Media Release 1

Posted in KUSA News

KUSA response to the post of 9 February 2020 on the Facebook page of the Boksburg SPCA, entitled SPCA CONFISCATES 41 PEDIGREE DOGS FROM KUSA-REGISTERED BREEDER

The Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA) strongly condemns any form of cruelty to animals and was dismayed to learn about the serious allegations against an alleged KUSA member which, if found to be true, will result in disciplinary action against such member in terms of KUSA’s Disciplinary Rules.

KUSA has contacted the Boksburg SPCA to request details of the so-called breeder, but learnt that this information was privileged at the moment. Once the SPCA has released the name, the necessary research can be done and disciplinary action taken, if warranted.

It needs to be pointed out that the SPCA’s headline is inaccurate and misleading. KUSA does not register breeders and has neither the authority, nor the power, to bestow the title of “registered breeder” on any person. KUSA is primarily a registry where records of ancestry and genealogy of purebred dogs in South Africa are kept on behalf of its members.

KUSA expects ethical breeding practices from its members and promotes the breeding of healthy, well-adjusted puppies. KUSA binds its members to a stringent Code of Ethics: (click here)

KUSA is not an animal welfare organisation and does not have any jurisdiction to enter properties, inspect facilities, or remove animals. Only the NSPCA is so empowered under the provisions of the Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962 and the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act No. 169 of 1993, and when claims of animal neglect or animal cruelty are brought to KUSA’s attention, it actively encourages the reporting of such transgressions to the NSPCA.

KUSA continues to appeal to members of the public, and especially dog owners, to assist in curbing unacceptable breeding practices by ensuring that the premises of breeders are visited and the environment in which their new puppy is raised, is checked, prior to purchase. Only a small percentage of KUSA members produce and raise litters of puppies from time to time; the vast majority of them only very occasionally. It is indeed unfortunate that the actions of the person in question tarnish the image of the serious and committed people who are devoted to the preservation of purebred dogs in South Africa and who not only rigidly adhere to KUSA’s Code of Ethics, but regularly test their dogs for inherited conditions, in order to produce healthy puppies, raised in an environment conducive to future human companionship.

A little publicised fact is that most KUSA-affiliated breed clubs run very successful rehoming and rescue services for purebred dogs, taking the burden away from the animal welfare organisations. All dogs registered with KUSA are required to be micro-chipped, making it easy for animal shelters and veterinary practitioners to identify the owner, or breeder, of a dog registered with KUSA. KUSA has a free-to-access “microchip search” option on the homepage of its website, which provides the contact details of the registered owner of a microchip- registered dog. No other registries in South Africa have taken the steps that the KUSA has to ensure that dogs that are bred by members can be traced back to the owner, or breeder. Less discerning breeders opt to register their litters with other registries where the registration requirements are evidently less stringent.

KUSA is vigorously opposed to the indiscriminate backyard breeding of dogs and urge the public not to purchase puppies from pet shops or via Internet sites where pets are often offered at

“discount prices”. These entities often rely on backyard breeders for their “supplies” and supporting them only encourages indiscriminate breeding. Anybody interested in buying a pet is urged to thoroughly research options and check on the credentials of the breeder.

Please refer to the KUSA website (https://kusa.co.za/index.php/kusa-initiatives/buying-a-puppy) for guidelines & pitfalls to look out for.

11 Feb 2020.