Breeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs in Norway is illegal because it perpetuates breeding for physical traits that cause suffering, Norway’s Supreme Court confirmed on Wednesday.
• Also read: “The Life of a Dog”: Norway bans the breeding of certain breeds
The Norwegian Animal Welfare Association has been calling for a ban on breeding Cavaliers for several years.
Although they give them an endearing appearance, they say the anatomical features of these dogs – small, flattened heads and prominent eyes – long favored by breeders, are also the cause of health problems compounded by inbreeding.
The highest court ruled in favor of the Norwegian SPA, ruling that continuing breeding violated national animal welfare legislation.
“Almost all dogs of the Cavalier breed have special neurological diseases that are due to the fact that the skull is too small for the brain and there is not enough space for the nervous system,” the Supreme Court summarized its decision.
The constitution of these dogs causes them to often suffer from headaches, heart failure and even eye problems.
“The judgment therefore confirms that breeding, which has led to the perpetuation of hereditary disorders and diseases over the years, is not only unethical but also constitutes an effective violation of Norwegian law,” the SPA said.
The Supreme Court, however, ruled that the controversial breeding of another breed, the English Bulldog, can be legal as long as certain protocols are followed.
In the first instance, the court in Oslo banned the breeding of these two breeds in February 2022, but an appeals court then made a distinction, which was confirmed by Wednesday’s ruling.
For their part, the breeders argued that they were conducting selective breeding with animals that had passed several tests.
If breeding is banned, they also emphasized, this does not apply to the keeping, sale or even importing of these popular dogs, which, in their opinion, increases the risk of an influx of “undocumented dogs” from “puppy factories” abroad.