October 2005THE STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER BREED COUNCIL OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
PRO’S REPORT ON THE MEETING HELD AT THE COACH AND HORSES, MARKFIELD ON THE 8TH October 2005
The Chairman Patrick McGlynn opened the meeting at 11.05. There were 16 constituent clubs present:' Alyn & Deeside, Downlands, East Anglia, East Midlands, Merseyside, Morecambe Bay and Cumbria, North Eastern, Northern Counties, North West, North of Scotland, Notts & Derby, Potteries, Scottish, Southern Counties, South Wales and Western. Apologies were received from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club.
With the introduction of the BSL laws in Ontario Canada an approach has been made by a Banned Aid Coalition ( which includes STBC of Canada) through a lawyer for some financial support from the Breed Council in order to launch a legal challenge in Ontario against the amendments to the Dog Liability Act. The Breed Council decided that although there are funds available they had been collected for a potential problem in Spain, which at this present time appear to be dormant. The Breed Council Secretary is to contact the Spanish Club to ascertain the situation, before a final decision in taken. Should this money be unavailable it was suggested that each individual club may care to make a contribution.FREE DISCUSSION PERIOD.
The Breed Council was made aware of and would like to draw to everyone's attention that forged Registration Documents are about and felt that the best way to help avoid this was to offer as much guidance and information as possible to anyone wishing to purchase a Stafford. Copies of the correct documentation can be seen on the Breed Council section of www.staffords.co.uk.
A Question was raised concerning the viability of contacting breeders of dogs handed into rescue. Unfortunately this was felt not always to be in the best interest of the dog, and should be done entirely at rescue's discretion.
The PRO was asked to contact the Kennel Club with a view to the KC including a leaflet on health issues concerning the Stafford, making people aware of what they should ask for when looking to buy a puppy. This has been done and hopefully will be implemented. With the tests that are now available namely for L2HGA, and or course the breakthrough with the HC, this was felt to be of great importance, hopefully encouraging people only to buy from tested stock.
The Kennel Club Code of Ethics will now be included on the Breed Council web page at the Breed Council's request.
HEALTH ISSUES.
Since the last Breed Council meeting in March great progress has been made with two very important health issues concerning Staffords, namely HC and L2HGA.
HC
Scientists at the Animal Health Trust have identified the genetic mutation which causes the problem and have developed a diagnostic screening test which will be able to identify dogs who are affected, clear or carriers. This is the first genetic test to identify the hereditary cataract status of any dog.L2HGA
With the L2 test now readily available the Breed Council is committed to educate and make available any such information and help that is needed to make people aware of this condition.
BC GENTICS SUB COMMITTEE
The above committee is meeting on Sunday the 16th October with Dr. Jeff Samson (KC Genetics co-ordinator attending). The committee will approach the Kennel Club with a view to having L2HGA testing results included on KC documentation.
They will also ask for an initial seminar to be held with representatives of the KC and AHT in attendance to explain how best to use the new genetics test developed for both HC and L2HGA. It was also suggested at the BC meeting that perhaps a series of seminars may be set up around the country so that anyone who is interested in the Stafford will have the opportunity to attend.
The date of the next meeting has been set for Saturday 4th March 2006.
There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 4.00pm.
Veronica Brown
Public Relations Officer
