OFCOM has ruled on the complaints against the programme Pedigree Dogs Exposed made by the Kennel Club, the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of GB, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, and individuals Virginia Barwell, a Cavalier breeder, and Michael Randall, a German Shepherd Dog exhibitor.


Ofcom has upheld some of the KC’s complaints, part of the Ridgeback club’s and part of Mrs Barwell’s. The Cavalier club’s and Mr Randall’s were not.
Most of the complaints were that the clubs and individuals had been unfairly treated. Mr Randall also complained of infringement of privacy.

Ofcom announced today that there had been no unfairness in four aspects about which the KC complained to Ofcom. The fifth area of complaint was that it was not given an appropriate opportunity to respond to 15 specific allegations. Ofcom found that the club was treated unfairly in four of those.
Ofcom found that there was not unfairness to the KC in the editing of the programme and that the KC was not deceived about the purpose of the programme. But it was not given a proper opportunity to respond to an allegation about eugenics and a comparison with Hitler and the Nazi Party; or an allegation that it covered up the nature of an operation carried out on a Crufts best in show winner the Pekingese Ch Yakee A Dangerous Liaison.
Ofcom found that, when the programme alleged that the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club was not doing all it could about the condition dermoid sinus,
it did not fairly represent the research on the subject.

Inaccurate

An inaccurate description of the breed’s ridge was likely to have unfairly compounded the impression that the club was choosing to breed deformed dogs.

Finally, Ofcom found that the programme was unfair to Mrs Barwell, as it did not convey her explanations for the very brief statements she was shown making in the programme.

Ofcom has directed the BBC to broadcast a summary of the findings of unfair treatment.

KC chairman Ronnie Irving said on Wednesday: “We are pleased that Ofcom has confirmed that Professor Jeff Sampson was not fairly represented in the programme. Professor Sampson is our senior representative and spokesman on the health and genetic issues affecting dogs. It is therefore surprising that Ofcom doesn’t also conclude, on this occasion, that the KC itself was therefore unfairly represented.”

He added: “We have previously indicated our concerns over the lengthy time it has taken to resolve our complaint and over Ofcom’s last minute acceptance of further submissions by the BBC.”

He concluded: “This process has taken a significant amount of time and the KC now wants to move forward, continuing to work with breed experts, our scientific advisors and the veterinary profession, to ensure that all dogs are given the opportunity to lead the healthy, happy lives that they deserve.”

Source: dogworld.co.uk