Polish MP reveals how she obtained a fake female pedigree for her male Yorkshire terrier, highlighting legislative efforts to combat illegal animal breeding.
Parliament Debates Animal Welfare Bills
A special commission began working Tuesday on two bills submitted to the Sejm by MP Ewa Szymanowska (Centrum). The first bill, on preventing homelessness of dogs and cats, proposes mandatory microchipping and registration of domestic animals in the Central Register of Dogs and Cats. It also provides for the right to free castration or sterilization of animals.
Loophole in Current Law
The second bill (on the activities of felinological and cynological associations and organizations for breeding purebred cats and dogs) aims to combat so-called pseudobreeders. It primarily focuses on tightening existing regulations that prohibit the breeding of dogs and cats for commercial purposes but do not apply to registered national social organizations whose statutory purpose is related to breeding purebred animals.
Male Dog Gets Female Pedigree
MP Szymanowska explained how easy it is to obtain pedigree certificates for dogs to later sell them illegally. On February 4, she emailed one association dealing with such activities and asked about obtaining a pedigree for a female Yorkshire terrier, and later for her puppies. She received a positive response the next day, receiving documents to fill out, including a membership declaration and litter cards for issuing pedigrees. On February 6, she sent the completed documents, and on February 10, she received a pedigree and registered the breeding facility.
“There would be nothing strange about this, as I own a Yorkshire terrier, but it’s a male, not a female. A male from a shelter, for which I have proof,” said Szymanowska. She added that the animal’s documents also included a microchip number, which records, among other things, its gender. “If someone made the effort to check this, they would know it’s not a female and that it was adopted from a shelter where it was called Zbysiu,” Szymanowska emphasized.
The entire process of obtaining a pedigree for the dog cost 100 zł. “That’s how much a pedigree with hologram costs. Since February 9, my dog, I repeat: dog, has the status of a breeding female,” Szymanowska repeated. She added that there are thousands of such fake “pedigrees” in Poland.
“This project is therefore intended to end pseudobreedings,” convinced the MP. “To curb the uncontrolled breeding of dogs or cats that are often born sick or with serious genetic defects,” she said.
Bill Contents
Ewa Szymanowska’s proposal defines, among other things, the definition of a purebred dog or cat, the definition of a breeder, and the definition of a pedigree. It envisions the creation of a register of associations grouping breeders of purebred cats or dogs, which would be maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture. The project also imposes on the ministry the obligation to control entities covered by the register, and on associations – the requirement to submit annual activity reports.
If the law comes into force, it will also specify the rules for keeping and breeding purebred cats and dogs.
Government Proposes KROPiK
The solutions proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development provide for the creation of KROPiK, the National Register of Marked Dogs and Cats. The new regulations, as emphasized by the MRiRW, are intended to reduce animal homelessness and decrease the rising costs borne by municipalities on maintaining shelters.
KROPiK would be operated electronically by the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture.
In addition to issues related to microchipping and pseudobreeders, the Special Commission for Animal Protection will also soon attempt to pass another bill banning keeping dogs on chains. The previous law on this matter was vetoed by President Karol Nawrocki.