Daily Mail, 30 April 2002
Certain breeds of the Queen's favourite dog could be outlawed under a controversial EU convention being considered by ministers, it emerged last night. Some corgis - along with bulldogs, cocker spaniels and King Charles spaniels - could be among 100 breeds banned, animal lovers fear...
The truth
This "EU convention" in fact has nothing whatsoever to do with the EU. A committee of animal protection experts drew up the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals in 1987 under the auspices of the Council of Europe - an intergovernmental organization based in Strasbourg and completely separate from the EU. The UK is a member but has so far declined to become a signatory to this voluntary agreement designed to improve the welfare of household pets.
