|
|
|
|||||||
| Pet News Pet and animal related news and stories from the UK and around the world. |
| Registered users don't see this ad - Register Now (It's free!) |
 |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
10-12-2009, 07:06 AM
|
||||
|
||||
Ofcom finds in favour of Kennel Club and its scientific advisor
Here's hoping the BBC will be forced to apologise on air now!
Ofcom Finds in Favour of the Kennel Club and its Scientific Advisor 09-Dec-09 The Kennel Club became involved in the programme ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed’ because it wanted to have an open and honest discussion about the health issues of some pedigree dog breeds and what can and is being done to ensure that all dogs have the opportunity to live healthy, happy lives. It was precisely because the programme makers originally said that its message was “intended to be a hopeful one showing how science and breeders can combine to preserve our purebreds for the future” that the Kennel Club was at the outset keen to take part. After the programme was broadcast the Kennel Club was obliged to lodge a complaint to Ofcom because it believed it had been treated unfairly, and because its views – formed on the basis of many years of experience in tackling the issue of improving dog health under the guidance of its scientific advisors – were not adequately conveyed. Ofcom upheld parts of the Kennel Club’s complaint about unfair treatment, by saying that it was not given a timely and appropriate opportunity to respond to certain damaging allegations included in the programme. These included the implication that the Kennel Club covered up the nature of an operation carried out on a Crufts Best in Show winner. Ofcom also found that contributions to the programme made by Professor Jeff Sampson, the Kennel Club’s senior scientific advisor and spokesman, did not fairly represent his views. It admitted that the material and extracts actually used in the programme did not fully or fairly reflect his considered responses in the lengthy interviews he gave to the programme makers. Chairman of the Kennel Club, Ronnie Irving, said: “The Kennel Club is pleased that Ofcom has confirmed that Professor 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 Kennel Club itself was therefore unfairly represented. Ofcom has actually changed its mind on this point since its provisional decision. “The damaging effect of this unfair editing was to distort our views and to fail to show viewers the seriousness with which we take the issue of dog health and the investment we make in this area. “We are pleased with the finding in respect of the Crufts Best in Show winner. We are committed to ensuring that the show ring is used as a force for good, to encourage and reward the breeding of healthy, happy dogs and we took this allegation – and the fact that we were not given the appropriate opportunity to respond to it – very seriously. “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. We do have serious misgivings about the conduct of our complaint and on the obvious change of mind which took place between Ofcom’s decision in its provisional finding, and the decision that it finally published. “This process has taken a significant amount of time and the Kennel Club 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.” Ofcom Finds in Favour of the Kennel Club and its Scientific Advisor - The Kennel Club
__________________
 Bergies and borders - what more could anyone want? Siamese and maine coons, of course!From the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: The Moving Finger writes, and, having writ, Moves on, nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it. (But you can always edit your post, of course  )
|
| Registered users don't see this ad - Register Now (It's free!) |
|
| Bookmarks |
| Sponsored Ads |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Linear Mode
