General – Page 10

KC ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO OBEDIENCE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Following discussion by the Activities Committee it has been agreed that the requirement to include any stay exercise in obedience competitions will be suspended until 31 December 2021, in the same manner as other Covid-19 related regulation suspensions (please refer to bit.ly/3m9NkoM).

This comes following a recommendation made by the Obedience Liaison Council at its January meeting to permanently remove the stay exercise from obedience, and from discussion by the Activities Committee on further suspensions needed to help shows run safely again.

YKC SUMMER CAMP RETURNS TO REUNITE YOUNG DOG LOVERS FOR FUN-FILLED WEEK

The Young Kennel Club (YKC) is pleased to announce that its popular YKC Summer Camp will take place this year, following last year’s event, which was held online due to Covid-19.

Open exclusively to YKC members aged from 7-16, the camp is a perfect opportunity for children and teenagers to enjoy a holiday with their dogs, whilst also keeping active, joining in with social events and taking part in plenty of training activities with their four-legged friends.

GETTING CANINE EVENTS BACK ON TRACK

THE KENNEL CLUB SEEKS THE VIEWS OF COMPETITORS AND OTHER ‘STAKEHOLDERS’ VIA ONLINE SURVEY

In view of the Government’s recent announcement detailing the step-by-step roadmap plan to ease lockdown restrictions, The Kennel Club has today (March 2) launched an online survey to gauge the views of competitors and other ‘stakeholders’ such as judges, organisers of events, Young Kennel Club members, tradestand holders and spectators in relation to the prospect of the phased return of licensed events.

CANCELLATION OF LICENSED EVENTS UNTIL AT LEAST 29 MARCH 2021

Following the Government announcement on Monday 22 February detailing the step-by-step roadmap plan to ease restrictions it is with regret that we recommend the cancellation of licensed events until at least 29 March 2021. Therefore those societies whose events have been cancelled should contact The Kennel Club to confirm the cancellation and to let us know whether the licence fee is to be refunded or deferred to a future show/trial. A form for this purpose can be found at thekennelclub.org.uk/cancellationofshows and club secretaries also have the facility to cancel their event via the dashboard of their club profile on The Kennel Club website, when they are logged into their account. This position will be reviewed again in line with Government guidance at the end of March. To read the latest Kennel Club advice in relation to the resumption of licensed events, please visit thekennelclub.org.uk/resumptionofevents

LEGISLATION TO CRACK DOWN ON PUPPY FARMS FINALLY MADE LAW IN SCOTLAND

New legislation in Scotland which aims to crack down on cruel puppy farming has this week been signed by the Minister and made law, a step welcomed as ‘long-awaited and crucial’ by The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs.

Known as ‘Lucy’s Law’, it will mean that puppies and kittens can no longer be sold in Scotland by a third party seller – such as a pet shop or commercial dealer – unless they have bred the animal themselves. Instead, from September, anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy under six months must either deal directly with the breeder or an animal rehoming centre.

HOME SECRETARY’S COMMITMENT TO STRONGER PENALTIES FOR PET THEFT WELCOMED BY THE KENNEL CLUB

Long-term vision deemed crucial to protect nation’s dogs during ‘puppy pandemic’ effect on ownership

The UK’s largest organisation dedicated to dog health and welfare has welcomed a commitment from the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, to introduce tougher measures on pet theft.

The Kennel Club, which last year launched its Be Puppywise campaign as thousands sought creature comfort during the pandemic, has long pushed for amends to the Animal Welfare Act to make pet theft a specific offence which recognises the theft of a dog, or any other pet, has an impact that far exceeds any associated financial cost.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE OBEDIENCE LIAISON COUNCIL HELD VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS AT 10.30 AM ON THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 2021

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/4223/olc-minutes-210121.pdf?fbclid=IwAR283o-3pyknNGSJbfqflL_3whlympLdyzg5x09HDrNXgUcU2e4EegVNWP4

KC WELCOMES URGENT NEGOTIATIONS SET TO EASE PET TRAVEL BARRIERS BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

The UK’s largest organisation dedicated to dog health and welfare has today (4 February 2021) welcomed the Government’s commitment to addressing Brexit pet travel issues, supporting Westminster’s latest and pressing call to lift the barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Kennel Club applauds the action taken by Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove in writing to the European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič on Tuesday, seeking urgent action on Brexit checks – listing pet travel as one of six top priority areas to negotiate. Following subsequent crisis talks with the EU yesterday, a joint statement has been published stating that the UK and the EU will “immediately work intensively to find solutions to outstanding issues.” This includes the potential negotiation of a bilateral arrangement that “comprehensively addresses the barriers that are imposed on pet travel between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland.”

REGISTERED SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

In view of the prospect of ongoing restrictions on social gatherings for some months to come, The Kennel Club has considered how best to help registered societies to proceed with their routine AGM business, especially as many were unable to hold their 2020 AGM.

The rules and established practice of registered societies in most cases require that AGMs are physical meetings and give no provision for postal/online voting.

In order to circumvent the need to hold physical AGMs, The Kennel Club Board has enacted Kennel Club Regulation C5.e., which is a new provision, so that irrespective of what a club’s constitution may provide, the Board may direct that registered societies may relax / suspend constitutional provisions. In this way, societies may legitimately process routine business by adopting interim arrangements such as postal / online voting or remote meetings, as appropriate.

THE KC WELCOMES SELECT COMMITTEE INQUIRY AFTER PET TRAVEL BREXIT U-TURN

The organisation has raised concerns about eleventh-hour backtrack on pet travel rules between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain and backs new inquiry

The UK’s biggest organisation dedicated to dog health and welfare is welcoming the announcement (21 January 2021) from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee, launching an inquiry into how new Brexit regulations will impact on animal welfare, disease control and the industry interests.