Looking Back Over 2011

A brief review at what we've been up to:

To say it has been a busy year would be an understatement, we have literally been run off our feet helping dogs, owners and caring for our own residents throughout the year.

We have this year been in a situation where we just jump from one job to the next, with no spare time to share the news or add an update to our web site, blog or email updates.

Our main web site http://www.endangereddogs.com was updated at the beginning of the year; we have over the past four years added quite a large amount of information to the various divisions including our monthly news updates, dog law and responsible dog ownership sections.

We had to leave the site as it stood this year with its information and haven’t updated the rescue, news & events sections as our software, an old version of Dreamweaver, just gave up on us in the end! Thankfully we now have a late new copy of web editor Dreamweaver and are in the process of getting to grips with it, so we’ll be able to not only update our site but continue to make improvements and add much requested information & campaign news for all.

Whilst the main site (and editing volunteer) took a rest, we were busy creating a sparkly new blog which was launched in July – you can read this year’s posts and subscribe to updates here – http://www.endangereddogs.blogspot.com

Earlier this year we lost our main email account but with some great technical help we have re-instated and all our original email addresses are receiving & sending just fine, we have also properly backed-up our work files!

Dog world is generally in pretty appalling shape, with the enormous problems of over-breeding, unwanted dogs, BSL, puppy farming etc. and our telephone helplines have taken a bashing this year, as many dog owners who contact us for advice have no Internet access and rely on a mobile phone to access information. 

We have continued to advise and help owners caught up in legal action, including prohibited dogs as seizure rates have dramatically increased in some areas, also dogs of all shapes and sizes and their owners involved in issues of ‘dangerous dogs and ‘dogs out of control’ i.e. the Dogs Act 1871 &  section three of the Dangerous Dogs Act.

We have worked with several solicitors across the country at the owner’s request & liaised between owner & enforcement agencies.

At the beginning of December we had eighteen on-going cases which we were involved with, covering London, Birmingham,  Merseyside, Manchester, Nottingham, Essex, Berkshire, Devon, Hertfordshire, south Wales & Scotland.

Pictured to the right is one of many seized puppies who have not survived the cruelty that is BSL in this country.

Seized dog 'Amber' a 5yr old pet has just been to court under section 4b of the DDA & ordered exempted bringing much relief to her owner Kerry, she will be home in the New Year returned as an exempted dog.
We have just had the good news that a seized dog in Merseyside (DDA sec1) has been returned to his owner following several weeks of anguish for his owner who came through to us for advice & support "the best Xmas present ever" he said.
Four year old GSD Trevor & his owner were in magistrates court last week under sec 3 of the DDA, he accidentally injured a human hand during a dog fight in the park when being separated,  both dogs were off lead playing and had a disagreement, Trevor is being released home with a control order. His owner said "this is the best news I've ever had and i cant thank you enough for your help over the months to save my dog".

Help for rescue dogs in particular American Bulldogs & Staffie crosses is a weekly relentless issue, we’ve given free behavioural hands on help and rescue & re-homing advice; sometimes the free help we give has enabled a dog to stay with their current owner as issues have been worked out. Every dog which doesn’t need a rescue space helps not only the individual dog but the rescue as all are struggling constantly every day with too many dogs and not enough homes.

For example, in Manchester, Stella a 1yr Corso x AB was in trouble & her family were ringing round looking for a rescue shelter to take her, we helped out with the problems based around a general lack of exercise, improper diet & no basic training. The situation is much improved following several hours of free help over a month and Stella is booked in to be spayed the second week in January.

Another dog Benny, a 10mth Bull Terrier x in Nottingham wasn’t going out anymore as he pulled his owner over, he got bored & frustrated and it all went downhill from there, we managed to turn it around over three weeks and Benny is now much happier and no longer so desperate, the same applies to his family who were willing to try & to learn.

‘Monty’ a 5 month staffie cross was left at a London vets following an operation when another resident dog damaged his back leg during a house fight, the vets contacted us and we found him a rescue space and transported him from the vets to a rescue kennels in November; he was extremely lucky to find a space & has recovered from his injury.

We have also supplied free accurate information and advice on dog laws, proposed changes in law (i.e. the Dog Control Bill which passed its third reading through the Lords in October), campaigns, puppy farming & the sale of sick puppies, animal welfare issues, breed specific law in the UK, canine legal cases, behavioural & training assessments & assistance, long term kennel dogs within other rescues, abandoned & unwanted dogs, housing issues affecting dogs, noise complaints, lost, stolen & found dogs, the list is endless. Every day we answer the telephone, on some days our volunteers have spent hours on the phone trying to help and work out practical answers for sometimes almost impossible situations where a dog or dogs are in desperate need of a solution.

Our email advice service has been very busy all year again, we have dealt with enquiries on all types of topics. We have also been receiving weekly enquiries from dog owners overseas who are researching into moving back to the UK and asking for information on what types of dog are affected by our breed specific legislation. Sadly many families have taken the decision not to move to the UK as they cannot bring their dog with them and refuse to leave a member of their family behind. These types of enquiries are heart-breaking.

We have continued to liaise with animal welfare organisations, charities, canine behaviourists, solicitors, barristers, dog wardens, police officers, local councils and social workers over the course of the year, helping owners and their dogs, providing information and accurate facts when requested.

We've been supplying information and assistance to dogs and their owners since our company was formed over ten years ago & our dedicated volunteers prior to this this from 1992 have been campaigning against draconian BSL and practically helping dogs and their families relentlessly for a gruelling nineteen years.
As you can imagine 19yrs of answering the enquiries and calls for help, supporting people through very stressful legal cases & providing on-going help takes a huge amount of effort to maintain year in year out, we continue to do our best but it hasn’t got any easier, some cases where dogs loose their lives are demoralising to say the least.

This year marked twenty years since the introduction of BSL in the UK, we have marked the anniversary on previous years and this year kept it simple with an article in remembrance http://endangereddogs.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-12th-20-yrs-since-dda-was.html we never will forget.

The Index of Exempted Dogs was taken ‘in-house’ by Defra this summer, we spoke with Defra concerning the changes, the compulsory insurance needed by exempted dogs is no longer supplied by Pet Plan, we had a detailed discussion with an alternative insurer-if you need insurance cover contact us as it is vital you renew it on time.

We have over this year encouraged people to write to their own MPs and Defra concerning several animal welfare issues including the Dangerous Dogs Act, puppy farming & electric shock collars/devices. We have printed out over 850 template letters & given these out.

Currently we have fifteen dogs in our care, some are in foster homes, and two will be ready for re-homing in the New Year.

Some of our dogs are ‘long term residents’ and have little chance of moving on to forever homes of their own. We provide a good quality of life, with full veterinary back-up, our vets are fantastic and our dogs actually enjoy their visits!

For those dogs which are kennelled, we have our own individual kennels (six good sized units with one extra as a spare) these are fully insulated and currently being tiled on the inside with heated beds for cold weather and constructed to keep cool in hot weather. The dogs have attached safe & secure covered runs – photos to follow soon, we are very proud of our kennel unit and put a lot of thought and ideas from our own experiences into the design. We also have a small mobile home which we use creating a ‘home from home’ for short term use & canine assessments.

 The initial outlay obviously had to be spent, but we’ve constructed to last and the savings over time will be good especially as boarding costs are on average £10 per day per large dog, so we have no boarding costs at present for our canine residents, some of their food is donated, some is brought as and when needed.

Our volunteers do a great job in all weather, 365 days a year walking, playing, interacting and taking care of our rescues.

We also constructed a wire fenced run – our ‘play den’ for off lead fun and games in a safe environment, it’s a bit on the muddy side at the moment and the dogs do have one heck of an off leash blast around there in all weathers! We’ve just brought some straw to line it out a bit whilst the weather is wet.

One of our long term residents Amy was diagnosed with cancer and given 6 weeks to live, this was a great shock to us as she seemed pretty healthy apart from a small lump in her anal canal which she went under surgery to have removed-the vet couldn’t operate, Amy was stitched back up and we were referred to a specialist in canine cancer.

Amy was examined by the experts and was not given more than a few weeks at most to live, we shall never forget that feeling as we sat there in the clinic and she just looked at us as we cried. After several weeks we managed to get Amy listed on a free drug trial and for the first six weeks we made a weekly trip (2hrs each way) for tests as part of the trial, Amy wasn’t fazed by this; we made the car journeys enjoyable and the veterinary team were fantastic and so very kind to her, we tried everything & with oncology supportive care & monitoring she lived and enjoyed every day for eight months before we finally lost her. The anal tumour reduced in size every week-it was measured as part of the trial and Amy only had two set backs (sickness) which passed with TLC and dietary changes. The cancer eventually spread internally to her regional lymph nodes and then her liver and we reached that dreadful day to say goodbye. We haven’t written about Amy as we’ve been so very upset with losing her, it’s so very difficult to put into words, she was a very special girl, an abuse case who learnt to trust humans again after several years with us. We loved her dearly & all miss her so much.

This year we have transported several dogs to the vets for neutering (London bull-breeds mostly), where owners have come through and agreed to not breed and neuter if helped through the process. It’s been time consuming as our volunteers all have their own jobs, families, animals & bills to pay, but we have managed to fit it in when we can, the over-breeding of dogs is crippling every rescue in the country.
 In September we made a home visit to rescued dog Harvey an American Bulldog who began life locked in a shed & was in a state, following our assessment, Harvey was booked into the vets for neutering, chipping & a much needed dental (some of his teeth were worn flat to the gum) his owner then began basic training with our advice. Harvey is a lucky boy to have such a great new owner.
On 30th October we transported rescued 1yr old AB Belle to the vets (Barnet-north London), she had a rough start in life also and we've helped her owner to make some improvements, we met Belle & carried out a behavioural assessment for free recommending changes. Belle is now a lot happier (as is her new owner who couldn't afford behavioural & training advice) we have introduced dog & owner to clicker training, they are doing great now!
On 6th November we made a home visit to two rescued AB crosses, one of which went through a glass door on fireworks night, the owner read our fireworks advice sheet on line and came through for help, they had been tearing their hair out as the fireworks peaked.
On 17th November we transported rescue rottie Betsy to her vets in Harrow, Middx. Betsy was spayed & chipped, her previous low-life owner had bred from her then dumped her, but she now has a new family who are dedicated.

Earlier in the year, we purchased a printer as we had nothing which worked and were often being asked to post out info sheets and literature.  We then went through our literature which was mostly out of date. We have re-written our original leaflets one at a time and added some pamphlets to what we already had, so far we have the following topics available and intend to add to this list next year:

Neutering Your Dog, Micro-chipping Your Dog, Responsible Dog Ownership, Lost & Found Dogs, Keeping Your Dog Safe (dog theft), Summer /Hot Weather Advice, Fireworks & Dogs, Dog Law Explained-Prohibited Dogs, Dog Law Explained-Section 3 of the DDA, Electric Shock Devices, Dog Law Update Scotland & our latest Seasonal & Cold Weather Advice.

Our new colour poster for the chronic over breeding of American Bulldogs & Bulldog crosses has just been printed out and is placed in 22 pet shops at present.

New legislation (we had submitted our views during the initial public consultation which was launched by Government) affecting dogs was passed and commenced in Scotland; we have researched the changes and written a leaflet to inform dog owners; this is freely available & shall be added to our web site to download also.

As social networking web sites become more popular, you may have noticed that we now have an account on twitter – http://twitter.com/EndangeredDogs this year we have updated weekly on here with our ‘tweets’ covering news, campaigns, cases, rescue dogs etc and now have over 2,300 followers.

We have also set up an account on social networking sites MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/endangereddogs  and Bebo  - http://www.bebo.com/EndangeredDogs

Northern Ireland amended its dog legislation; we contacted and corresponded with the legal department at DARD over the changes & enforcement dates. We have researched alongside a barrister and written an update on the BSL situation there to hopefully simplify a legally complex situation to help dog owners make sense of it all.

In July we sponsored rescue dog ‘Merlin’ in kennels who was one of several dogs held by the Met. Police & released as not ‘type’. Merlin would love a forever home of his own, to find out more about him and the other dogs he was released with, some of whom are also in need of a good home, please visit http://www.ddawatch.co.uk/rescue&rehoming.html for sponsoring and re-homing details.

Also in July we circulated & supported the petition 'Say No to Carmarthenshire Puppy Farm' and we wrote to the Carmarthenshire Council planning committee objecting to a retrospective planning application for 196 dogs. The Council received over 800 objections, planning permission was approved (as expected). Many wrote to their MPs concerning the factory farming of dogs, details of how you can speak out against puppy farming were posted on our blog in August & September.

In August we attended the ‘NO Voice No Choice’ event, organised by DDAWatch and the Company of Animals, with our new stall and display; we had a good day and met some great new people, old friends & amazing dogs too!

We hope to attend more events now we have an updated stall, display & literature organised-thanks to our printer & new software.
We have also urged many to sign petitions to help spread awareness relating to several animal welfare causes as well as the online petition for seized dog Lennox who is held under BSL in NI as legal proceedings as on-going.

Petition details & updates have been posted to our blog & on twitter over the year & previous to this on our main web site.

As we write this brief overview three dogs are in a flat alone with an owner back in hospital & no one there to help, two owners are moving here from overseas (USA & France) and have asked if their much loved pets can come with them-with concerns for our BSL legislation.

One owner has just had their dog returned and it ‘hates wearing a muzzle’ & everyone is upset.
A litter of six accidentally bred 4 day old bull breed puppies have been rejected by their mother and the novice owner has asked for help hand-rearing.
There are four messages for American Bulldogs all urgent.
Two collie x dogs who have been rescued but will not now eat in their new home.
Two cases just gone through court and dogs coming home any day with anxious owners needing advice.
A dog chained in a yard no one will visit, treading in his own excrement with no proper shelter,.
A small dog which has been seriously attacked by another dog running loose.
A disabled lady who is being tormented by a neighbour over her Boxer dog.
A underweight Stafford and about to be homeless owner who has no dog food and there’s no room in any shelter to help and a dog warden with a neglected Bulldog x requesting support and that’s just for starters during the ‘xmas break’.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the past year and especially the volunteers who work so hard to keep the dogs under our care safe and help so many others who rely on us in many situations as their last hope.

We shall keep working away & speaking out for those who have no voice!

Sentencing Council - England & Wales

Public Consultation Launched:

A public consultation was launched on 15^th December 2011 by the Sentencing Council which is asking for your views on their new sentencing proposals (England & Wales) for dangerous dog offences. This consultation closes on 8^th March 2012 - the deadline for responses.

For consultation information and details of where to send your view please visit the Sentencing Council website here.

Guidelines set sentencing ranges within current legislation. When legislation changes, guidelines are amended as appropriate.

The draft guideline covers six dangerous dog offences in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991:

-          owner or person in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control in a public place injuring any person;

-          owner or person in charge allowing a dog to be in a private place where the dog is not permitted to be injuring any person;

-          owner or person in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control in a public place;

-          owner or person in charge allowing a dog to be in a private place where the dog not permitted to be;

-          possession of a prohibited dog (these are the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro); and

-          breeding, selling or exchanging a prohibited dog.

We will be responding in the New Year, if you need any help or advice in understanding the consultation and/or new proposals please contact us.

The sentencing Council writes:

New proposals about how the owners of dangerous dogs should be sentenced by the courts are being announced today, with the launch of a public consultation on the first sentencing guideline that covers dangerous dog offences.

 With rising numbers of people being convicted for these offences, the Sentencing Council is responding to ensure that there is effective guidance for the courts. The aim is consistent and proportionate sentencing throughout England and Wales so that wherever owners of dangerous dogs appear in court, appropriate sentences are passed.  It does not propose any reduction in sentences for those convicted of dangerous dog offences.

The draft guideline also aims to ensure that sentencers make best use of their powers so that irresponsible owners who put the public at risk can be banned from keeping dogs, genuinely dangerous dogs can be put down and compensation can be paid to victims.

The guideline covers the most commonly sentenced offences in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 including allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control causing injury and possession of a prohibited dog.

In situations where someone deliberately sets a dog on another person and injures them, the offender is likely to be charged with assault - the assault sentencing guideline refers specifically to the use of an animal as a weapon as a factor increasing the level of sentence.

The Council’s proposals take into account findings from research it conducted to explore the public’s views on sentencing for these offences and the guideline ranges largely reflect sentences suggested by the majority of respondents. The consultation now gives the opportunity for anyone to give their views on the proposals.

Anne Arnold, district judge and member of the Sentencing Council, said:

“The majority of dog owners take good care of their pets and keep their dogs under control but we want to ensure that irresponsible dog owners who put the public at risk are sentenced appropriately.

“Our guideline gives guidance to courts on making the best use of their powers so that people can be banned from keeping dogs, genuinely dangerous dogs can be put down and compensation can be paid to victims.

“This consultation provides an opportunity for anyone interested in this issue to give their views so we can make sure the guidelines are as effective as possible.”

John Fassenfelt, Chairman of the Magistrates' Association said:

“Magistrates are seeing more dangerous dog offences coming before them, so we welcome the development of this guideline. It will help magistrates decide the appropriate sentence for both the normally careful owner whose pet gets momentarily out of control and the negligent owner who doesn’t care if their dog poses a risk to the public. It will also help magistrates decide if additional action to keep people safe is needed, such as banning someone from owning a dog.”

Trevor Cooper, dog law expert and dog law consultant for Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, commented:

“Courts often face the difficult task of deciding on appropriate sentencing in dog cases, which can be emotive and complex. These draft guidelines on dangerous dog offences will help to provide much needed clarity and consistency in assessing individual cases and this consultation will be considered with due diligence. This also presents a timely opportunity for dog owners to proffer their own views on this consultation and play a part in helping to shape the sentencing procedure.”

Canine Christmas Tips

Christmas Tips &
Seasonal Advice For Dog Owners:

Christmas and the New Year is a time of joy and cheer for us and our families and is also often a time of stress, rushing about and pulling your hair out!

Here are some handy tips for you to help maintain your sanity and keep you and your dog happy and safe over the festive season.

Your Christmas Tree & Decorations:

Once a year we fill our rooms up with trees, dangling objects, lights and even hang food around in odd places. We know what is going on, but our dogs probably just think we have gone a bit nuts in the nicest of ways!

• Electrics: Make sure you keep your tree lights and any other electrical decorations safely out of your dog’s reach-especially if your dog is inclined to investigate or chew through exposed electrical cord. Electrocution can easily be caused.

• Trees: If you have a real tree, the needles which fall daily can become stuck in your dog’s paws and are also dangerous if eaten, vacuum daily and keep your dog (and other animals) away from them. Don't let your dog drink the tree water. Some dogs like to mark out against them (why else did human bring a tree indoors but to save going out in the cold?) so bear that in mind too!

• Tree Decor: From a dogs point of view – the Christmas tree with its dangling goodies is pretty tempting and begging to be investigated, trees can easily topple over especially once weighed down with decorations and lights etc so try to secure the tree down so it does not fall over so easily if bumped into by your dog (or wagging tail). Trees do tend to look better by the window rather than being worn round the house by your enthusiastic dog!

Dogs can easily be caught up in tinsel and find hanging decorations particularly appealing and ripe for pulling off. Life will be a lot easier and safer if you limit your dog’s access to the area if you need to and don’t leave tree and dog unattended!

• Plants: Many Christmas plants including Mistletoe, Holly, Pot Pourrie and Poinsettias are toxic, keep them out of your dog’s reach and seek immediate veterinary advice if you think your pet has ingested.

• Decorations: Those which are edible (or not when they are ten years old) to humans, e.g. hanging chocolate tree decorations may be sniffed out by your dog with his amazing nose detection capabilities, so keep these away. Chocolate is just pure poison to your dog’s system, tinsel, tin foil, cling film etc can also be dangerous if swallowed and cause serious internal problems. Fairy lights look lovely; problems can arise when dogs get tangled up in any loose wires left lying around.

• Spray snow - the type in the cans, is attractive on the insides of your windows, check your dog isn't interested in licking/scratching it off, chemicals=poisons.

• Blu-tack and similar adhesives may cause drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhoea if eaten by your dog. Silica gel found in packaging can have the same affect-contact your vet for advice.

• Plastic bags and balloons are also a hazard-keep them away from your dog.

• Candles: If you like to use candles-do place where your dog, e.g. your dog’s waggy tail, will not accidentally knock over.

Christmas Presents:

• Your goodies: Many dogs will be intrigued by the sudden appearance of wrapped boxes and who could blame them, so if you don’t want yours unwrapped by Santa’s little helper, keep them boxes hidden!

• Wrappings, trimmings etc can be very dangerous if chewed or swallowed, so keep safely away when not in use & bin after.

• Doggie presents: Make sure your dog’s own Christmas present(s) are ’dog proof’ – suitable for your dog, robust enough and safe for use.

Christmas Day can in some households seem like a day gone mad from a dog's view, then there is the excitement of the present opening, the paper, the noise, all those socks too!

If you have more than one dog and are giving out a present to each dog bear in mind how each dog is going to react with their new possession around the other dogs, sharing might be right out the window to begin with.

Give your dog space and maintain control - it's not like you’re too busy right? You are after all supermom and superdad - dogs need your help too.

Festive Food, more food, did I mention there's more food and treats:

Some of the foods we love to fill up on over Christmas are actually toxic for our dogs. It can be a tough job to keep a watch on your dog even with the extra set of eyes you have developed in the back of your head, but you'll need to be one step ahead.

Cooked foods left on top of the oven are very tempting to your dog and many a time the whole lot has been reached and knocked back in one or two gulps; bones, trimmings, stuffing the lot-this can lead to an expensive out-of-hours veterinary visit or if you are lucky it will pass through and you will need one hell of a shovel or plastic bag out in the garden on Boxing Day, plus you've missed your lunch so watch out.

• Diet - We often get carried away with extra festive treats and unusual foods this time of year, it’s nice to include our dogs and treat them too – but don’t forget that a sudden intake of unusual foods, or too much of anything is likely to cause diarrhoea and/or vomiting, so watch out for how much and what exactly your dog is being offered - keep an eye on any guests sneaking in the treats too, or Fido will end up with an upset tummy and it could be a messy and uncomfortable Christmas!

• Chocolate is a definite NO! It contains a chemical called Theobromine which is actually poisonous to dogs and even just a small amount can be lethal for some. Chocolate poisoning can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures and death. If you want to treat your dog – buy treats designed for dogs, our rescue dogs loves to chew on a carrot or apple, keep them safe and keep them healthy. If you suspect chocolate poisoning – contact a vet immediately.

• Sweetcorn isn’t digested and corn on the cob is very dangerous, cobs can easily cause an obstruction which will require surgery to remove if it doesn’t kill your dog. If you have corn on the cob-dispose of the cobs where your dog can’t reach and never ever feed to your dog.

• Bones - you may have more cooked meats around and your dog is sure to have spotted exactly where all his goodies are! Bones can be dangerous, cooked ones becoming brittle and easily breaking into sharp pieces which can choke a dog, don’t give anything you wouldn’t usually.

• Coffee – alcohol – sweets - yummy for us but NO NO NO for our canine friends. Give your dog a nice Christmas and keep well away.

• Grapes, raisins and sultanas should not be fed to your dog; these are now known to be toxic to dogs and can cause poisoning. Cases of kidney failure have been documented. Other foods such as liquorice, avocados, onions and some nuts can also cause problems.
A poisons leaflet produced by the British Veterinary Association is available online.

Fun, parties & visitors over the holidays:

Some dogs will enjoy extra people around, for some it can be very stressful-just because you are enjoying 'festive fun' it, doesn't mean your dog must too.

• If you’re hosting a party/get together: Some dogs will become overexcited or frightened when around unusual noises such as children toys, balloons popping, party bangers, flashing lights etc and intoxicated visitors can also cause a dog to feel uneasy - being grabbed, cuddled and told you’re a good boy over and over by auntie who has hit the sherry early is not a dog's idea of a fun day out, so plan in advance to help keep your best friend relaxed.

If your dog is known not to cope well with these types of situations, or you haven't owned your dog long enough to find out, don't take chances, be ready with your dog's 'retreat area':

Make sure your dog(s) has a retreat somewhere familiar where he can go and relax away from all the noise and excitement if he needs too or you need to put him somewhere safe, for example a room upstairs or a dog crate somewhere familiar and quiet. This is especially important if you are likely to become putting it bluntly - drunk and not much use to your dog. Provide some favourite chews, or a stuffed Kong to help keep him occupied, where he likes to be, leave the radio/TV on to help block out some noise, make sure he has the remote control handy too but don’t let him on the karaoke! Exercise in advance to help him settle down whilst you get on enjoying yourself!

• Try plugging in a DAP diffuser two weeks before your busiest week and keep it plugged in over the Xmas to help relax your dog if needed.

• Extra guests: Many households will receive extra guests, relatives and often young children, so bear in mind that if your dog isn’t used to the extra attention, noise etc, have a quiet retreat as mentioned above. If your dog is happy mixing (not the cocktails hopefully) - keep an eye out for him becoming too excited and step in if that is the case.

• Ground Rules: When your family and friends arrive, try laying down some house rules - ask your guests not to overfeed your dog or leave food and alcohol on the floor to help keep party food and drinks out of reach to your dog. But remember, when the booze is flowing, rules are out the window so be prepared in advance, you don't want to end up trying to pull a trapped object out of your dog's throat after he's just found himself a plateful under the chair.

• Children: Letting off steam at Christmas is all part of the fun, they are off school, enjoying themselves, excited and often charging about. Parents are knackered, stressed out and tired. It's at times like this when dogs can be let down unintentionally and placed in awkward situations.
Please do not leave children and dogs alone attended-always make sure children and dogs are supervised by a competent adult at all times. If it is too much for your dog - just remove your dog from the situation, be vigilant and prevent accidents.

• Exercise: Try your best to keep your dog’s normal routine as much as possible – getting away from the washing up with the excuse of walking the dog does come in handy!

• Fireworks are often used over the holiday season, especially on New Year’s Eve; read up on our fireworks & dogs advice.

• Extra people in and out increases the risk of your dog being let out of your home by mistake; always make sure doors are closed and that you know where your dog is - safely inside. Each year dogs go missing during the holiday period - is your dog wearing a collar and Id tag, is your dog identi-chipped?

• Pain killers and human drugs for hangovers etc often get left lying around and these packets can be of interest to your dog, if you think your dog has swallowed-contact you vet.

• Travelling: If you are visiting and taking your dog with you – don’t forget to pack his bag too! Check in advance that your dog is welcome, exercise beforehand to help him settle down when you get there, take a bit of his bedding, water bowl, own food, toy etc.

Record your vet’s number somewhere safe, just in case, be careful and give your dog a big hug from us this Xmas!

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to you all and your dogs!

Written by Amanda Dunckley
Copyright ©2011 Endangered Dogs Defence and Rescue Ltd

Lennox Update:

We last updated on the Lennox case here on 20th October to explain that the case is ongoing.

There have been some posts stating that a court hearing was scheduled for 11th November, subsequently we received a number of emails asking for information.

There was no court hearing on the 11th of November, there was no court hearing planned and no date for any hearing has been given - this information is accurate and has been given by Lennox's family (updates on twitter).

The legal process is ongoing and meanwhile Lennox remains held.

Dog Law Talk - Pet Owners

Doglaw: What Every Dog Owner Needs to Know is a talk aimed at dog owners and run by Cooper & Co. Solicitors.

This seminar is a wide-ranging mix of legal issues that are important to dog owners, including responsibilities when buying and selling dogs, liability (both civil and criminal) for dogs that harm people and animals and much more.

They are held during an evening or a weekend and last around 2 ½ hours at a cost of £20 per person.

These talks run as requested. 'What Every Owner Needs to Know' is booked for Chertsey (Surrey) on 26th January 2012 – for more information and to book a place please email nik@doglaw.co.uk or telephone 01227 811988

If you run a Dog Club and would like to host one of these owner's seminars, please contact www.doglaw.co.uk

Dog Law Seminars 2012

From our friends at Cooper & Co, if you are interested in attending one of these informative seminars please contact Cooper & Co directly (email below):

As you may be aware, we presented nine seminars in September on Doglaw for Professionals at various locations throughout England & Wales. Due to popular demand we have been asked whether we will be running this course again in 2012 and the intention of this email is to ‘test the water’ to see if there is sufficient interest. Please therefore pass this email to any colleagues that you think may be interested in attending.

This time, Trevor Cooper will be the sole presenter and the course will cover:-

Dangerous Dogs: A Masterclass

Legal implications of microchipping

Cruelty & Duty of Care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006

It is anticipated that this will be of particular interest to: Animal Wardens, Environmental Health Officers, Vets & Vet Nurses, Barristers, Trainers & Behaviourists, Rescues, Kennel Proprietors and Police Officers.

The seminar will run from 10am to 4:30pm and the price is being held at £120, to include VAT and a buffet lunch.

If you or any colleagues would like to register for 2012 please contact me now. The dates and venues which have been pencilled-in are as follows:-

Monday 6th February in Manchester
Monday 13th February in London
Tuesday 14th February in Bristol

Further details from:
nik@doglaw.co.uk
www.doglaw.co.uk

Fireworks and Dogs - Advice

Safety Tips I Dogs & Fireworks Survival I Long-term Action I Fireworks & the Law

Every year many dogs (and other animals) will be affected as a direct result of fireworks. Fireworks legislation exists but for many the fireworks are still extremely loud and the mayhem seems to start earlier and earlier each year, depending on where you live, with Nov. 5th as the 'main event' there are also other celebrations involving fireworks such as Diwali, Chinese New Year and increased popularity in some areas around Christmas and New Year.

For many of us, there isn’t just one evening of Fireworks, sounding like World War III to cope with, but a whole run up of weeks leading to it which doesn’t end with the loudest blitz on Bonfire Night.

Here we have collated some information regarding the safety of your dog, coping suggestions to help get you through it, long term treatment and current legislation.

Safety tips for you and your dog(s):

Around this time there will be a steep increase in the number of stray dogs picked up and handed in, dogs which have become scared and bolted when out and off leash or having escaped from the home, here follows a few tips to help you and your dog: Please check the following today: Collar & ID Tag: Your dog needs to be wearing an ID tag or a collar with Identification clearly inscribed on it (this is a legal requirement) - check it can be read - can you actually see what it says? The information on it needs to be up to date and securely attached to your dog’s collar. Make sure your dog’s collar is in good condition and fits properly. Microchip: Is you dog micro-chipped? If not now would be a good time to get that done. It’s a simple painless procedure that your vet can do and is relatively cheap – it will make all the difference if you lose your dog. If your dog is already chipped check that you have the number to call should the worst happen. Also make sure your contact details are up to date. Bonfire night is coming and for many dogs it’s terrifying. You may think your dog is bombproof but maybe, this time something will surprise him and he may bolt. If the details on his tag are wrong, or if in the panic he loses his collar, your chances of being reunited with your pet are greatly reduced.

Keep your dog inside the house with you during the worst times, check your garden fencing – is it secure? Does the gate(s) lock?

Don’t leave your dog out in the garden unattended or leave your dog tied up outside the shop or alone anywhere, e.g., in a vehicle, yobs throw bangers & fireworks at animals and find it amusing to wind them up, keep your dog safe.

Keep your dog leashed when out. If you use a flexi leash be extra careful, as your dog suddenly running full throttle to the end of it will cause a jolt which can pull the lead right out of your grasp-you end up with a dog running in a panic with the equipment bouncing along behind, the sudden bang of a rocket etc. can cause the most laid back of dogs to bolt; before they know it they are lost.

Dogs that are known to have a problem with fireworks and are affected are best not left alone at home. As dogs are pack animals, stay with your pet and keep inside when the fireworks are being let off. A dog under stress can sometimes become unpredictable and panic, so double check how safe the inside of your home is, e.g., ornaments, glass doors, open fires.

Never take your dog or any animal to a Firework display, it may be fun for you to watch but keep your dog away and safe.

Getting through it – some survival tips:

Preparation is the key, if your dog has a problem remember your dog feels the need to escape from the source of the fear, your dog may become destructive and/or aggressive, panic, go off its food, have diarrhoea, vomit etc., - your job is to minimize the effects as much as you can, keep your dog safe and seek long term professional help so that fireworks are less of a problem in the future. If you’re worried about your dog’s reactions to fireworks it makes sense to go and visit your veterinary clinic for advice and help.

Exercise your dog earlier; try to have him tired out ready for the evening.

Is the house secure-windows closed, cat flap locked (keep the cat safely inside as well), doors secured etc. and both escape proof and safe should your dog panic?

Draw the curtains/blinds to keep out visual reminders-flashing lights etc.).

Have some familiar calming music on or turn up the TV (not too loud) to help block out some of the noise.

Make sure your dog has access to an area where he feels safe - a 'den' which is away from windows with his bedding and toys inside. Place some of your clothing in here so there is a familiar comforting scent, don’t move his bed suddenly, if you are going to set up a safe area in a specific part of the house, do it a few weeks in advance to give him time to adjust and familiarise himself. To make your dog’s den a place where good things happen - you can feed him in there, hide treats in there, favourite chews etc. so that your dog should want to go into his den-don’t ever force him in.

Offer a stuffed Kong (introduce in advance) toys and/or favourite chew toy to distract; giving him something to do can help relieve stress as it may take his mind off the noise and smell of fireworks in the night air.

Make sure there is plenty of fresh drinking water available and feed your pet a couple of hours before the fireworks in the evening to help relax him (if your dog is likely to vomit and/or have diarrhoea be prepared for this).

You could also try using adaptil dog appeasing pheromone-just search DAP as it’s sold widely online & in pet shops. You can use a DAP diffuser which you leave plugged in all day a couple of weeks in advance (next to your dog’s den or bed is ideal) also available is DAP spray and a DAP dog collar (worn in addition to your dog’s normal collar). The canine appeasing hormone is released into the atmosphere and is odourless, it doesn’t affect humans or other animals and helps relieve general anxiety in dogs.

Natural Remedies can also be useful for behavioural problems in dogs, try Dr Bach Rescue Remedy. Another homeopathic remedy which can also help is called HomeoPet Anxiety TFLN it is designed to promote a sense of calm. Scullcap and Valerian tablets are a herbal combination which some dog owners use to bring relief to their dogs when anxious and nervous. Further details at Dorwest Herbs.

An ‘anxiety wrap’ is a relatively new idea and now available to buy. It is worn by a dog (looks like a dog coat) to help relieve stress during times of fireworks & thunderstorms, you can find out more here: http://www.petsperfect.co.uk/products/Anxiety-Wrap.html

If your dog is affected by the noise – do NOT ever punish him. If you go out and find your dog has been destructive whilst you were gone – don’t punish him, stay calm, tidy up any mess and have a cup of tea! It is a completely pointless to punish him, damaging & extremely unkind to your dog, the bond between you both is affected and likely to make him even more stressed out.

 You and your family members need to remain confident, relaxed and cheery, try distracting him if possible.

Try to yourself remain relaxed and upbeat – conveying the message that there is nothing to worry about.

If you are worried at all – get help and further advice now, the more in advance of the fireworks season the better. Desensitisation programmes take months not weeks so think ahead and visit your veterinary clinic for advice and seek out the assistance of a behavioural councillor who will be able to help your dog.

Don’t forget to keep your cats, other animals and birds safe too.

Long-term Action:

If your dog needs help then once the firework session is out the way it’s time to plan ahead as any good behavioural re-modification programme will take time, effort and patience.
There is no ‘quick fix’ to fireworks phobia, treatment programmes involving desensitisation and counter conditions techniques are available.

We recommend you seek help from a professional canine behaviourist-for advice please contact us and visit your veterinary surgeon.

The Fireworks Act:

The Fireworks Act was introduced in August 2004, it makes it an offence to:

* Be under the age of 18 and in possession of fireworks in a public place.

* Let off fireworks louder than 120 decibels.
* Let off fireworks between 11pm and 7am.

The 11pm to 7am curfew is extended on the 5th of November, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali.

It is against the law to throw or set off fireworks in the street.

Fireworks must not be sold to anyone who is under 18 years of age.

For a full copy of the legislation (The Fireworks Act 2003) visit: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/22/contents

Further information on fireworks and the law can be found here.

The Animal Welfare Act:

Under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animals.

The penalty on conviction is either imprisonment up to 51 weeks or a fine of up to £20,000 or both. Enforcement of this section of the Act rests with Trading Standards, the Police or the RSPCA as appropriate.

Written by Amanda Dunckley
Updated 2011
Copyright © Endangered Dogs Defence & Rescue 2011