UK HELP TO END BSL, DEFRA CONSULTATION - 12 March 2010
Dear all,
Please read and share, the time is now to speak out against BSL. The Defra consultation is underway and we have until June 2010 to make our views known. MP's have already hinted that they would consider adding more breeds of dog to the banned list.
Please do some research and find out what has been happening to UK dogs, many have been seized and put to sleep under the current Dangerous Dogs legislation. We need change, we need the public to be safe, we need responsible dog owners, but we do not need any more dead dogs. What we do need is education that helps to prevent dog attacks and fair laws that do not target innocent dogs simply because they 'look' like a banned breed.
We have to speak up now if we want a fair deal for responsible dog owners, changes to the dangerous dogs act could affect all of us and our dogs for better or for worse and we are being asked for our opinion so please let Defra and the government know how you feel about Breed Specific Legislation, and the Dangerous Dogs Act.
If you need any help with any of the questions on the Defra consultation online (and many people are telling us that it is extremely difficult to answer some of the questions) then please get in touch with DDAWatch and we will be glad to help if we can, email -
mail@dangerousdogsact.co.uk
Or Tel - 0844 844 2900
Thank you
Maria
DDAWatch TALKS UK DOGS AND THE LAW ON BBC RADIO 5 LIVE - 8 March 2010
Dear all,
Allie Green of DDAWatch talks UK dogs and the law on BBC Radio 5 live breakfast show Tuesday 9th March, 6am-10am GMT.
This is a race against time so please visit some of the links and get the information you need to write letters and sign the petition to save this precious dog before it's too late.
Thanks so much
Maria xx
THE REAL COST OF FUR - 20 February 2010
Sharing Animal Defenders International - Campaign to end the barbaric fur trade
What did I ever do to you, just a dog living my life
With the good folks I knew, now I'm so far away
But I still see you...
I don't feel the pain, it disappeared at heaven's gate
I won't be home again, but the world is at my feet
I'm on another plane, I'm everyone's Buddy.
I'm everyone's friend
I'm the dog that you once knew, I'm the love within your hand
I'm the one that you will through, the one for whom you make a stand
Thanks, I know you love me, I'm everyone's Buddy.
Well, I've been through the worst, a bad person is a curse
Take a life well that's a sin, and you know where I have been
Yeah, I know to hell and back, down a dark and snowy track
But now I feel your hearts and the love you send so far.
Well, life is what you make it and justice ain't for taking
You and I will raise it, it ain't so complicated
I'm here at your side, like every dog in every human's life
Yeah, we're gonna brave it.
Cos I'm everyone's friend
I'm the dog that you once knew, I'm the love within your hand
I'm the one that you will through, I'm the one for whom you make a stand
Thanks, I know you love me, I'm everyone's Buddy.
Man's best friend is here to the end
Always and every way we are one
Kind and true, I, I believe in you
I'm your dog your little piece of God
I pray we'll see this through
I'm just one but see what we begun
You are mine and I am yours
A better world for every one
Your hands and my paws
I'm everyone's friend
I'm the dog that you once knew, I'm the love within your hand
I'm the one that you will through, the one for whom you make a stand
Thanks, I know you love me, yeah
Cos I'm everyone's friend
I'm the dog that you once knew, I'm the love within your hand
I'm the one that you will through, the one for whom you make a stand
Thanks, I know you love me, I'm everyone's Buddy.
SUPPORTING THE NEW FILM 'A MINORITY PASTIME' - 31 January 2010
Dear all,
We are very proud to announce that we will be composing music for the new drama/documentary film 'A Minority Pastime' which is currently in production and set for release in Spring 2010.
Background information -
When Slad Valley resident Nisa Ward witnessed a deer torn apart by out-of-control hunting hounds her life changed forever. As a child lost in the woods of a grim fairy tale she unearths a shocking world of cruelty, violence and fear. This film follows her journey of discovery as she tries to understand why the right to hunt and kill animals for sport is so important to a small, but very powerful, group of English people.
BLUE NEEDS A WARM SAFE PLACE, CAN YOU HELP? - 2 January 2010
****UPDATE****
BLUE IS NOW SAFE!! AND HE IS RESERVED TO GO TO HIS WONDERFUL NEW HOME VERY SOON. MANY THANKS TO ALL DOGS MATTER FOR TAKING THIS LOVELY BOY AND CHANGING HIS LIFE FOR THE BETTER :)
Poor Blue is a gorgeous blue & white staffie male, he is almost bald with severe mange and he is so cold in kennels, he is receiving treatment for his skin condition but this lad really needs to be found a warm rescue or foster place as soon as possible. Blue is a nice steady lad and he is very happy in himself considering the state he is in. Blue is around 3 yrs old, untested with other dogs but he seems ok when they pass his kennel.
One Life Rescue is currently sponsoring costs of Blue's vaccinations and neutering and we are assisting his rescuer Caroline to find the best foster placement for him with a view to finding Blue a new forever home in the near future. In order to save Blue from being put to sleep we are also seeking a rescue space for this lovely lad if a foster home does not materialise soon. If you can help to keep Blue safe please contact Julia, Maria or Caroline on the contact email addresses below, or telephone Caroline direct on this number -
07984 446717
Email -
caroline@ravenswoodarabians.co.uk
maria@oneliferescue.org
Julia@oneliferescue.org
If you would like to help with the cost of Blue's boarding fees or assist with the cost of his skin treatment, please also speak to Caroline about this, thank you
Any rescue centres that kindly offer help must meet the following criteria:
1 - A NO DESTRUCTION POLICY
2 - HOMECHECK ALL PROSPECTIVE OWNERS
3 - DOG TO BE RETURNED TO THE SANCTUARY IF OWNER CAN NO LONGER KEEP
Individual homes offered will be homechecked
Many thanks for your continued support and special thanks to Paul. D. Richmond, aka Zest and the team of Keep The Green Alive who have kindly donated funds to ensure Blue has a happy, safe and secure future.
KILLING YOUR OWN, A SONG FOR THE PLIGHT OF THE KANGAROO - 18 December 2009
Photograph by kind permission of Stella Reid.
NEWS RELEASE FROM WLPA.ORG
Dear Kangaroo friends
I am thrilled to let you know that our precious kangaroos have a new ally - the powerful voice of Maria Daines.
Some time ago I came across a beautiful song about animals - and the voice, like the sound of bells from a cathedral, grabbed my attention.
I read about Maria and found out how compassionate and deeply committed to stopping animal suffering she is. I thought that a person with such a big heart would not stand by and do nothing while the senseless slaughter of our gentle kangaroos takes place every night in Australia.
I was not mistaken. When Maria learned about the millions of joeys decapitated, bashed or left to die from starvation she immediately ‘hopped to their rescue’ in the best way she could - using her great musical talent. Together with guitarist and producer Paul Killington she created a song especially for kangaroos -"Killing your own"
When I first listened to this song I had shivers going down my spine, as "Killing your own" so poignantly reflects the unspeakable tragedy which occurs every night in Australia. We are killing our own icon, we are killing our spirit of Australia, we are killing our own friends, our own souls ... By accepting the slaughter of defenceless, innocent joeys we also are killing our own feelings of tenderness, compassion and care for vulnerable beings of all species, including our own.
Maria Daines sends a powerful message: It is time to stop this senseless slaughter of kangaroos! It is time to stop the massacre of joeys!
Please stay tuned for a media release about Maria Daines joining the EU campaign to have kangaroo products banned from Europe.
- thank you for caring
Teresa
__________________
Dr Teresa Buss-Carden
Australians for Wildlife
Subcommittee of WLPA www.wlpa.org
The World League for Protection of Animals, Inc
‘Working for the rights of all animals, both native and non-native, since 1935’
Address:
Halina
….the song is truly touching and so heart breaking....
Gail
....I'm crying. that is the saddest song.....
Lindy
... we all listened to the song just now and we all really LOVED it. VERY professional , moving and passionate. Importantly you can hear most of the lyrics. No point in having a groovy soundtrack if you can't hear the lyrics.
Robin
.... I am moved beyond words. Well done-!! Our kangas have an important new voice because you, and people like you never give up...thank you, thank you, and thank you. Such powerful lyrics by Maria Daines and such beautiful images of kanga friends by Stella and Brett...very moving for me all around.
Joyce
... It was just beautiful.
The words were so very sad and melancholy and so true.
A wonderful voice with such real emotion.
I will send it to everybody on my list including local radio..
Brett
... Wonderful work , I'm also honoured that you selected 3 of my photos to illustrate this 'news release'.
Thank you....
Richard
... Fantastic - well done
Vivienne
...Wonderful and powerful words and fantastic music with it. She is a great
ambassador for our poor maligned kangaroos.
Let's hope this song becomes famous.
Antje
...That`s extremely well done! Congratulations.
DANGEROUS DOGS LAW IS A MESS, WARN CAMPAIGNERS - 7 December 2009
Dog attacks and number of people taken to hospital have doubled since 1991 act, activists say -
The death of four-year-old John-Paul Massey, who was mauled by his uncle's illegal pit bull terrier in Liverpool has led to calls for a repeal of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The act, introduced in 1991, is failing to prevent dog attacks, campaigners say. Former dog trainer Ryan O'Meara, publisher of K9 magazine, calls the act a shambles: "We need to have a new law that compels every single person who owns a dog to have compulsory education — that is the only way we are going to reverse these problems."
O'Meara adds that labelling all pit bulls as dangerous is as ridiculous as saying Ford Mondeos are the most dangerous car on the road.
Clarissa Baldwin, the Dogs Trust chief executive, said: "By banning certain breeds of dog rather than focusing on tackling anti-social behaviour it has not prevented a large number of dog attacks or reduced the number of pit bull terrier-type dogs in the UK. Since that act was introduced. the number of hospitalisations is reported as having doubled."
Alison Green, the head of DDA Watch, says the act is not working "as has been proven in the most horrible way in Liverpool".
"There have been deaths and an amnesty, but it has not been effective," she says. "It has not made one jot of difference to dangerous dogs.
"After cases like this people feel pressure to re-home their dogs by family members because of the media coverage.
"If people have bull breed-type dogs they find it difficult to walk them and they will often not be allowed at training classes when they are legally held, exercised and treated by vets."
Chief Superintendent John Martin, of Merseyside police, says pit bull describes a variety of dogs and is a complex issue. "If there is a dangerous out-of-control dog, we can instigate section 3 of the act and seize the dog.
"We have to respond in a way that is lawful, reasonable and proportionate to the circumstances and we try to reduce the risk and harm to the public."
John-Paul Massey's uncle, 21-year-old Christian Foulkes, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
The Dogs Trust wants the act to be repealed, to deal with aggressive or dangerous dogs based on actions rather than breed.
Certain breeds such as Staffordshire bull terriers, bull mastiffs and rottweilers are being vilified and labelled "dangerous dogs" because of their popularity with certain members of society and gang members.
When the dog fails to behave in the desired way it can be abused or abandoned. The trust's re-homing centres are seeing more unwanted bull breeds than any other dog.
Another dog, a brown pit bull, walks past with its owner, but won't talk.
The pit bull was made illegal under the Dangerous Dogs Act, along with Japanese tosas, fila brasilero and dogo argentino. The only way they can be allowed is if the owner obtains a certificate of exemption from a court after having the dog neutered, insured and a transponder implanted and an identification tattoo.
500 PUPPIES FOR SALE IN AD TRADER AND WE WONDER WHY THE SHELTERS ARE FULL - 6 December 2009
Dear all,
Browsing through our local Ad Trader newspaper (used to be called the free ads) there are always pages and pages of puppies for sale. I decided to count the total being sold in one week; the issue was 25th November to 1st December. There were approximately 491 puppies and 21 adult dogs listed. This figure is not including the dogs offered for free and there are also pages of cats and kittens for sale.
There was only one advert openly listed as a licensed breeder. This tells me that probably all or most of the others were advertisements for puppies bred by backyard or unlicensed breeders.
In my opinion, laws should be put in place to end backyard breeding and make it an offence to breed dogs without a license. Rescue shelters are constantly overcrowded and a report conducted by Dogs Trust revealed over 7000 dogs were destroyed unnecessarily in the UK in 2007.
I believe a way forward would be to petition the government for stricter laws regarding the breeding of all dogs.
The total amount of dogs available to buy in one week in one newspaper in East Anglia is 512.
I am sure there will be as many more for sale in next week’s Ad Trader and lots of advertisers mention Christmas as the all important date when the pups will be ready to go to their new homes.
If dogs and puppies could only be acquired through a shelter or from a licensed and reputable breeder we might see a reduction in dogs being re-homed unsuitably, which in turn would ease the burden for shelters and reduce euthanasia of healthy dogs. Good rescue shelters and licensed breeders will often carry out home visits to make sure a dog or puppy is suitable for its new family and vice versa.
The government really must wake up to the serious problem of overpopulation of dogs in the UK directly caused by indiscriminate breeding and irresponsible ownership.
Maria xx
IS IT BAD ENOUGH FOR YOU? NEW VIDEO FROM BORDER COLLIE RESCUE, UK - 29 November 2009
GUNNER NEEDS A GOOD HOME IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS, CAN YOU HELP? - 25 November 2009
****UPDATE****
GUNNER IS NOW SAFE AND HAPPILY LIVING IN HIS NEW FOREVER HOME!! Thank you to everyone who shared his details and helped him on his way, you all ROCK!!
Dear all,
One Life Rescue is currently supporting Gunner, a lovely 7 year old Staffie cross boy who URGENTLY needs to be settled into a forever home.
We are contributing funds towards Gunner's kennel boarding fees to keep him safe and he has started his vaccinations and will be neutered on 20th November.
Gunner has not had socialisation or training and therefore he is not good around other dogs so he will need an experienced and understanding home and we advise that he should be the only pet in the household. He is, however, 100 % house trained and non-destructive when left on his own for a couple of hours. Gunner is a real cuddle monster who also travels very well in the car.
Can anyone help to save Gunner's life and offer him the love and care he deserves?
Gunner is a very friendly 'people' dog who enjoys his walks and loves to be made a fuss of.
If you can offer Gunner a new home and a happy future please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
Gunner's adoption is subject to a successful home visit.
Please contact either of us by email -
caroline@ravenswoodarabians.co.uk
maria@oneliferescue.org
Julia@oneliferescue.org
Thank you
Maria & Julia
ONE LIFE RESCUE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECT - 13 November 2009
Dear all,
Tonight, as part of our One Life Rescue community outreach project, Julia and I will be visiting 80 young people at a youth club in Cambridgeshire. We will be talking to the younger generation about animal welfare, animal rescue and responsible dog ownership, and including the topic of overpopulation of dogs and the effects of over breeding in general. We will also discuss how unlicensed breeding has affected popular breeds such as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier in the United Kingdom.
We hope to give young people an understanding of the danger of using dogs as a form of protection on the streets, which is regarded by current news media as anti-social behaviour with dogs, i.e. 'weapon dog' or 'status dog' culture.
All young people present at the talk will be given the chance to share their views on this subject and we will be handing out leaflets promoting responsible ownership of companion animals and offer advice on how we can all raise our standards of pet care generally.
Each member of the youth club will receive a free CD of The Staffie Song to take home with them.
After the talk our VIP awareness dog Patch will be happy to meet and greet youth club members and Patch is looking forward to lots of hugs and cuddles!
BRENDA OAKLEY-CARTER TALKING REIKI AND ANIMALS, BBC RADIO TONIGHT - 11 November 2009
UPDATE NEWSFLASH -
Dear all,
Please help Brenda to get a large audience for her talk with the fabulous Sue Marchant, BBC Radio Cambridge, at 7.20pm GMT tonight, you can listen live online & also email the show to give your support if you have time :)
Email - sue.marchant@bbc.co.uk
Brenda gives a huge amount of time to helping rescue dogs at a local shelter and at Remus Horse Sanctuary in Essex. At the local shelter Brenda helps to get the dogs into good homes and also gives free Reiki treatments to those that need it most.
Please share the mail and listen in if you can, since Reiki therapy was introduced at Remus Sanctuary their vet bills have dropped by a third so you can see how this would really help other shelters if more Reiki therapists would give their time in this way.
Please check out the wonderful work of UK Reiki practitioner, Brenda Oakley-Carter, and read about the natural healing power of Reiki therapy for animals and especially for rescue pets.
Brenda works tirelessly for shelter animals and many come in to rescue with debilitating health issues which can be eased with Reiki.
Brenda works closely with the staff and four legged residents of Remus Memorial Sanctuary in Essex.
Patch enjoying a Reiki massage with one of his favourite people :)
Best wishes
Maria xx
EMILY ROSE LOSES THE WILL TO LIVE - 22 October 2009
~ GREYHOUND NEWS ~
'Emily Rose' Loses The Will To Live
As with all greyhound rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing centres, the pressure of having to cope with thousands of retired greyhounds - annually - is constant.
But behind the scenes of the fantastic work carried out by an army of volunteers are the stories of cruelty, rarely published, for fear the abusive owners or trainers will cease to ‘hand over’ or ‘give up’ any further unwanted dogs.
Tia’s latest News page offers an insight into the distressing situations rescues are faced with every day and the frustration felt when forced to deal with a greyhound's abandonment, abuse, threatened or imminent destruction and even death itself.
One of which was Emily Rose, a 4½ year girl, found dead and covered in fleas, having lost the will to live. She is listed on Tia’s Wall Of Shame, in her racing/gambling name - Pablos Jacqui – which now catalogues 777 greyhounds.
Sadly, Emily Rose’s death may have been prevented, had the racing industry prosecuted her owner, a licensed trainer – Nick Bradman - under the Animal Welfare Act, for the cruelty he inflicted on his greyhounds throughout 2008.
For his criminal abuse and neglect and in a court of law, Nick Bradman would have undoubtedly been banned from keeping animals.
Although completely within their jurisdiction, the racing industry does not enforce the Animal Welfare Act but merely the Rules of Racing - affording owners and trainers protection from criminal prosecution - awarding lenient penalties and the freedom to continue to abuse, neglect and destroy healthy greyhounds, simply to supply the demands of the gambling industry's requirements for betting ‘units’.
Please click here to view Deb Rothery’s disturbing News article -
US MUSICIAN RELEASES SONG TO BENEFIT ONE LIFE RESCUE - 13 October 2009
Rich Russom
Paul Killington
Dear friends,
We are thrilled to announce the release of a fantastic new song entitled 'Requiem', composed by US recording artist and animal advocate, Rich Russom.
Download proceeds of Requiem are being generously donated to One Life Rescue and the sharing of this beautiful piece of music will ultimately help to save the life of a UK pound dog in the near future.
Requiem was recorded as an Anglo/American collaboration between Rich Russom and Paul Killington. The song was composed and performed by Rich in America featuring a guitar solo played by Paul in the UK.
''Requiem, which means funeral song, is dedicated to all the animals who never made it to their forever homes and who are waiting for us on the other side.
The song says instrumentally what Paul & I find so hard to put into words.'
Rich Russom, 2009
We would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Rich Russom for enabling One Life Rescue to further our work through the medium of art and music and we hope Requiem will be a hit on both sides of the pond!
We are always very grateful for the support we receive and this wonderful and intense masterpiece shows compassion truly knows no bounds and it is not limited by distance!
We are very lucky to have the support of Rich Russom and Paul Killington, two world class musicians who have offered their time and talent to give an unwanted dog the chance of a happy life and a forever home.
To listen to 'Requiem' and to download it to aid One Life Rescue please visit the links below and if you have time please also check out Rich Russom's music and radio stations at IAC, Soundclick and Myspace -
A west London family have been left inconsolable and are demanding answers following the tragic news that the Metropolitan police have destroyed their family pet dog Sam, in error.
Sam, a four year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier was seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 legislation on 5th May 2009, six months after an incident in which he nipped a travelling salesman once in the leg when he called at the home of owner Melanie Hawes.
Sam had never shown any signs of aggression to anyone either prior to the incident or in the six months following the incident.
In July of this year, Miss Hawes, a woman of previous good character, appeared before Ealing Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to an offence under s3 (1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Advice was sought from Dr Mugford, a leading animal behaviourist who carried out a behavioural assessment on Sam. Dr Mugford found him to be friendly and compliant and concluded he should not be destroyed but should instead be made subject to a Contingent Destruction Order with conditions that he be either on a lead or muzzled when in a public place. He also recommended further training for the dog.
On 31st July 2009 Miss Hawes was sentenced by Ealing Magistrates Court; she was ordered to pay £500 in compensation and a Destruction Order was made against Sam. A notice of Appeal was immediately lodged at court and the appeal hearing was scheduled for the 29th September at Isleworth Crown Court.
Appearing before the Crown Court, a hopeful owner, expert witness Dr Mugford and prosecuting and defence counsel were gathered and ready to commence proceedings when it was suddenly revealed that Sam had been euthanised on the 26th August 2009. Apparently the police were unaware that an appeal had been lodged and Sam was already dead. On being told this information in court His Honour Judge Lowen stated that this was in clear contravention of the Act which states that the order shall not take effect until the Appeal is heard. He went on to say that this action was in conflict with those provisions and it was for another court to deal with the consequences. Owner Melanie Hawes was left in court shocked to the core that the dog that she hoped would be coming home had in fact been dead for the past five weeks.
Overcome with grief and chocking back the tears Sam’s owner Melanie told DDA Watch: “I can’t believe what has happened, that our dog had died due to some kind of paperwork mistake and I have to break the news now to my 11 year old daughter when she comes home from school, she loves Sam so much and has been waiting for him to come home.”
As is usual in Dangerous Dogs Act cases, the owner wasn’t informed when her dog was to be euthanized nor offered the opportunity to receive the body back for burial or cremation.
Solicitor Tina Hay of Wheldon Law, who is acting for Miss Hawes, is already in talks with the head of the Metropolitan Police Status Dogs Unit (SDU) to try and discover how such an appalling error could have occurred.
Last year a much loved and previously healthy family pet seized under the Act by the Met. Police died suddenly in kennels 17 days after seizure. Following communications with the police and post mortem examination, the distressed family were waiting on the return of their cherished pet’s body when on the day of arrival they were informed that their dog had been sent to the crematorium by mistake due to being placed in the wrongly coloured disposal bag, leaving another family overwhelmed with the loss of their dog.
The Metropolitan Police have a specialist dog unit, the SDU that is meant to ensure a professional handling of canine related cases and questions are being asked yet again.
For further Information Please Contact:
DDA Watch – 0844 844 2900
Email:
mail@dangerousdogsact.co.uk
HELP BRING THREE HOMELESS PUPS FROM TURKEY TO THE UK - 30 September 2009
Homeless pups Whisky, Soda and Minstrel with Avril and friends.
Dear all,
Please read and share the following appeal to bring two small abused pups from Turkey to the UK where they have a good home waiting for them.
They were found in Turkey during my recent stay there, the black pup had been burnt with cigarettes, both had fleas and worms, I had the pups treated at the vets and also had their shots for parvovirus and distemper.
I had hoped to have found them homes, but sadly this did not happen, on my return last Sunday I had no choice but to leave them at the local municipality shelter. This was one of the hardest things for me to do in a long time.
After returning home I missed them so much and hated the thought that they may never have a loving home, I decided to find out about bringing them here, which as it turns out isn't as difficult as I first thought, my only problem is the quarantine fees, which will amount to £3,286.42.
Please if you can help .. any donation, no matter how small will go a long way.
You can donate by paypal
To : simsshineon@aol.com
Donate £5.00 to enter into the draw, please read on -
Karen Lowrie Wren has kindly offered her lovely 2 bedroomed appartment to be entered into a draw to raise the funds toward the quarantine fees required once the pups enter the UK.
