A DOG lover has launched a website to highlight health issues affecting certain breeds of pedigree dog, in particular the King Charles Spaniel.

Carol Fowler, 63, from Wotton-under-Edge, hit the headlines last year when she appeared on the BBC documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed, which was shown in August 2008.

Since then, Carol has been working tirelessly on her campaign to reduce inherited health problems in pedigree dogs.

Carol started her campaign in 2003, after the death of her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bonnie, from syringomyelia, an incurable neurological condition. Her second Cavalier, Rosie, also has syringomyelia and on the website, Carol tells her personal story.

"The day after the documentary was shown I received over 200 emails and for the next four weeks they continued to flood in," said Carol.

Carol was mainly contacted by other Cavalier owners and owners of other pedigree dogs, but was surprised by the number of emails she received from non-dog owners.

"What really surprised me was that even non-dog owners contacted me. Ordinary, decent people were shocked and outraged by the scale of suffering in our pedigree dog population," said Carol.

Jemima Harrison, producer of Pedigree Dogs Exposed, said the Cavalier Campaign website was a great information resource.

"This website is an indispensable oasis of information for all those who want the facts about Cavalier health problems. Most of all though, it is unembellished by any agenda other than Carol’s love for this wonderful little breed," she said.

Some positive steps have been taken by individual Cavalier breeders and the Cavalier clubs, and an official screening scheme for heart disease and syringomyelia will be launched by the Kennel Club and British Veterinary Association in the near future.

"There’s still a very long road to travel before pedigree dogs are healthy," says Carol. "Both the Kennel Club and breed clubs have taken small, unsteady steps towards reform, but I still don’t think a system of self interest and self regulation will ever adequately deal with the mess that pedigree dogs are in."

For more information on Carol's campaign and what you can do to help, visit http://www.cavaliercampaign.com