How to report concerns about unregulated canine fertility clinics

The BBC exposé “Britain’s Puppy Boom: Counting the Cost” shone a spotlight on the scandal of unregulated clinics with no veterinary oversight offering courses on canine fertility to people with no veterinary or animal handling qualifications. The undercover footage showed illegal blood sampling, lay people advocating the unlicensed use of human medicines on dogs, and potentially illegal acts during artificial insemination.

It sent a shockwave through the media, but within the veterinary profession we were sadly not surprised. In veterinary practices up and down the country we’d already been seeing the impact of the pandemic puppy boom as unscrupulous people turned to dog breeding to make money from an unsuspecting public.

An animal welfare disaster

Worse still, the programme highlighted that these clinics often focus on the most in-demand breeds such as bulldogs and other brachycephalic (or flat-faced) breeds that struggle to whelp (give birth) and are already known to have a range of health problems. It’s an animal welfare disaster.

Worryingly, our members report that there are more and more of these clinics popping up across the UK and it’s time for a crackdown. We’ve been talking to the animal welfare enforcement authorities, and we know they are deeply concerned and keen to hear reports from the veterinary profession to help in their investigations.

What can only be done by a vet?

Because these clinics are operating with no veterinary oversight, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) can’t regulate them, but they are supporting other agencies by giving guidance on which procedures fall under the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Under this legislation ‘veterinary surgery’ is defined as diagnosis and diagnostic testing, advice based on diagnosis, medical or surgical treatment, and the performance of surgical operations. In relation to fertility clinics the RCVS has advised the following:

• The taking of an intravenous blood sample for the purpose of progesterone testing cannot be carried out by a lay person. A dog breeder, whether licensed or unlicensed, should not take an intravenous blood sample from an animal.
• Transcervical and intravaginal insemination are acts of veterinary surgery and may only be undertaken by a veterinary surgeon in dogs (in addition, surgical artificial insemination is prohibited by UK animal welfare legislation – see RCVS Guidance)

How to report

Our team has pulled together information on how to report concerns:

• England: contact the local authority in which the clinic is located in the first instance, or RSPCA if you have evidence that an act of animal cruelty has been committed by phoning 0300 1234 999. You can also contact Trading Standards if you have concerns that the clinic is in breach of consumer protection regulations.
• Scotland: contact the Scottish SPCA on 03000 999 999 or via the website
• Wales: email Welsh Animal Licensing Unit who provide the central hub for animal licensing issues in Wales
• Northern Ireland: email #PawsForThought - DAERA’s dedicated mailbox for concerns about dog breeding and trafficking
• UK wide: since April 2023, RCVS have been trialling a new protocol for launching private prosecutions against unqualified individuals breaching the Veterinary Surgeons Act and suspected breaches of the Veterinary Surgeons Act can be reported to the RCVS: [email protected].

The more information the authorities have, the easier it is for them to take enforcement action. Working together we need to send a strong message that these animal welfare breaches are unacceptable.

As veterinary professionals we also need to work with, and support, our good breeder clients and double our efforts to reach prospective puppy owners to help them make the right decisions when they choose a new pet. Signposting to the Puppy Contract is a good place to start to make sure new owners ask all the right questions.

Updated: August 2023