Ms Teresa Gavaghan:

The revised guidelines stipulate that there is very detailed record-keeping. This would include the birth of the pup, the death of the pup, the dams, the sires and all of this type of information. The dog breeding establishment operator is required to make it available as and when required by the inspecting officer - the local authority vet - and if the information is not satisfactory or to the vet's satisfaction, he may issue an improvement notice. That is very clearly stipulated in the guidelines.