Queen Elizabeth II's ownership of over 30 corgis has made them cultural icons.

The Queen's corgis were all direct descendants of Susan, given to her on her 18th birthday.

The royal family's association with corgis has driven their global popularity as a symbol of British royalty.

Corgis, once vulnerable, are now a popular UK breed thanks to the Queen's affection.

The Queen's corgis receive luxurious treatment, including gourmet meals prepared by a royal chef.

The royal family's connection to corgis has been passed down through generations.

The Queen's corgis have been featured in various media, solidifying the breed's place in popular culture.

Corgis originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales, around 1107 AD as a cattle herding breed.

The breed has been recognized as native British since 1928, contributing to its enduring popularity.

The Queen's promotion of corgis has made them synonymous with her image.

Breeders can promote corgis by highlighting their herding abilities and intelligence.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi registrations have hit a 30-year peak following the Queen's death and Platinum Jubilee.

The royal family, particularly Queen Elizabeth II, has contributed to the Corgi breed's global popularity.

Breeders can promote responsible pet ownership by sharing the Corgi's history, temperament, and needs, highlighting their royal connection.

Breeders can attract responsible buyers by prioritizing animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.

Breeders must follow animal welfare standards, including licensing and customer screening requirements.

Breeders can promote responsible pet ownership by being transparent about their practices and educating buyers about the Corgi breed's needs.

Queen Elizabeth II's ownership of over 30 corgis has made them cultural icons.

Title:

Content: Queen Elizabeth II is known to have had over 30 different dogs during her reign as the head of the monarchy until her passing last week, Thursday September 8th 2022.

The Queen who has been succeeded by her son, the now His Royal Highness King Charles III, was a big animal lover, but had a definite soft spot for dogs, and in particular, the breed Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

On the day she passed, Queen Elizabeth II had four dogs, two Pembroke Welsh Corgis, one Dorgi — a cross between a Dachshund and a Corgi — and one Cocker Spaniel.

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle set to fly children Archie and Lilibet to the UK for Queen Elizabeth's funeral

It has been confirmed that her two remaining Corgis, named Muick and Sandy, will now be looked after by her son, Prince Andrew The Duke of York.

He will look after the dogs alongside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York. Despite divorcing in 1997, they remain cohabiting.

The animals will live alongside The Duke and Duchess at their Royal Lodge in Windsor.

The change of ownership was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Duke of York.

Both dogs were gifted to the late monarch by the prince, and so will be returned to his ownership.

During lockdown, Prince Andrew gave Queen Elizabeth two dogs, Muick and Fergus. Sadly, Fergus died last May, and he was replaced with Sandy.

Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, posted an emotional statement following the loss of her former mother-in-law.

"I am heartbroken by the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy: the most fantastic example of duty and service and steadfastness, and a constant steadying presence as our head of state for more than 70 years," she penned.

"To me, she was the most incredible mother-in-law and friend. I will always be grateful to her for the generosity she showed me in remaining close to me even after my divorce. I will miss her more than words can express."

Queen Elizabeth II was renowned for her love of dogs, and other animals including horses.

She began her love of Pembroke Welsh Corgis back in 1933, when she was first given a little corgi named Susan as a gift for her 18th birthday.

All of the subsequent royal corgis bred by the monarch descended from Susan, the original.

It is not known or publicised who will care for Candy and Lissy, the previously mentioned Dorgi and Cocker Spaniel.

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The Queen's corgis were all direct descendants of Susan, given to her on her 18th birthday.

The royal family's association with corgis has driven their global popularity as a symbol of British royalty.

Title:

Content: King Charles Spaniel numbers are declining and the breed is on the Kennel Club's 'vulnerable list' - amid Corgi boom following Queen Elizabeth's death

  • Corgis have seen boom in popularity after Platinum Jubilee and death of Queen
  • Number of Pembroke Welsh Corgis registered with Kennel Club hit 30-year peak
  • But popularity of King Charles Spaniels is continuing to decline, hitting a low
  • Lovers of the breed are hoping sharing name with new King will boost the dogs

Interest in Corgis has boomed following the Platinum Jubilee and the death of Queen Elizabeth, according to the Kennel Club.

Numbers of Pembroke Welsh Corgis registered with the organisation have reached a 30-year high, the Times reports.

Conversely, King Charles Spaniels are continuing to see a decline in their popularity, with lovers of the breed reportedly hoping that sharing a moniker with the new monarch may give the dogs a boost (though the new king prefers Jack Russells).

The breed, which is on the Kennel Club's vulnerable list, hit a low in 2020, with just 56 registrations. This increased to 91 in 2021, but numbers so far this year are so low, it is likely to drop beneath 2020.

The number of Corgis registered with the Kennel Club has reached a 30-year high, with interest growing following the death of the Queen (pictured here in 1980 with three of the dogs)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (as pictured) are doing well in terms of popularity, although their close relative the King Charles Spaniel (not pictured) is seeing a decline

However, it notes that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, the original breed from which King Charles diverged in the middle of the century, is doing well, with 3,772 registrations last year.

The original Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog breed was developed from toy spaniels. Popular as women's pets, they were also beloved of King Charles II, who was said to be so fond of his spaniels, he could not be parted from them.

Although Corgis were on the Kennel Club's vulnerable list in 2014, they are now one ofthe UK's most popular breeds, and the Queen is credited with boosting their popularity (pictured: Queen Elizabeth with one of her beloved corgis, Candy)

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has become known as a symbol of British royalty thanks to its long-standing association with the Queen

Lovers of the ailing King Charles Spaniel may look to the influence the Queen had in turning around the fortune of corgis in recent decades.

The breed was listed as 'vulnerable' in 2014, and the Kennel Club credits Her Majesty's love of the dogs as the major factor in making them one of the UK's most popular breeds today.

Corgis, which have four short legs, a long snout and two huge pointed ears, are famous for being a symbol of British royalty.

HISTORY OF THE CORGI BREED

The word 'Corgi' is Welsh for 'Dwarf Dog', and there are two types; the Pembroke, which is the Queen's breed, and the Cardigan Corgi, a descendent Teckel family of dogs, which also produced the Dachshund

Pembroke Welsh Corgis originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales from the Spitz family of dogs which are characterised by long, thick fur and pointed ears and muzzle

Corgis are a cattle herding breed that can be traced back as far as 1107 AD, thought to have been brought to Wales by  Flemish weavers

They are the type of herding dog referred to as 'heelers', meaning that they would nip at the heels of cattle to keep them moving

The combination of their low height off the ground and the innate agility of Welsh Corgis would allow them to avoid the hooves of the larger animals

They were officially recognised as a native British breed by The Kennel Club in 1928, but Cardigans and Pembrokes weren't seen as separate breeds until 1934

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The Queen owned more than 30 of the sandy, short-legged dogs throughout her reign.

She was gifted her first corgi, called Susan, for her 18th birthday from her late father King George VI. Ten generations of her corgis then descended from Susan.

Her dogs were given the Royal treatment having their own rooms with elevated wicker baskets and meals of beef, chick, rabbit, liver, cabbage and rice being prepared by a chef each evening.

Sometimes the Queen herself made the dog's meals. But her late husband was said to have 'loathed' the dogs' yapping.

She left behind two dogs - Sandy and Muick - who are now cared for by Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York at their Royal Lodge home.

Muick, pronounced Mick, joined the royal family at the start of 2021 along with a so-called 'dorgi', a cross between a corgi and a dachshund, called Fergus.

Fergus, who had been named after the Monarch's uncle who was killed during battle in the First World War, died after just five months.

He was later replaced with a new corgi called Sandy, as a 95th birthday present from Prince Andrew and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Meanwhile Muick was named after Loch Muick on the Balmoral Estate.

Palace sources speaking to the Daily Mail previously revealed the beloved corgis were 'with [the Queen] in the room' at her deathbed when she died on September 8 at Balmoral.

They then touched people's hearts when they made a poignant appearance at Her Majesty's funeral on September 19.

As the late monarch's coffin made its way from London to its final resting place in Windsor, Muick and Sandy waited for the processional to pass, to see the Queen for one last time.

The dogs were seen waiting in the quadrangle with two aides before the late monarch was laid to rest in St George's Chapel.

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King Charles Spaniel numbers declining amid Corgi boom following Queen Elizabeth's death

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Corgis, once vulnerable, are now a popular UK breed thanks to the Queen's affection.

The Queen's corgis receive luxurious treatment, including gourmet meals prepared by a royal chef.

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SNAFFLING down a rabbit freshly caught by Prince Harry or Prince William, it’s not their wives or family but the Queen’s corgis.

The pampered pooches are probably the best-fed pets in Britain with each of their gourmet meals being prepared by the same chef that does Her Majesty’s food.

Each offering sees them given meat, rice and a selection of vegetables to ensure their digestion is perfect.

Former palace chef Darren McGrady told The Sun: “The animals really do get spoilt. The corgis when I was there even had their own menu

“[There was] chicken, liver, beef, rabbit. Prince William and Harry used to go shooting rabbits in the great park and those rabbits would then be sent to Windsor and we’d have to clean them, draw them and poach them.

“If beef is on the menu, the beef comes in from the local butcher. Then it’s boiled, no salt, no seasoning, it’s just the plain beef and it’s boiled away until it’s really tender and then it goes into the larder kitchen to cool down.”

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Every meal is prepared with fresh ingredients every single day.

He added: “There’s always a bowl of rice because sometimes the dogs need a little help and there’s cabbage for the other way. That has to be prepared every day in the same kitchen the Royal Family’s nosh is prepped.

“You’re going to start by cutting it into a brunoise, which is an eighth of an inch die, a really fine dice, but when you’re doing things like rabbit and chicken, you’ve got to make sure you chop it really fine because imagine if there were bones in there that got stuck in the corgi’s throat. The royal chef’s off to the tower, I mean seriously.”

Once footmen delivered the food to the dog bowls, the Queen would stir it all together before putting it down for her canines to enjoy.

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Mr McGrady also claimed that for a special treat, Her Majesty would also crumble scones on to the carpet during afternoon tea for the pups to enjoy.

While the sweet snack isn’t a usual treat for dogs it went down well with corgi breeder Kevin Dover’s seven pups.

The 64-year-old, from Ross-on-Wye on Herefordshire, has also met the Queen after the palace decided to breed from one of his dogs.

He said: “The knowledge that she possessed about the breed and bloodlines, it was like talking to somebody that you meet at the dog shows every week.”

The corgi's luxurious treatment doesn't end there as they are even treated to individual bedrooms and fresh bedding.

A source of comfort

The Sun's Royal Correspondent Matt Wilkinson said: "They have their own bedrooms, their own wicker baskets to sleep. It's also said that they also have fresh sheets to sleep with.

"It's the treatment they have because they have the Queen as their owner. They travel in luxury, they live in castles and palaces, and they also get to often meet very important people."

The Queen's first corgi of her own was Susan, who was given to her when she turned 18 and until this year, all of her other pups have been bred from Susan.

Currently, she owns Muick who was a present from Prince Andrew following the death of her husband Prince Philip.

The pets have provided a source of comfort during the incredibly difficult grieving period for the monarch.

Mr Wilkinson added: “We know that on the day Prince Phillip died she was actually out with her corgis in the gardens and also after the funeral she was out with the corgis. They are a very important part of her life.”

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The royal family's connection to corgis has been passed down through generations.

Title:

Content: Give a paw: 20 photo proofs that dogs are the best friends of monarchs
26.01.2022, 0: 14, Misc
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Dogs in the role of pets of the royal families are a very long time, and especially they are loved by the British royal family.
The main lover of dogs, and it is Corgi, is Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
The first dog of this breed was presented to her by her father, King George VI, and 7-year-old Princess Elizabeth named the puppy Dookie.
Since then, and especially since the coronation of Elizabeth, Corgi have become residents of Buckingham Palace.
Most of the pets that later lived in the palace are the descendants of this dog.
At the court of Elizabeth II lived a total of more than 30 corgis.
And they became the only living creatures that are allowed to enter the room ahead of the Queen.
At some point, the Queen brought out a new breed – the Dorgi: this happened after one of her corgis had an affair with Princess Margaret ’ s Pipkin Dachshund.
So were born dogs named Vulcan and Candy.
The last corgi of Elizabeth II – 15-year-old Willow – died in 2018.
And in 2015, it was announced that the Queen will no longer breed them, since she has no idea who will take care of the corgi when she is gone.
At the end of 2020, one of her favorite dogs passed away - Dorgi Volcano, who posed with her mistress for Vanity Fair magazine in 2018.
After that, Her Majesty of Great Britain left only one dog, also a breed of Dorgy – Candy.
The coronavirus pandemic made its changes to the Queen ’ s plans: during the lockdown, she was presented with two Dorgy puppies – Fergus and Muick, and the gift was presented by her youngest son, Prince Andrew.
Unfortunately, Fergus died in May 2021.
But in June, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Prince Philip, Andrew bought his mother another puppy.
The future Queen of Great Britain, Princess Elizabeth
Warm feelings for the four-legged were adopted by Prince William and Harry, who got along with dogs since childhood.
In the family of William and Kate Middleton lived cocker spaniel Lupo, which they in 2011 for the wedding gave brother Kate – James, who is engaged in breeding dogs.
In November 2020, the dog was gone, and Middleton Jr. gave them a new puppy, whose name and even sex were unknown.
Probably, the baby, born by the sister of the same Lupo, the couple are very fond – during the last release last week, Kate and William, having met a puppy therapist in a hospital in Lancashire, told reporters that they are glad that their dog (yes, this is “she ”) does not see how they cute communicate with this charming puppy.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana with their sons William and Harriet Middleton and Prince William
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also have their own history of relationships with dogs: now with the spouses in Montecito live beagle Guy and black Labrador retriever Pula.
Dog Guy is a real traveler: the dog moved with Megan to London in 2017 (her second dog she could not take because of the venerable age of the dog), and in 2019, he returned to the United States with his mistress.
The level of attachment of British monarchs to dogs (and not only) was reflected in art: in the summer of 2020, the theme of the annual photo exhibition at Buckingham Palace, which is held when Elizabeth II goes on vacation to Balmoral, was the theme of the love of members of the British royal family for animals.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with the President and First Lady of Ireland and their dogs, 2018
There are other relatives of Elizabeth II: her son, Prince Edward, and daughter-in-law, Countess Sophie, have two dogs – a black Labrador and a Cocker Spaniel – and even a turtle.
Princess Anne ’ s daughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike are the lucky owners of boxer Sway and two black labradors Storm and Pepper.
And, it seems, they are most loved by the couple ’ s daughters: once in the paparazzi captured the scene of Mia and Lena walking the dogs themselves.
However, due to the fact that the girls were very little, it is difficult to understand who was walking whom at that time.
And the eldest son of the Queen, Prince Charles, and Duchess Camilla live two dogs – Beth and Bluebell, and the second Duchess found on the street.
However, British monarchs are not the only ones who get along well with dogs.
In the Danish royal family (Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Marie) until 2021, there was only one dog – Border Collie Grace.
But in December she gave birth to two puppies.
In the royal family of the Netherlands (King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima), Labrador named Luna, Skipper and Nala live for several years, and in October they had a Mambo puppy.
In Norway, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have their own pets – Labradoodle Muffin and Millie Cocoa.
This dog once greatly battered the nerves of its owners: in 2017, during a trip to the mountains, where the family was skiing, the dog escaped, but soon found him.
King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia are avid dog owners no less than their “colleague ” Elizabeth: many years ago they had a dog Bingo, and in recent years they see a mongrel Brandi next to them.
Their daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, started the Rio Cavudla in the spring of 2020, which is a cross between a cavalier and a poodle.
We offer you to see a selection of the most interesting, cute, funny, touching photos with the participation of dogs and representatives of monarchies from around the world.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima with their daughters, 2015 Duchess Camilla and Queen Letizia of Spain in Madrid, 2011 Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Mette-Marit with children, 2018 Kate Middleton at St. Patrick ’ s Day Parade, 2019 Duchess of CamillaPrince Charles Daughters of Zara and Mike Princess Anne and Countess Sophie of WessekPrince EdwardCarolina, Princess of Monaco and Hanover - the eldest daughter of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly
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The Queen's corgis have been featured in various media, solidifying the breed's place in popular culture.

Title:

Content: A corgi named Florence has captured the hearts of social media users after her owner, Jacqui, shared a snap of her looking 'emotional' while they watched the Queen's state funeral.

Posting on Twitter as @vanbommelj, Jacqui uploaded an image of five-year-old Florence (also known as Flo) spread out on the floor in front of the television, with the Queen's funeral procession on in the background.

She captioned the tweet, writing: "It's been an emotional week for a corgi too."

Dozens of people have since liked the tweet, with Jacqui following it up with an image of Flo also stealing the show during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer.

You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here

The image, taken at a street party, shows a cardboard cut out of the Queen, with Florence's lead around it's hand, and the pooch sat obediently below, looking up at the cardboard monarch's face.

Speaking about Florence, Jacqui told The Mirror: "This is Florence a pedigree corgi who we bought from Mary Davies, a breeder in Wales. Mary Davies is part of the Welsh Corgi League and was in the documentary on the Queen’s Corgi’s as her kennel provided a sire for the Queen’s corgi’s.

"Florence has just turned five years old and is lovely natured, she qualified for Crufts but then ruined her looks by knocking a tooth out. She is much happier running on the beaches and wild spaces of the south coast where we live."

Jacqui continued to say: "She is our daughter Ruby’s dog.

"Six years ago Ruby researched the best small dog to fit our family. She settled on Corgis as at the time they were on The Kennel Club's endangered breed list, plus they are known as being a big dog in a small body. Ruby saved all her babysitting and pocket money and did a paper round to pay for half of Florence. The other half being in lieu of three birthday and Christmas presents."

Jacqui added: "Now Florence spends her time out walking every day, promoting the breed to everyone she meets letting them know that Corgis are strong obedient little dogs bred for cattle herding and will happily trek for miles which helps with weight control.

"Her other duties include keeping an ear alert for anyone passing by and attending our street parties (also posted on twitter).

"She was pictured stealing the show as we watched the funeral with my 80 year old parents who watched King George's funeral together as children. They were in the same house crowded around a small black and white TV, my mum remembers this fidgety boy, they later married and had five children. But that’s another story..."

This comes as the Queen's corgis were seen waiting for the coffin to arrive back at Windsor Castle.

Prince Andrew was seen with his late mother's dogs, Muick and Sandy as they were walked inside the grounds of the castle ahead of the Committal Service.

You can follow more updates on the Queen's funeral on our live blog here.

Corgis originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales, around 1107 AD as a cattle herding breed.

The breed has been recognized as native British since 1928, contributing to its enduring popularity.

The Queen's promotion of corgis has made them synonymous with her image.

Title:

Content: Skip to main content
ABC Rural

Corgis bred for herding livestock long before Queen Elizabeth II made them famous

By Sophie Johnson
Posted

While corgis are synonymous with the late Queen Elizabeth II, it might be a surprise to know the tiny breed is still used as a working dog in Australia.

The Queen had 30 corgis as pets over her lifetime, giving the breed its international recognition.

But the dog has been used for centuries to herd livestock.

Jean Milnes herds south of Adelaide with her female corgi, Tirion.

"[Corgis] have been herding since the Middle Ages at least, there is documentary evidence of them herding back in about 800AD," she said.

"I just got into it because I thought this would be fun to do to see if she could remember what her ancestors used to do."

Exercising instincts

There are few corgi herders in Australia now, but Ms Milne is hoping the popularity will boom after the death of the Queen, returning the breed to its farming roots.

"I still have the conversation with people who think corgis are wonderful, associate them with being the Queen's dog, and don't realise that they actually have a job to do," Ms Milnes said.

"There is ... going to be an influx of people wanting corgis for the next year or so, and it would be nice if they did something more than just go to the dog park."

Her corgi trains for herding competitions.

"We should be doing things that … dogs enjoy as well," she said.

"They need to be given the opportunity to achieve things.

"I think it is very important in any breed to maintain what they were intended to do."

Big brain, little legs

National Welsh Corgi Council secretary Sadie Podger said the dogs were very intelligent, which was needed when herding animals.

"Years ago … the farmers found that these dogs are actually quite smart and adapt to their conditions that they're in and found that they were the better of all the cattle type dogs that they had," she said.

Ms Podger said corgis were known as herd heelers because they could nip the rear legs of livestock to guide and direct the animal.

"When they herd they can roll from one side … of the cattle to the other side with that, and then sort of directing the cattle to where they want it, because cattle can be quite stubborn."

"They're low to the ground so they can drop their head a little bit, and basically the hoof goes over the top of their head where a taller dog could get hit in the head."

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Posted

Breeders can promote corgis by highlighting their herding abilities and intelligence.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi registrations have hit a 30-year peak following the Queen's death and Platinum Jubilee.

The royal family, particularly Queen Elizabeth II, has contributed to the Corgi breed's global popularity.

Breeders can promote responsible pet ownership by sharing the Corgi's history, temperament, and needs, highlighting their royal connection.

Breeders can attract responsible buyers by prioritizing animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.

Title:

Content: Gayle was so excited for her new puppy until the day they got him and things took a turn for the worse

By Kristine Tarbert|

It's been revealed more than a third (36%) of Aussie pet owners have no idea how to check if a breeder is ethical or not.

The research by Waldo's Friends released to coincide with International Animal Rights Day (10 December), also showed that one in 10 (11 per cent) pet owners rely on their gut when they get a pet from a breeder, while one in six (15 per cent) pet owners have never even heard of ethical pet breeding.

READ MORE: Warning for pet owners during Christmas celebrations

This was a reality for Brisbane woman, Gayle and her black Labrador, Jett who fell victim to dodgy dog breeding, which ended up in countless visits to the vet, expensive surgeries and heartache for the family.

After searching for weeks on end, Gayle found her dog through a backyard breeder on Gumtree and at first glance, the breeders were friendly and easy to deal with.

The location was clean and both mum and dad were healthy.

READ MORE: Two thirds of Aussie pet owners don't know how much they spend a year

However, things took a turn for the worse on the day they collected Jett, his mum was skinny and stressed, and the breeders were eager to get the process over and done with.

When he was four months old, Jett was misdiagnosed with canine cruciate ligament (CCL) injury and then diagnosed with severe hip and elbow dysplasia at six months old.

"I feel like it was my fault – should I have done more checks on the breeder? Did I walk him too much? Should I not have brought him to day care?" Gayle shares.

"All these questions were racing through my head when the orthopaedic specialist recommended we put him down."

In light of this, Gayle never heard from the breeder again and has even tried to find his litter mates with no success.

Despite the medical bills, laser therapy and hydrotherapy appointments, Gayle and her family's love for Jett grows stronger each day. Jett is scheduled to have hip replacement surgery next year and alongside physiotherapy, they are hopeful that this will be enough to ensure a long, happy pain-free life for him.

While all Australian breeders are required by state law to follow the animal welfare standard, it's often difficult to monitor, resulting in potential misinformation, non-compliance and unethical breeders.

With almost half (46 per cent) of Aussie pet owners getting their pet from a breeder or a pet store, it's important to research and learn to spot the red flags.

READ MORE: Can I make my dog smarter? Dr Katrina Warren reveals how

A concerning nine out of 10 (90 per cent) puppies sold in Australian pet stores come from puppy mills and the majority (85 per cent) of puppies in Australia are bred with no accountability for their welfare or health.

"The pet breeding industry is hard to navigate, so it can be very difficult for families to know what to look out for and what to avoid when it comes to buying from a breeder," Sasha Gusain, Founder of Waldo's Friends says.

"There is a need for better education and awareness of ethical pet breeding and ownership. Unfortunately, puppies and kittens are often seen as commodities to own and flippantly buy, which can cause complications downstream as families eventually learn more about their new pet's health – especially when purchased from a dodgy breeder.

"We see so many pets being sent to shelters because owners got them from an unregulated breeder and were hit with nasty surprises, like genetic defects or behavioural problems."

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Breeders must follow animal welfare standards, including licensing and customer screening requirements.

Title:

Content: Forum: Steps taken to raise standards of animal welfare

We refer to the Forum letters “Make it mandatory for pet shops to sell only sterilised animals” (Oct 9) and “Study animal abuse situation and promote responsible pet ownership” (Oct 11).

The Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), a cluster of the National Parks Board, would like to clarify that pet shops are not allowed to breed dogs and cats. Commercial breeding of pets is strictly prohibited in any premises unless it is licensed to do so by AVS.

To promote responsible pet retailing and purchase as well as to discourage impulse buying, AVS requires pet shops selling dogs, cats and rabbits to screen their customers and assess if they are suitable to be pet owners.

Pet shops also have to comply with the conditions of licensing, such as compulsory microchipping of puppies and kittens for sale, and sourcing for puppies from AVS-approved sources.

To raise the standards of animal health and welfare, AVS embarked on the Pet Sector Review in 2019, with the pet breeding and boarding sectors as key review priorities. The full set of licensing conditions for the dog breeding industry was implemented in April 2022, including one condition on breeders not being allowed to breed dogs with known harmful heritable conditions.

AVS also encourages pet owners to sterilise their pets to prevent unnecessary breeding, and to reduce undesirable behaviours and the risk of certain diseases. For example, there are different licence fees for sterilised and unsterilised pet dogs to encourage owners to sterilise their pet dogs. Pet owners should consult their veterinarians to determine the appropriate age of sterilisation for their pets.

AVS is committed to safeguarding animal health and welfare in Singapore. We take all cases related to animal welfare seriously and investigate all feedback. We will act against anyone who does not provide adequate care for their pet or commits an act of animal cruelty.

While AVS will continue to ensure that regulations are in place and properly enforced, the community, including pet owners and businesses, has a shared responsibility to safeguard animal health and welfare. Pet owners can refer to the Code of Animal Welfare for Pet Owners at www.go.gov.sg/animal-welfare-code-petowners to learn about the minimum standards for animal housing, management and care.

AVS will continue to reach out to the community and potential pet owners to raise awareness on responsible pet ownership. We also work closely with stakeholders such as animal welfare groups to promote responsible pet ownership and adoption.

Jessica Kwok
Group Director
Animal and Veterinary Service

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Breeders can promote responsible pet ownership by being transparent about their practices and educating buyers about the Corgi breed's needs.