Navigating Animal Hardships
Profit-Driven Practices in Large Scale Dog and Cat Breeding
In Flanders and abroad, large-scale dog and cat breeders and importers are primarily driven by financial gain, often at the expense of animal welfare. Overbreeding and neglect are rampant in facilities that can legally house hundreds of adult dogs and breed thousands of puppies per year. With limited staff, these animals receive insufficient care and attention, leading to illness and behavioural issues. Importers similarly house animals in substandard conditions and fail to meet Flemish welfare standards. These unethical practices result in an influx of sick and poorly socialised animals in shelters, with unsuspecting owners left to deal with the aftermath.
Large-scale breeders, both importers and Flemish breeders, seem to be primarily motivated by financial gain rather than the welfare of the dogs and cats they breed.
1. Overbreeding and Neglect: the Unseen Costs of Large-Scale Breeding in Flanders
Large-scale breeders in Flanders, similar to importers, appear to prioritize financial gain over animal welfare.
The issue of overbreeding in large-scale facilities, especially of puppies (and kittens), is a significant problem. These establishments, which are legally allowed to house 500 adult dogs, including at least 400 females can produce an average of 1.5 litters each per year. This results in approximately 3,600 puppies being born per year, or 300 per month. Given that puppies are only sold after two months, at any given time, there can be up to 600 puppies and 500 adult dogs in the facility. Despite this high number, these facilities often only have a minimum of ten permanent employees to care for the animals seven days a week. This leads to a lack of quality upbringing for the animals, insufficient care, and attention. As a result, the problem of animal welfare in shelters and the pet trade is exacerbated.[1]
Furthermore, these puppies (and kittens), bred in substandard conditions, are rapidly sold from clean kennels, creating a false impression of their upbringing. The true conditions of their upbringing become evident when illnesses caused by inadequate vaccinations and unsanitary conditions surface after the sale. Due to their rushed upbringing, puppies (and kittens) are commonly undersocialized, leading to behavioral issues that can be challenging to correct. As a result, many owners surrender these animals to shelters, passing the burden of rehabilitation onto others, while the breeders profit. This practice by large-scale breeders results in an influx of sick and poorly socialized animals in shelters, a decline in animal welfare, and leaves shelters and unsuspecting owners to deal with the consequences.
2. Detrimental Impacts of Poor Breeding Practices in Animal Imports
A significant portion, about one third, of puppies originate from barns in Eastern European (primarily in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia), Russia, and Belarus. The breeding conditions in these regions often fall short of the welfare standards established in Flanders. [2] While the Flemish authorities have implemented a ‘whitelist’ system to verify the welfare of animals from import breeders, those working in the field have little confidence in its effectiveness. They view it as a basic list that encompasses a collection of foreign animal collection centers supposedly under government supervision. The skepticism about the degree and efficacy of this supervision is considerable, leading to a sentiment that the system should perhaps be abolished.[3]
After birth, the animals are transported to collection centers and then crammed into small cages for transport, enduring long, stressful journeys to Flanders.
Once in Flanders, the puppies (and kittens) are quickly sold from clean kennels, misleading buyers from their upbringing. The neglected care from breeders becomes evident when illnesses and behavioral issues, [4] caused by inadequate vaccinations [5] and unsanitary conditions, emerge after purchase.
Furthermore, puppies (and kittens) are often insufficiently socialized due to their rushed upbringing, leading to behavioral issues that can be difficult to correct. As a result, many owners [6] surrender these animals to shelters, shifting the burden of rehabilitation onto others, while the breeders walk away with their profits.[7]
Moreover, animals bred outside of Flanders often fall short of Flemish welfare standards.[8] Foreign shelters frequently overlook key animal welfare factors. the Flemish rules regarding minimum separation age from the mother, yearly litter limits for mother animals, and specific requirements on adequate staffing and outdoor access do not apply to these shelters.
This situation indicates that many large-scale dog and cat breeders prioritize profits over animal welfare, leading to an increase in sick and poorly socialized animals in shelters, declining animal welfare, and unsuspecting owners left to handle the aftermath.
3. Problems and Policies in Foreign Rescue Dog and Cat Importation
There are challenges associated with the importation of foreign rescue dogs (and cats) due to the absence of a comprehensive legal framework and instances of unprofessionalism among some rescue organizations. While the purpose of these organizations is to aid animals, thorough screening processes are crucial. Additionally, the existence of malicious individuals or organizations, primarily driven by profit, cannot be ignored.[9]
Some animal protection organizations are not in favor of importing foreign dogs (and cats), as it is believed this merely shifts the problem and local adoption would be a more cost-effective solution.[10]
However, the Flemish Animal Welfare Code grants the Flemish Government the authority to set welfare standards for the importation of animals intended for adoption. This includes stipulations related to registration, details about the animal, information on the adopter, transportation, and the adoption process itself.[11]
Strategies for Ethical Breeding and Pet Adoption
To promote ethical practices in pet adoption and breeding, here are eight strategies we recommend:
- Encourage adoption over shopping, promoting platforms and websites that include animals in shelters. This will help reduce the number of animals in shelters.
- Only permit good breeders to trade dogs and cats, as defined by guidelines. [12] This will ensure animals are bred and sold under appropriate conditions.
- Breeders should only start breeding if they have sufficient requests for animals. This will prevent overbreeding and ensure that every animal has a potential home. [13]
- Establish a maximum limit on the number of dogs or cats that can be bred in a breeding facility. While facilities may be operating within the law, some house more than 500 adult dogs for breeding. This clearly compromises the quality of breeding and often results in the production of fearful dogs.[14]
- Permitting dogs and cats to reproduce within their home environment, alongside their human and animal family, could enrich their social bonds and lessen the need for breeders. This practice should be regulated to ensure every offspring secures a suitable home and prevent an increase in neglected pets.
- Enforce a prohibition on breeding, keeping, and trading of cat and dog breeds with hereditary disorders and hypertypes. This will improve the genetic health of the animals.
- Implement legislative work prohibiting importing pups and kittens from breeders abroad. This could significantly reduce the amount of animals subjected to harsh conditions during transportation and will also help control the population of animals in local shelters.
- Implement specific rules and a legal framework for foreign rescue organizations and the import of rescue dogs and cats. This will ensure only professional and legitimate organizations can operate.
Impact if the Optimal Reality is realized:
499 Animals
266 dogs
233 cats
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In the year 2022, registrations in Cat and Dog ID in Flanders accounted for 97,000 dogs and 85,000 cats. Every year, an estimated 30,000 dogs and 2,000 cats are brought into Flanders from abroad. As a result, on a daily basis, 499 animals (comprising of 266 dogs and 233 cats) are subjected to trading and its effects. These dealings are often conducted through large-scale breeders of dogs and cats.[15]
[1] This passage refers to an intervention by Philip Zurinckx, head of the nonprofit organization “Dierenvrienden Sint-Truiden”. He participated in a hearing regarding animal shelters and the importation of street and shelter animals. This hearing took place on 18 October 2023, before the Committee for Animal Welfare of the Flemish Parliament.
[2] The meeting of the Flemish Parliament’s Commission for Animal Welfare on May 4, 2022, included a discussion on the countries from which dogs are most commonly imported. This discussion occurred in the context of questions raised to the Flemish Vice-Minister President, Ben Weyts, about the Hungarian-Flemish agreement on dog trade. The FAVV (Federal Authority for the Safety of the Food Chain) also identified Russia and Belarus as origin countries with large numbers of dogs in 2022. E-mail communication with an employee of the FAVV, DIRCO, DG Control on February 19, 2024.
[3] This passage refers to an intervention by Trees Hendrickx, a certified dog behavior therapist (Odisee-KU Leuven), and an expert on Belgian and foreign animal shelters. The intervention occurred during the hearing referred to in note 1.
[4] Examples of illnesses that puppies and kittens may develop due to neglect and unsanitary conditions include parvovirus, distemper, respiratory infections, intestinal parasites, and kennel cough in dogs, and feline distemper, respiratory infections, and feline leukemia in cats.
[5] Puppy and kitten breeders, especially those involved in imports, may administer inadequate vaccinations to sell the animals when they’re younger and more appealing. They may not give vaccinations, vaccinate too early, or falsifying the animal’s age in its passport. The law dictates vaccination ages, which breeders may ignore to maintain the animals’ appeal and avoid diminishing the ‘cuteness factor’ for sale. These issues arise partly because the first rabies vaccination can only be given at 12 weeks of age, and this vaccination is only validated after 21 days, the incubation period. Following this, there’s a 10-day quarantaine in Belgium before the animal can be sold. Import legislation specifically provides that a pup or kitten can only be imported at 15 weeks of age and sold at 16 weeks and 3 days of age, but this requirement is often disregarded. Early vaccinations may not provide long-term protection due to maternal antibodies and the underdeveloped immune system of the young animal.
[6] The information that 68% of the dogs present in shelters were surrendered by their owners was found in the hearing report submitted on January 11, 2024 (2023-2024), on behalf of the Flemish Parliament’s Committee for Animal Welfare, released by Els Sterckx and Allessia Claes on animal shelters and on the import of street and shelter animals, 7.
[7] In 2022, 48,023 animals ended up in Flemish shelters, including 7,882 dogs and 26,134 cats. This information is provided in reference to the written inquiry number 258 by Allessia Claes, dated 18th January 2024, submitted to the Minister of Animal Welfare, Ben Weyts, in the Flemish Parliament. The inquiry pertains to the topic of animal shelters, specifically addressing the issues of animal intake, adoption, and euthanasia.
[8] The Flemish legislation, specifically the 2007 Kennel Decree, requires foreign shelters to comply with Annex III, that sets minimum floor areas for pens and cages for animals under four months. The additional requirements for animal care imposed on foreign shelters are vague and challenging to enforce. Even when the requirement is specific, such as “females not giving birth more than twice a year”, the standards in Flanders are stricter, allowing only a maximum of three births per 24 months.
[9] This passage refers to an intervention by Trees Hendrickx, a certified dog behavior therapist (Odisee-KU Leuven), and an expert on Belgian and foreign animal shelters. The intervention occurred during the hearing referred to in note 1.
[10] This passage pertains to a contribution made by Daniella van Gennep, Head of Animal Welfare and Public Affairs at the DierenLot Foundation in the Netherlands. The intervention occurred during the hearing referred to in note 1.
[11] Flemish Animal Welfare Code, Article 32.
[12] The Belgian animal protection organization GAIA has established criteria to distinguish between good breeders and bad breeders (puppy mills) www.gaia.be/sites/default/files/2021-04/hoe_herken_je_een_slechte_kweker.pdf
Here are the criteria:
| Bad breeder (puppy mill) | Good breeder |
|---|---|
| Offers more than two breeds. Be wary of cute photos on attractive websites. | Breeds up to two different types of animals. |
| Has puppies or kittens for sale continuously, without using waiting lists. Breeders with numerous litters simultaneously cannot properly socialize the young animals. These animals end up in harsh cages and are not raised in a home environment, despite claims to the contrary. | Does not always have puppies or kittens for sale. Utilizes waiting lists. |
| The puppies or kittens do not grow up with their mother, nor in a home environment. | The puppies or kittens are raised indoors with their mothers. It’s crucial for the mother to be present with the litter as she teaches the young animals proper behavior. Puppies and kittens are best raised in a home environment, where they can acclimate to family life, including noise, vacuum cleaners, and children. |
| The mother animal is not visible to potential buyers. | The mother animal is visible to potential buyers. |
| The puppy or kitten is made available immediately. Puppy mill breeders often rush you into a decision. Sometimes, the passport is only revealed after the sale, revealing that the puppy or kitten was imported from abroad (often Eastern Europe) where health, vaccine, and animal welfare standards are subpar., | The puppy or kitten is not provided immediately. The breeder is also interested in your situation, assessing whether you have ample time for the pet and if your family situation is suitable. There is transparency concerning the passport. |
| The parent animals have not been tested for hereditary conditions. | The parent animals have been tested for hereditary conditions. |
| Kittens leave the nest before the age of 14 weeks. Pups leave the nest before 8 weeks. | The kittens leave the nest after the age of 14 weeks. Pups leave the nest before 8 weeks. |
| The puppies or kittens are advertised on classified ad websites, often alongside dozens of other breeds. This practice encourages impulse purchases. | The puppies or kittens are not advertised on classified ad websites. |
[13] This position was taken by Philip Zurinckx, head of the nonprofit organization “Dierenvrienden Sint-Truiden”. He participated in a hearing regarding animal shelters and the importation of street and shelter animals. This hearing took place on 18 October 2023, before the Committee for Animal Welfare of the Flemish Parliament.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Puppy mills involve the mass and unethical breeding, importing, and/or selling of puppies and kittens. A puppy mill operator is solely focused on maximizing short-term profits (breeding for bread) and pays very little to no attention to the welfare of the parent animals and the kits (where there are associated costs, e.g., providing adequate housing, vaccination costs,…).
