TY - JOUR

T1 - Scientific and technical assistance on welfare aspects related to housing and health of cats and dogs in commercial breeding establishments

AU - Candiani, Denise

AU - Drewe, Julien

AU - Forkman, Björn

AU - Herskin, Mette S.

AU - Van Soom, Ann

AU - Aboagye, Gizella

AU - Ashe, Sean

AU - Mountricha, Maria

AU - Van der Stede, Yves

AU - Fabris, Chiara

AU - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

N1 - Funding Information: EFSA wishes to thank the hearing expert Thea van Niekerk for the support provided to this scientific output. EFSA wishes to thank Barbara Padalino, Martina Zappaterra, Martina Felici and Naod Thomas Masebo (Department of agricultural and food sciences -Division of animal sciences- University of Bologna) for the preparatory work provided under the framework of GP/EFSA/ALPHA/2021/10. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - This Scientific Report addresses a mandate from the European Commission according to Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 on the welfare of cats and dogs in commercial breeding establishments kept for sport, hunting and companion purposes. The aim was to scrutinise recent recommendations made by the EU Platform on Animal Welfare Voluntary Initiative on measures to assist the preparation of policy options for the legal framework of commercial breeding of cats and dogs. Specifically, the main question addressed was if there is scientific evidence to support the measures for protection of cats and dogs in commercial breeding related to housing, health considerations and painful procedures. Three judgements were carried out based on scientific literature reviews and, where possible a review of national regulations. The first judgement addressed housing and included: type of accommodation, outdoor access, exercise, social behaviour, housing temperature and light requirements. The second judgement addressed health and included: age at first and last breeding, and breeding frequency. Judgement 3 addressed painful procedures (mutilations or convenience surgeries) and included: ear cropping, tail docking and vocal cord resections in dogs and declawing in cats. For each of these judgements, considerations were provided indicating where scientific literature is available to support recommendations on providing or avoiding specific housing, health or painful surgical interventions. Areas where evidence is lacking are indicated.

AB - This Scientific Report addresses a mandate from the European Commission according to Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 on the welfare of cats and dogs in commercial breeding establishments kept for sport, hunting and companion purposes. The aim was to scrutinise recent recommendations made by the EU Platform on Animal Welfare Voluntary Initiative on measures to assist the preparation of policy options for the legal framework of commercial breeding of cats and dogs. Specifically, the main question addressed was if there is scientific evidence to support the measures for protection of cats and dogs in commercial breeding related to housing, health considerations and painful procedures. Three judgements were carried out based on scientific literature reviews and, where possible a review of national regulations. The first judgement addressed housing and included: type of accommodation, outdoor access, exercise, social behaviour, housing temperature and light requirements. The second judgement addressed health and included: age at first and last breeding, and breeding frequency. Judgement 3 addressed painful procedures (mutilations or convenience surgeries) and included: ear cropping, tail docking and vocal cord resections in dogs and declawing in cats. For each of these judgements, considerations were provided indicating where scientific literature is available to support recommendations on providing or avoiding specific housing, health or painful surgical interventions. Areas where evidence is lacking are indicated.

KW - animal welfare

KW - cats

KW - commercial breeding

KW - dogs

KW - health

KW - housing

KW - painful procedures

U2 - 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8213

DO - 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8213

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37719917

AN - SCOPUS:85171427130

VL - 21

JO - E F S A Journal

JF - E F S A Journal

SN - 1831-4732

IS - 9

M1 - e08213

ER -