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People are the problem

Compulsory registration is only a small part of a much more extensive solution, not the catchall solution that the general public is being led to believe.

Who is going to microchip and pay the fee to register their dog? Answer: the responsible dog owner of course.

Who is going to pay the fee and register their car? Answer: the responsible car owner of course.

The authorities tell us they lose so many millions of pounds a year in revenue due to unregistered vehicles.

How much bigger and more mobile is a car than a dog? A hundred times? A thousand times? Yet with all the authorities and sophisticated equipment looking they still remain unregistered.
Microchipping and registration are only going to do the job of tracing the owner AFTER the event.

What part does education play in this strategy? Apart from people whose job it is to handle unknown dogs it is very often children and the inexperienced that are bitten by dogs. Surely educating how to behave around and to handle dogs would be more productive. This would also have the benefit of being action BEFORE the event. How many times have we, as dog owners, seen children taunting and behaving provocatively with a dog? Sometimes without realising it. Often with their parents present. The dog retaliates in the only way it can and the dog dies as a result. And the child hopefully learns a painful but useful life lesson. If the dog does not retaliate then it carries the impression that all children will behave the same towards it. The result is that the next time with only, perhaps, a minor provocation, the dog bites.

No, the biggest problem we face is that people in general and even many people that have dogs, do not understand dogs. And this goes a thousand fold for the people that think that they can pass laws that legislate away the problem in the same way that they cannot legislate away a car accident even after trying for over a hundred years.

Yours etc.
Michael Kitchen

All happening!

Many readers will have read of the problems that have surrounded Pudsey Ringcraft over the last 12 months, but thanks to Stephen and Patsy Hollings of the world famous Gunalt Weimaraners, Pudsey IS back! Their new haunt is at Carlton Hall Kennels near Yeadon. The support to date has been exceptional, even in this limited indoor space. So much so that we are extending our availability from Mondays to Wednesdays. The first Wednesday Ringcraft will be the 7th April at the normal time of 19.30 – ideally different dogs on different nights.

The April date is exactly 20 years since Pudsey Ringcraft’s formation. Christine Cooper has officially retired after all those years, almost every Wednesday and never having owned a dog!
Looking through our records and memorabilia brought tears to my eyes, all the nice people thanking and congratulating Pudsey for their help, our scrapbooks are full of happy smiling people, it would be nice to re-kindle that type of camaraderie.

The Hollings have made a purpose fenced paddock for outdoor training, subject to weather conditions, if you show at Windsor it is good practice at Carlton Hall, being next to the Airport and if you show at Leeds, ditto but with Red Kites!

There is lots of parking and crossed fingers – probably more secure than anywhere in Britain.
Pudsey are only doing four match nights held on a Wednesday during May, June, July and August, all outdoors at 19.30. For these occassions we have invited four of Britain’s favourite internatinal Championship Show judges to officiate, Freda Marshall from Darlington Championship Show and Crufts Group Judge, Maurice Webb former Chief Organiser of the Wafcol Supermatch and world Spitz Show Judge, Bob Gregory Crufts Group Judge and Chairman of Manchester Championship Show and for August Geoff Corish, Championship Group and Best in Show Judge and of course a top professional handler, nights not to be missed, no memberships will be taken on these nights.

For the sixth year Carlton Hall Kennels will be hosts and organisers for the Charity Fun Day; which will include a Companion Show, the KC Good Citizen Bronze Scheme, plus lots of other interesting events to include racing (dogs). The date for this is Sunday 9th May and charities for this year’s event, will be:- Animal Health Trust, Winstons Wish and Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue.

So it is all happening at Carlton Hall Kennels!

Yours etc.
Peter A Broadbent,

You are what you eat

Having spent the day at Crufts and realising just how many complete dog foods there are on the market, I decided to take a closer look at what’s in the bag!

As a nation we are starting to check exactly what we ourselves are giving our bodies, but are we being bamboozled by what we are giving our loved ones? The word “synthetic” comes to mind (noting or pertaining to compounds formed through a chemical process by human agency, as opposed to those of natural origin: synthetic vitamins; synthetic fiber.)

The words EEC permitted are often seen on the bags of food but what does this mean? We look for a company that “Barks the loudest “but he is not always the one we should follow. In the dog world I often hear “we have always fed” and “he loves it”. We all love food that is potentially bad for us and we may look good when we are in our youth but later in life is when we see the results.

How many kids do we hear of being naughty and parents remarking they have had “too many E numbers today”. Maybe we should start to think why are dogs being naughty, and start to look carefully at what we are giving our best friends.

As a Mum I always took care what I ate during pregnancy to make sure my baby would develop into a healthy happy child and look to the future of a long life. Are we really doing the same with our bitches? There was one company I did find hidden in the mass of big names that don’t use anything other than “natural” (having undergone little or no processing and containing no chemical additives: natural food; natural ingredients.). They may not be barking the loudest at this time but will your dog be barking the longest? We are always shouting “It’s best to be British.” Then why not feed British?

Yours etc.

Michele Dunn

Zero tolerance the answer

The measures being considered by the government to control irresponsible dog ownership just will not work. The measures being considered are aimed at the yobs, the thickos, the irresponsible, but who will it affect?

We all know that the responsible owner does most of the suggestions already. The little old lady with her pet companion will be worried sick that she might not pass a test of ownership. The old guy with his over friendly dog might worry that if his dog rushes to lick someone, he might be said to have an out of control dog. But the most important thing is that the irresponsible dog owner will take not one bit of notice of any measures at all. They will still refuse to clear up after their dog, they will not have their dog micro-chipped, they will not take out 3rd party insurance, they will certainly not take a test of ownership.

I urge you all to write or email your MP to tell them of the concerns and that the measures are unworkable. Just like the old Dog Licence, it will only affect the responsible and the people it is aimed at will still ignore it.

The government already has the power to combat the problem by using existing laws and by-laws with zero tolerance. New unworkable measures are not needed.

Yours etc.

T Edwards

About time

I wanted to write in regarding the front page article about pet owners having to take compulsory competency tests. I wish for all those people who have complained and said they are opposed to the idea to read this and think again.

I for one would welcome this and say “About time”. To all those people who are opposed because they feel they would be penalised, what about all the dogs that are kept by ‘incompetent’ owners, surely, if you choose to oppose this, you are penalising them and destroying any chance they have of receiving the best care that every single dog, regardless of breed or background deserves.

So what if it involves paying for this test, as dog owners we should welcome this, show that we deserve our dogs/pets and if at the same time we are helping the government to sift out the irresponsible, incompetent and even the poorly educated owners, then surely it is worthwhile. We all have a responsibility to every animal, even if we don't own them.

You may be saying to yourself, it's alright for you, you can probably afford this test, I assure you my financial situation is dire and even so, would welcome this test tomorrow.

I would sleep so much better at night knowing that everyone will have a fair chance at better understanding how to care for their animal, and if this test proves anyone is incompetent, then surely, the benefit is to the dog! and that after all, is all that matters.

Yours etc.
Name and address supplied