Page 13

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.

NEW RALLY WARRANT AWARD AVAILABLE

Whilst it is acknowledged that licensed events are unable to go ahead at the moment, The Kennel Club is pleased to announce the introduction of the Rally Warrant (RW). It is hoped that the introduction of this new award will encourage new competitors into the discipline, as well as encourage existing competitors to work at every level.

ACCREDITED INSTRUCTORS NAMED AS THE BEST DOG TRAINING COMPANY IN NOTTINGHAM

Two members of The Kennel Club Accredited Instructors scheme have been recognised as the best dog training company in Nottingham.

Marie Holt and Bev Smith, of In Line Dog Training, were awarded as the Best Dog Training Company in Nottingham as part of the SME News Midlands Enterprise Awards 2020. Running for the past three years, the awards celebrate individuals and businesses from the Midlands, acknowledging their innovation, excellence and performance, something which is particularly commendable in a difficult year of upheaval and change.

CHANGES TO RALLY REGULATIONS

The Kennel Club has approved the following changes to the regulations for rally.

The below regulation has been amended to clarify that Limited Rally competitions were not required to schedule at least one standard competition, open to all.

CHANGES TO OBEDIENCE REGULATIONS

The Kennel Club has approved the following changes to the regulations for obedience.

The following regulation has been amended to reduce the difficulties faced by clubs when conducting draws for smaller open shows.

THE KENNEL CLUB SPECIMEN SCHEDULES REVISED FOR 2021

Although events in 2021 continue to be subject to change, in order to assist societies with planning, updated versions of the specimen schedules for breed shows, agility, obedience, working trials, bloodhound trials, heelwork to music and rally can now be downloaded from The Kennel Club website.

2021 COULD GO OUT WITH LESS OF A BANG IN SCOTLAND

The Kennel Club has welcomed the news that tighter regulations on the sale of fireworks and when they can be set off will be recommended to Scottish Parliament in the New Year, leading to a less stressful 2021 for thousands of dogs, following the organisation’s campaigning, lobbying events, consultation responses and MSP engagement on firework restrictions.

NEW DNA TEST REPORTING SCHEME TO COMBAT INHERITED DISEASE IN THE BORDER COLLIE

In a move designed to combat inherited disease in the Border Collie, The Kennel Club has approved a new official DNA test reporting scheme for Dental hypomineralisation / Raine’s syndrome in the breed, following consultation with the breed health co-ordinator.