The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Pro’s Report On The Meeting Held On Saturday 31st October 2009 at Markfield, Leicester.The Chairman opened the meeting at 11.02am there were 9 clubs present. Downlands, East Anglia, East Midlands, North East, North West, Notts & Derby, Potteries, Southern Counties & SBTC.
During the free discussion period
Southern Counties delegates stressed their concerns over the continued bad press the breed receives even more so now with the introduction of the Status Dogs Unit in the London and home counties area. A suggestion of maybe getting programme produced to educate and highlight the virtues of the breed was needed. The North West delegate suggested that we need to get articles produced by dog magazines as a way forward. It was agreed by most that due to the increasing number of dog attacks where the press suggest it is a Staffie type we are fighting an uphill climb.
The Status Dogs Unit in the London area was causing some concerns on their methods of seizing dogs. A lengthy discussion took place about the scheme and how in some instances the innocent staffie is taken. Southern Counties had organised a seminar on the 30th January 2010 and invited the Status Dog Unit to come along and give face to face details on how they operate. Both the PRO – Helen Reaney and SBTC delegate Jim Beaufoy agreed that they would contact the Birmingham SDU to find out what their procedures were. They would report back at the next meeting to be held in March 2010.
The Registration of colour is causing concern amongst the clubs. In the Breed Supplement there is often mention of Apricot or Champagne as colours being registered and also there has been a registration of the colour Merle. The KC needs to have a drop down menu of the accepted colours for our breed and those who register a litter via the postal system need to be contacted when a colour trying to be registered is not recognised. Since the meeting this has now taken effect from January 2010 and now all registrations have to abide by the colours agreed by the Breed Club and Breed Council. The KC has assured us that any colours not mentioned the Breeder will be contacted. We shall have to wait and see if this happens with the 2010 registrations.
The Breed Council is hosting a Breed Seminar on May 9th 2010 at the Kennel Club building, Stoneleigh. Archie Bryden confirmed that to date we have David Grant from the RSPCA as one of the speakers, Jeff Sampson from the KC along with Bill Lambert from the Accredited Breeder Service, Cathryn Mellerish from the Animal Health Trust and a speaker to be confirmed regarding Cruciate and Patella problems in our breed. Since the meeting the DDU from Birmingham have agreed to come along and give a talk on their procedures when seizing dogs. The cost of the seminar is being kept to a minimum £10.00 and this includes a buffet lunch and adverts and notices will be out in time for Crufts.
This is my penultimate report as from March 2010 I will not be re-standing as PRO, I have enjoyed my time as Public Relations Officer, it has been very varied and interesting and I wish my successor every success.
As from January 2010 I have been appointed the position of Kennel Club Breed Liaison Officer for the Breed Council and I will endeavour to keep you all informed of any changes and important information.
Helen E Reaney
Public Relations OfficerThe Chairman closed the meeting at 2.20
The date of the next meeting is March 6th 2010 at Markfield.
