SSPCA Statement: 'Scottish SPCA Inspectors have seen the drying stretched skins and it is in fact tripe which he uses to feed the dogs. Mr Debidin also has an arrangement with a local farmer to take fallen stock to also feed his dogs. When the Society Inspectors visited, this accounted for the bones and other animal remains on the site.'

GUIDANCE ON FEEDING OF ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS TO GREYHOUNDS

Meat for greyhounds
Greyhound owners, breeders and trainers have traditionally had a variety of sources of meat for feeding to their dogs.
New legislation has laid down controls on the use of animal by-products, which has an impact on these sources of meat. Animal by-products are defined as - all or part of an animal or product of animal origin which is not intended for human consumption.

The purpose of this note is to bring to your attention the requirements of the European Animal By-Products Regulation and provide advise on legal and, therefore, safe sources of meat for feeding to greyhounds. The Animal By-Products Regulation is intended to ensure that any animal by-products which could pose a risk of spreading disease to humans or animals are destroyed safely and only meat or meat products, which are safe are used for feeding to dogs.

Sources of meat
1. Retail premises
Any retail premises, e.g. butcher's shop, which sells meat for human consumption can also provide meat/bones for feeding to dogs if it is otherwise fit for human consumption. No approval or authorisation is required for the use of such meat.

2. Petfood plant
Petfood plants supply meat in the form of cooked meat (e.g. canned pet food, and chilled/frozen cooked meat), or chilled/frozen raw meat. All of this meat must be sourced from animals that are slaughtered for human consumption. Raw pet food can only be made from meat which is fit for human consumption. Such meat must be in leak proof packaging and be labelled, “For petfood only”. No approval or authorisation is required for the use of meat from a pet food plant but the plant itself must have been approved by DARD.

3. Collectors
These are premises which collect fallen stock (animals which die on farm), for feeding to dogs from recognised kennels or packs of hounds. The animals must not have died of a disease which might spread to humans or other animals. The meat from these fallen animals must be treated (stained with black stain or heated) before moving to Final Users for feeding to dogs. Collectors must be authorised by DARD to collect and process fallen stock and anyone using such meat for feeding to dogs must be authorised as a Final User.

4. Final Users
People who want to purchase meat from Collectors or take meat, which is fit for human consumption, such as tripe, directly from a slaughterhouse or other non-retail premises must be authorised by DARD to do so. In order to be authorised as a Final User, a person must:
i) Be a member of a recognised dog organisation / club;
ii) collect the meat in labelled containers;
iii) obtain a commercial document (CD) from the person/plant supplying the meat; and
iv) maintain a record of the meat used to feed the dogs.

Approval / Authorisation
Anyone wanting further advice or who wishes to apply for approval or authorisation under the legislation should contact Paula Campbell, Room 927, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3SB ( 028 9052 4091), who will provide an application form and arrange for the premises to be inspected by an officer of the Department. Application forms can also be obtained for Collectors and/or Final Users from:

http://www.dardni.gov.uk/file/dard634f.pdf and for Petfood Plants from: http://www.dardni.gov.uk/file/dard634d.pdf.

A list of authorised Collectors will be available from DARD after 30 June 2005 at the above contact point.

DARD is grateful to NIGOBA Ltd. for agreeing to circulate this information to its members.

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