Chairman: Mr Patrick McGlynn - Secretary / Treasurer: Miss Jaci McLauchlan - Public Relations Officer: Mrs Helen Reaney
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Pro's Report On The Meeting Held On Saturday 6 th March 2010 at Markfield, Leicester.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 11.00am there were 11clubs present. East Anglia, East Midlands, North East, Northern Counties, North West, North of Scotland, Notts & Derby, Potteries, Southern Counties, SBTC and Western.
During the free discussion period
The delegate from the North East expressed her concerns over the increase of dogs coming into Rescue that are staffie crosses and badly bred staffies. Homes are urgently needed as all kennel are over run with these unwanted animals, Recently Kirsty Summerfield from Notts & Derby had fostered a litter of puppies that had been left with rescue. The rescue when it was founded was meant to help the show people who had fallen on ill health or hard times. Today it is getting out of control due to the popularity of the breed.
The East Anglia delegate reported that they were trying another tactic in these situations, by putting the re-homing back on the owner of the dog. They are asking where possible for the owner to keep the dog whilst a home is found for the animal and also to help the owner find a new home for the dog. The East Anglia delegate informed the meeting that she was now a Trustee on the Gallimore Trust and they were looking at new ideas to the money and to help individual areas, trying to get Veterinary Practices on board with reduced costs in spaying and neutering.
It was also mentioned by a number of delegates that some areas of the country the RSPCA and Dogs Trust are no longer taking in Stafford 's. Many pens at the RSPCA are naming the breed of dog inside the pen as Stafford 's when they are clearly a cross breed. It all comes back down to education, Some of the people who work for these institutions themselves do not know what a true Stafford looks like and they need to be educated in order for them to re-home the animal to the right people.
The Breed Council is hosting a Breed Seminar on May 9 th 2010 at the Kennel Club building, Stoneleigh. Archie Bryden confirmed that tickets sales were going well and that application forms for the seminar would be available on the breed clubs stands at Crufts. The guest speakers were all in place and a number of animal charities had expressed an interest in attending the day as well – Battersea Dogs Home and so on.
Helen E Reaney
Public Relations Officer
The Chairman closed the meeting at 2.38pm
