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Defence
of dogs symposium
AN
IMPORTANT symposium sponsored by James Wellbeloved will be held
on Sunday 29th September at the Sports Connexion, Ryton-on-Dunsmore,
near Coventry.
James Wellbeloved are so concerned about the increase in the
number of prosecutions and the severity of some of the sentences
inflicted by the Courts on dogs and their owners that they have
agreed to sponsor a National Symosium on thematter.
With the anti-dog campaign growing in momentum across Europe
and particularly in the UK, it is becoming more important that
all dog owners should have access to information and advice
at any time that they may fall foul of the many laws currently
being enacted within the UK with regard to dogs. This includes
the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act which may be amended at any time
now, the 1871 Dog Act which can encompas so many situations
and also the various Noise Abatement legislations which is in
my place.
It is of paramount importance that every person who instructs
in the art of dog training regardless of the discipline involved
ie show conformation, obedience, working trials, agility or
field trials, should at least be able to give basic advice to
any of their club members/clients who fall foul of these aforementioned
laws.
Too many owners have been foubd guilty and dogs condemned to
death because these owners have not had access to initial sound
advice. The laws governing all dog situations have become a
specialist subject and the advice from specialist solicitors
and barristers becomes essential. The Kennel Club recognises
this fact and under their Accreditation Scheme for Instructors
in Dog Training and Canine Behaviour, recommends that all Instructors
should gain a basic knowledge and understanding of canine law.
Advisor
Trevor Cooper, leading solicitor in canine law, who has more
knowledge and experience in this field probably than anyone
else in the UK, will be giving an in-depth paper at this symposium
from 9.30am to 12.45pm. Trevor is an advisor to the government,
legal bodies and has represented dog owners in British Courts
of Law on more occasions than any other solicitor and understands
the intricacies involved through defending dog owners and their
dogs in hundreds and sometimes complex cases.
Trevor Cooper is aware of the many changes in the UK Canine
Law currently under review and will be able to advise on the
consequences of such changes particularly those that may affect
the 1991 DDA.
Anyone concerned with the welfare and safety of their dogs should
not miss the opportunity of listening and taking advice from
such an expert in this field.
After lunch the Symposium will take a lighter direction but
certainly just as informative when the UK’s leading expert
on canine agility competition, Peter Lewis, will give a number
of papers on this sport and its development, training dogs to
win, course building and judging from novice through to ticket
winners. Whether already involved in the sport of agility or
just starting out there will be something of interest in Peter’s
papers for all the delegates that attending this symposium.
Peter Lewis was one of the first people involved in the sport
of agility, wokring with the legendary Peter Meanwell, Fred
Welham, Ted Groome, Les Robinson and, of course, John Gilbert
and other famousnames too numerous to mention here. In fact
it is probably true to say that Peter Lewis was mainly responsible
for compiling the Kennel Club’s Rules and Regulations for
the sport and for recommending that challenge certificates were
introduced in the sport and he is still today a member a Member
of the Kennel Club’s Working Trials, Obedience and Agility
Committee.
Attendance at this symposium will count towards Kennel Club
Accreditation Scheme for Instructors in Dog Training and Canine
Behaviour.
Tickets £26 including lunch for this James Wellbeloved
Symposium are available from Mike Mullan, chairman and organiser.
Dunsmore Kennels, London Road, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Warks CV23
9HX. Tel 024 7654 2566. Cheques made payable to J M Mullan,
S.A.E. A5 size please!
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