said the IHA was designed with input from breeders and the Royal Kennel Club, insisting the checklist is “not anti-breeder”. It said breeders who operate ethically and already breed correctly have nothing to worry about, adding: “The only breeder who needs to be worried are those perpetuating extreme conformations.”