MICROCHIPPING is a safe, effective and permanent way to link the dog and its keeper.

Dogs Trust has long campaigned for all dogs to be microchipped to ensure lost or stolen dogs can be reunited with their keepers as quickly as possible. So we are delighted with the proposed new dog chipping legislation - from April 2016 in England and in Wales at a date still to be announced it will be compulsory for each and every dog to be microchipped. This represents a significant step forward for dog welfare and responsible dog ownership. This law already came into force in Northern Ireland in April 2012 and Dogs Trust

continues to campaign for compulsory microchipping in Scotland. To ensure everyone will be able to comply with this new law, we have considerably increased our free chipping activity across the country. In addition to offering free dog microchipping at all our rehoming centres and at Dogs Trust community events around the UK, we have teamed

up with over 1,500 local vets to make sure that every dog can have the procedure done for free. We’d like to say a huge thank you to

the vet practices already supporting the ‘Free Chipping through Vets’ campaign and urge others to come on board*. This year alone we have microchipped over 250,000 dogs – which means we have now chipped over 750,000 dogs since we started our community work in 1999. But there is so much more to be done!

WELCOME to Dogs Trust Community Tails, we hope you’ll find it an enjoyable and informative read. In the last year, we have been able to do more than ever to promote responsible dog ownership throughout the country. We remain dedicated to our mission ‘To bring about the day when all dogs can lead a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction’ and to working with key third parties, such as yourselves, to achieve this. We never underestimate the importance of co-operation when it comes to helping all members of society be the best dog owner they can possibly be. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, in 2015 we will continue to invest heavily in education and advice for dog owners in need. We hope that reading about our projects will inspire you to take part and to benefit from all we have to offer.

www.dogstrust.org.uk twitter.com/DogsTrust facebook.com/DogsTrust

Hello

750,000 and counting…

We need your support, if you would like to host a free microchipping event in your area or are a vet practice who would like to offer free chipping through our initiative, then please contact the Education and Community Department at Dogs Trust on 020 7837 0006. (*‘Free Chipping through Vets’ not available in Scotland or Northern Ireland)!

Jan 2015

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Sian Edwards

Wales Education and

Community Manager

Denise Kelly North of England Education and Community Manager

Jacky Donaghy

London Education and

Community Manager

Ronnie Milsop Northern Ireland Education and Community Manager

“Having been with Dogs Trust for the past 13 years I have seen first-hand the impact our campaigns have had on the stray and abandoned dog problem in Northern Ireland. We operated schemes in Londonderry and Donegal where we neutered 2000 dogs in total. Castlereagh Visual Arts school students also created a Dogs Trust Mural at Colby Park in Belfast. Our Bark in the Park was a hit and it’s nice to see the charity bringing communities together.”

“This year has been busier than last year with the team working hard out and about most days of the week all year round. Councils and Housing Associations are requesting our presence on estates, community days and even out in local parks. The number of people turning up to see us has grown. It is a good day when we arrive to a venue with a queue already forming and strangely, an even better day when the queue is still going at the end of the day.”

“Through our ‘Dogs in the Community’ Campaign we provide Councils with training and resources for use in their day to day work. We continue our efforts with social housing providers, assisting with welfare-based pet clauses for tenancy agreements, and help to microchip and neuter tenants’ dogs. Through these initiatives, in 2013 32,646 dogs were neutered and 39,435 dogs were microchipped in the North of England.”

“Dogs Trust work has gone from strength to strength this year. I’m delighted to report on another year helping to improve responsible dog ownership in Wales, thanks to our partners including the vet practices across Wales helping us achieve our aims. Our North Wales team continue to provide our services across all counties and their efforts add to our community and education team based from our Bridgend rehoming centre.”

Supporting the dogs that need us most

What is your opinion on our low cost neutering? Has it had a positive effect on the community?The low cost neutering service has been raised with me by members of the public at several community events and during the course of my working day. In my opinion, such a service in these times of economic hardship can only have a positive effect on the community as a whole, for example by reducing unwanted litters of puppies which can lead to issues such as an increase in the numbers of stray dogs.

Has our free microchipping seen a reduction in unchipped dogs/dogs returned to their owners?Free microchipping encourages responsible dog ownership and we have certainly noticed an increase in the numbers of dogs picked up whilst straying whom we have been able to reunite with the owner because of a microchip.

Have you found our legal advice useful?The Dogs Trust 2 day course which I attended in early 2014 provided a good “heads up” to myself and other officers within the county. It was extremely informative and I now know where to turn to for specialist advice.

If you could sell Dogs Trust in one sentence to encourage other Councils what would you say?An enthusiastic, helpful and friendly organisation who work in partnership with the Council to promote and encourage responsible dog ownership across the community as a whole.

Haydn Evans: Conwy Dog Warden Interview

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www.dogstrust.org.uk twitter.com/DogsTrust facebook.com/DogsTrust

“It has been really rewarding to see children empathise with dogs and, perhaps for the first time, understand that dogs have emotions like us” Ruth Thomas, EO East London

“It’s really encouraging to see schools from all across the province see the importance of staying safe around dogs and the value of responsible dog ownership” Cathy Clyde, EO Northern Ireland

“I have found that there is a strong need in the North London boroughs for education around responsible dog ownership and safety around dogs”- Kelly Craig, EO North London

“Looking at all the schools I have worked with this year I am very proud of the fact that the young people will be safer as a result of the workshops that have taken place” Natasha Bajwa, EO West London

AT Dogs Trust we believe that it’s all about education,

education, education – especially when it comes to children.

We currently have 22 full time education officers who offer free responsible dog ownership workshops in primary schools and secondary

schools as well as young offenders’ institutes and prisons.

The team is due to expand further in 2015 as we aim to help every young person be safe around dogs and understand the responsibility of owning a dog – in the hope this will breed a new generation of responsible dog owners.

Dogs are the best teachers!

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Reg. Charity Numbers: 227523 and SC037843

THE ‘Dogs in the Community’ programme has been running

since 2011. Over 300 Local Authorities and Housing Associations from across the UK have become involved with this programme that aims to help to promote responsible dog ownership to their tenants. Social housing providers across the country feel this has been a tremendous benefit to dogs, dog owners and the community as a whole. In these tough economic times, owning a dog can be a

huge strain and we hope to help people become the responsible dog owners they want and need to be.

If you would like to arrange a dog safety workshop at your local school, community or leisure centre visit: www.learnwithdogstrust.org.uk/workshops-tours/education-officers!

Dogs in the Community

THE relationship between a dog and its family

is a special one. Unfortunately when

a child gets bitten in most cases it is by a dog they know and all too often in the place they least expect it like our own home.The number one

rule is simple ‘Never

leave your child alone with a dog’. From the smallest to the largest, even the most friendly, cute and cuddly dogs might bite if provoked. Like humans, dogs have a level of tolerance, which we MUST respect. The most common mistake people make is forgetting that a dog is a living creature that thinks feels and gets frightened.

Dogs Trust are helping everyone ‘Be Dog Smart’ by offering FREE workshops for parents and children to ensure children and dogs can live together safely and happily at home and in the community.

Dog Law with Trevor CooperTrevor Cooper, Dog Law specialist, offers advice to councils as well as offering seminars to educate the public. With the issues with stray dogs being as rife as ever, adherence to the law is of upmost importance to increase the number of lost dogs returned to their owners and decrease the number of dogs destroyed.“No responsible dog owner wants their dog to escape, but if it should happen you’ll want your dog returned to you quickly. The government in both England and Wales have both committed to making microchipping of dogs compulsory (as well as collar and tag). In England it is April 6th 2016, with Wales yet to confirm a date. It is a quick inexpensive process and there are currently many ways of getting it done at no cost including the Dogs Trust Microchipping through Vets campaign. There is no excuse not to be ready for this law!”

If you wish to become involved with any project mentioned in this newsletter, please contact the Education and Community department at Dogs Trust on 0207 7837 0006.!

‘HELP KEEP YOUR COMMUNITIES CLEAN’

FREE poo bags!Available to all Councils and Vets!

Call us on 020 7837 0006 for more info.

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

FREE Microchips, implanters, scanners, sharps

bins and Dog ID Tags

FREE Microchip training for your staff

FREE Community microchipping events

FREE Services of dog law specialist

Trevor Cooper

FREE Dogs in the community training on

dog behaviour, dog handling, dangerous dogs

and dog law.

FREE Education workshops for your local schools

FREE Responsible dog ownership materials

including leaflets, posters and poo bags.

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