NEWS AS IT HAPPENS
 

 

PET CEMETERY
UNITED KINGDOM
September 3, 2010

Owners pay to be buried with their pets
Growing numbers of pet owners are seeking burials with their favourite domestic animals

Carole Munday with her dogs Sir Lancelot, Queen Guinevere and Sir Galahad .

From Egyptian pharaohs to Anglo-Saxon warriors, humans have been buried alongside their most sacred or treasured animals.

Now the practice is making a comeback with an increasing number of pet owners seeking burials with their favourite cats, dogs and horses.

Planners in Lincolnshirehave approved the latest in a series of joint animal and human cemeteries where masters can be interred close to their beloved companions rather than being cremated.

A handful of joint cemeteries even allow pets and owners to be buried in the same plot.

The trend has been accelerated by the growth in non-denominational 'natural' sites for humans that use biodegradable coffins and often have woodland settings without rigid lines of plots or fixed headstones; such layouts make it easier to add pets.

Penny Lally, who runs a pet crematorium, cemetery and 'woodland burial place' in Penwith, west Cornwall, has laid to rest more than 30 owners alongside their animals since she began allowing joint graves in 2003 and has more than 120 forward bookings.

Among her best customers is animal lover Carole Mundy, 54, who has reserved a plot for herself and her husband Robert right next to their 17-year-old golden retriever, Dylan, who was buried there in February 2008.

She has also pre-booked a nearby space for Merlin, her Irish thoroughbred.

"As well as being the best dog in the world, Dylan was a fantastic friend and I don't see why he shouldn't have the same resting place as me," she explained.

"Nothing makes me more angry than people saying 'it is only a dog'. Animals give you unconditional love, they don't reprimand or judge you.

"We are always taking in more. Merlin was rescued from Romania where he had been terribly mistreated."

The human resources consultant, from south-east Cornwall, has spent £2,800 on the plot for Dylan, herself and husband Robert and £650 on reserving space for Merlin.

Her other dogs Sir Lancelot, Queen Guinevere and Sir Galahad are also expected to find themselves in the same cemetery.

"All the burials will take place in a wicker casket. I never wanted to be cremated and when you look at the cost of a conventional funeral it isn't a great deal different," she added.

"Some think you're screwy but they need to realise what a difference animals can make to people's lives."

Wendy Pratt, manager of the Tarn Moor Memorial Woodland 'natural' burial suite near Skipton, North Yorkshire, said one woman was interred in the joint pet and owner area because "she just liked cats".

"There has been more interest in joint burials recently because people are starting to realise it is possible," she said.

An estimated 1.5 million dogs and cats die every year, according to the Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria.

Some 300,000 are buried in the garden, 1,000 in pet cemeteries, 100,000 are individually cremated and the rest incinerated as clinical waste.

Unlike human cemeteries, Britain's 19 pet burial sites require regular inspection by the Environment Agency acting on behalf of the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs.

Only a handful of those offer joint burials, the first of which began in Rossendale in Lancashire in 1995.

Cremation is a cheaper option, usually costing between £75 and £200 including the urn, and makes it easier for owners to be buried with their pet as no extra ground plot is required.

Elaine Pendlebury, a veterinary surgeon with animal charity PDSA, said: "It is something that wouldn't have been considered 30 or 40 years ago but we are hearing of more occasions where owners want to be buried with their pet.

"For many, the grieving process for a pet is no different to losing a member of the family, particularly given that pets bring such a structure and routine to people's lives and company for older people on their own."

She added that bereaved pet owners could, for a suggested donation of £25, have a special tag displayed in the charity's Paws Forever Pet Tribute Garden in Ilford, east London.

The pharaohs of ancient Egypt thought nothing of being buried alongside mummified cats, monkeys and birds because they believed animals shared an afterlife with humans.

Anglo-Saxon nobles were usually interred with their possessions, and warriors with their horses. A 1991 excavation at Sutton Hoo found a grave pit containing a young man and a stallion.

The practice fell out of favour as the rise of Christianity saw pet rituals attributed to paganism, although the 19th century saw the creation of a pet cemetery in London's Hyde Park complete with tombstones.

"The exemplary fidelity of the dog triumphed, in Victorian sentimental culture, even over death," said Dr Philip Howell, a fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, who is an expert on Victorians and their pets.

He said Lord Byron had asked to be buried with his Newfoundland dog, called Boatswain, at Newstead Abbey but this never came about.

The romantic poet wrote Epitaph to a Dog for the animal, which died of rabies in 1808.

The most notable example is that of Greyfriars Bobby, the faithful terrier that kept constant watch over his master's grave in the yard of Greyfriars Kirk for 14 years.

When Bobby died in 1872 he could not be buried within the cemetery itself, since it was regarded as "consecrated" ground, and was instead laid to rest just inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from his owner John Gray's grave.

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APPEAL REJECTED
SAN FRANSISCO
USA
September 2, 2010

Appeals court upholds murder conviction in 2001 San Francisco dog attack

Marjorie Knoller

Marjorie Knoller reacts to her sentencing in the Superior Court...

A state appeals court has upheld the second-degree murder conviction and sentence of 15 years to life for a San Francisco woman whose dog fatally mauled her neighbor in 2001.

A Court of Appeal panel ruled Friday that Marjorie Knoller, 55, "deliberately engaged in behavior that was a danger to human life" when she took her two powerful Presa Canario dogs into the hallway of her Pacific Heights apartment building on Jan. 26, 2001.

The dogs, Bane and Hera, attacked and killed Knoller's neighbor, lacrosse coach Diane Whippple, 33.

Whipple suffered 77 wounds on her body and lost one-third of her blood, according to trial evidence.

The finding that Knoller had a conscious disregard for human life provided the basis for a judgment of second-degree murder and the sentence of 15 years to life.

Knoller was convicted of second-degree murder in a 2002 trial, but the original trial judge, Superior Court Judge James Warren, granted a new trial on the ground that it wasn't clear that she knew her conduct was likely to result in death.

After further appeals, the California Supreme Court weighed in on the case in 2007, saying that the correct legal standard in such cases should be whether a defendant had a conscious disregard for human life.

A new trial judge, Charlotte Woolard, then ruled that Knoller's conduct met that standard and affirmed the original conviction.

In Friday's ruling, the appeals court said Knoller's dogs were dangerous to human life and acted with a conscious disregard for human life" by taking uncontrollable dogs out into the public.

Knoller and her husband, Robert Noel, who were law partners, were caring for the dogs for a prison inmate, Paul "Cornfed" Schneider, and had registered themselves as owners in early 2001.

Schneider, whom the couple adopted as their son three days after the attack, was a member of the white supremacist Aryan Brotherhood prison gang and was planning a guard dog business to be called "Dog-O-War."

Noel, who was not present at the attack, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Knoller could appeal again to the California Supreme Court and then in the federal court system. Her lawyer on appeal, Dennis Riordan, was not immediately available for comment.

Deputy California Attorney General Amy Haddix, who represented prosecutors in the appeal, said, "I think the court did a good job of disposing of the issues."

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TAKE A TOUR
WARWICKSHIRE
ENGLAND
September 1, 2010

TAKE A TOUR OF THE KENNEL CLUB BUILDING



Carrie Acors, the Kennel Club Building Specialist will be attending City of Birmingham Canine Association General Championship Show on Friday 3rd September. Carrie will be based at the Kennel Club Building and will be happy to discuss any questions or bookings regarding the Kennel Club Building and provide guided tours.

Following the success of last year’s innovation, the City of Birmingham Canine Association has again invited a number of numerically small breeds to hold their Breed Club Open Shows in the Kennel Club Building in conjunction with City of Birmingham Championship Show.

The Kennel Club Educational Trust would love to see more small clubs banding together to hire the halls and seminar rooms to share the excellent facilities on offer. If you would like to discuss this further, please come along and meet Carrie during the show and she will be happy to advise further. Please contact Carrie Acors on 0844 463 3980 ext 290 or email: carrie.acors@thekennelclub.org.uk.


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RESTRICTED ACCESS
NORTHERN IRELAND
September 3, 2010

Irish propose laws to restrict dog walking access

A PROPOSED law giving local authorities the powers to restrict dog walkers’ access has been introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Should the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill be approved, local authorities will be given the power to issue dog control orders.

Standard offence

This means that councils will be able to make an order for a standard offence to apply to land within their area.

Proposed offences contained in the Bill are fouling of land by dogs and the removal of dog faeces; keeping dogs on leads; exclusion of dogs from land; restricting the number of dogs which can be taken on land.

“We are concerned that these provisions unfairly penalise responsible dog owners, could lead to a major reduction in public access for dog owners,” said KC spokesman Caroline Kisko.

“We are also concerned that fines will be invoked too frequently to raise revenue for cash-strapped local authorities.”

In 2005, the KC established a group called KC Dog to monitor the restrictions in England and Wales, campaign for better access and promote responsible dog ownership.

“Evidence we have accumulated suggests many local authorities apply the most draconian restrictions as a disproportionate response to the irresponsible behaviour of a minority of dog owners,” Mrs Kisko said.

“We believe a fair balance must be struck between the needs of both those with dogs and without.

Most effective

“Now is the most effective time for dog walkers to make their views known.

“We would therefore urge all responsible dog owners in the local area to lobby their local Member of the Legislative Assembly in order to ensure the best possible result for all concerned.”

For more information visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/kcdog.


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BRITAIN'S NAUGHTIEST DOG
UNITED KINGDOM
September 2, 2010

Do you have Britain’s Naughtiest Dog?

Whether you have a boisterous Boxer, a snappy Shih Tzu or a lunging Labrador, Bark Busters is here to help. The world’s largest and most trusted dog training company is launching a search to find and train Britain’s naughtiest dogs.

Renowned for its dog friendly positive training techniques, voice tone and body language, Bark Busters is launching the campaign in a bid to help educate the UK’s dog owners on responsible dog ownership.

To enter all you have to do is describe in 200 words or fewer why your dog is ‘Britain’s Naughtiest Dog’ you can even send in a video of them at their worst! Simply log onto “Britain’s Got The Naughtiest Dog” www.bgtnd.co.uk to find out more and for full terms and conditions.

Nine regional finalists from the North, South and Midlands will be selected by a panel of Bark Busters experts and three will be put forward to the national final where one will be crowned ‘Britain’s Naughtiest Dog’.

The winner will receive:

• Gold Training Programme with a lifetime guarantee, worth over £450
• £1,000 worth of natural dog food from Darlings Real Dog Food
• £500 donated to a registered dog charity of choice
• Five year subscription to K9 magazine
• Dog training session for up to 10 friends and their dogs!

Two regional finalists will receive:

• Silver Training Programme with 12 months guarantee, worth over £300
• £250 donated to a registered dog charity, of choice

Six regional shortlists will receive £100 voucher to be redeemed against Bark Busters Home Training. The closing date for entries is 31st October 2010 and the winner will be announced no later than 15 November.

[INSERT THERAPIST NAME], Bark Busters Home Dog Training Therapist in [INSERT TERRITORY], comments: “We see troublesome dogs everyday and owners are always amazed that from the very first session they are set on a path to a mayhem free home.

“Dogs who misbehave need a strong leader. They need clear structure and boundaries to channel their natural pack instincts so it’s important that our family pets are trained to understand and respect the rules we set out for them by their owners. Bark Busters successfully trains and corrects the behaviour of hundreds of dogs and owners every week and we’re hoping the ‘Britain’s Got the Naughtiest Dog’ campaign will encourage greater responsible dog ownership.

“Dog attacks have increased by 60 per cent over the last ten years and we are hearing more and more about ‘dangerous dog’ attacks in the media. Thankfully as part of this campaign we haven’t encountered anything like that but there is a serious message here; responsible ownership and training, for both owner and dog, can prevent these aggressive incidents and save lives.”

For further information about Bark Busters dog training techniques visit the website at www.barkbusters.co.uk

 

For further information please contact Claire Murgatroyd or Rebecca Jones on 01772 421 442 or email claire@mtjpr.co.uk

• Bark Busters’ dog behavioural therapists are renowned authorities in the area of correcting dog behaviour.
• The Bark Busters’ training system can successfully train any dog, including puppies.
• The company’s natural training technique leverages the same communications methods, body language and voice control, that dogs follow as part of their instinctual pack mentality.
• Around 80 per cent of Bark Buster clients require only one home visit from our dog behavioural therapists, if they continue with just 10 to 15 minutes a day follow-up exercises for several weeks.
• All training takes place right in the home where the problems generally occur.
• Bark Busters’ training is the only service of its kind that is guaranteed for the life of the dog.

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VICTIMS OF WEAPON DOGS
LONDON
ENGLAND
September 1, 2010

Victims of weapon dogs call for an end to 'horror story on London's streets'

Two victims of suspected “weapon dogs” today told how they and their pets were savaged by the animals in separate attacks in London.

Barrie Hopcroft, who is blind, was shopping in Elephant and Castle with his guide dog Bailey, a nine-year-old labrador-retriever, when they were attacked by a pitbull in July last year.

Mr Hopcroft, 42, needed 24 stitches to his hand and was in plaster for eight weeks after trying to fight the animal off. Bailey suffered deep puncture wounds to the neck but survived.

In another case, Munever Ibrahim, 57, was left lying in a pool of blood after trying in vain to save her Yorkshire terrier, Chippie, from a Rottweiler and Staffordshire terrier crossbreed that had attacked him three times before.

Ms Ibrahim was working in her tailor's shop in Finsbury Park when she saw the dog grab Chippie by the neck and shake him “like a rag doll”.

As she ran to save her six-year-old pet, she was bitten by the animal, whose owner, she claimed, was simply “standing and watching”.

Ms Ibrahim said: “I was hysterical. My finger was hanging off and I didn't even notice. At first they thought they'd have to amputate. I was just so concerned about Chippie. I wanted to save him, but I knew he was dead — he died in my arms.”

She spent two days in hospital after the attack in June.

Mr Hopcroft and Ms Ibrahim were among the first to sign a petition today demanding action from the Government on dangerous dogs.

Kit Malthouse, the deputy mayor for policing, is organising the petition, which calls for tougher penalties for owners of dogs that are out of control and legislation to let police seize dogs after attacks on private property.

He said: “Everyone recognises there is a problem but, oddly, it does not seem to be a priority for the Government.

"If you put all these cases of attacks together you get a horror story that is unfolding on the streets of London and other cities.”

Animal welfare organisations, including Battersea Dogs Home, and park wardens attended the campaign's launch in Battersea Park today.

Mr Hopcroft said the owner of the dog that attacked him was laughing during his ordeal. He said: “It took about three months before Bailey was back to work, meaning I was virtually housebound. Now every time I hear a pitbull bark I jump.”

Ms Ibrahim said: “People shouldn't be allowed to have dogs that are weapons. Drug dealers and criminals use them to intimidate people.”

The dog that allegedly killed Chippie was seized by police and its owner, a 34-year-old man, was last week charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

It is not yet known whether or not the animal will be put down.

The Government is reviewing the Act and has asked for views on how to improve the law.

 

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SMALL CHANGE
UNITED KINGDOM
September 3, 2010

PDSA fundraising campaign

Carol Smillie With Labrador Jess

THE PDSA has launched a new fundraising campaign to encourage animal lovers to donate their leftover holiday change to the charity.

The initiative is being backed by TV personality Carol Smillie who owns a Labrador, Jess. It is hoped the appeal will raise thousands for the charity’s veterinary services.

Collection tin

Collection tins bearing Carol and Jess’ photograph have been put in PDSA’s charity shops and PetAid hospitals across the UK, making it easy for people to donate their spare holiday change.

Businesses, such as pubs and gyms are also being urged to get involved and display a collection tin.

Carol, who has presented programmes such as Holiday and The Travel Show said: “I’ve done my fair share of travelling and I know how easy it is to accumulate piles of foreign coins after being abroad.

“Instead of leaving them to collect dust in the back of a drawer, why not donate them to PDSA? It couldn’t be easier to help raise money for this fantastic charity and the great work they do helping ill animals.”

A PDSA spokesman said: “Every contribution, however small, can really make a difference. Just e3 will buy ear drops and e7 will contribute towards a bottle of antibiotics.

“So if you’ve recently holidayed in Barbados, relaxed in Bulgaria or enjoyed a city break in Barcelona and have spare foreign coins lying around the house, then please donate them to PDSA.”

The money can be taken to one of the charity’s shops or to a PetAid hospital.
To request a collection box.
Phone 01444 253 777.


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NEW ACT NEEDED
LONDON
ENGLAND
September 2, 2010

DUNDEE DOG ATTACK REAFFIRMS THE NEED FOR
NEW DANGEROUS DOGS LEGISLATION, SAYS THE KENNEL CLUB

The Kennel Club is saddened to hear of a recent dog attack involving a ten year old girl in Dundee and believes that it reaffirms the need for new legislation to deal with such incidents across the UK.

The Kennel Club has long been campaigning for a change in the law regarding dangerous dogs and had considerable input into the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act which recently passed through the Scottish Parliament but is not due to come into force until February 2011.

The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act will place more emphasis on prevention of dog attacks by shifting the emphasis towards owner responsibility and tackling dangerous dog aggression at the earliest stage of bad behaviour.

Kennel Club Communications Director, Caroline Kisko said “People deserve to feel safe around dogs and the new legislation cannot come soon enough. Serious attacks such as this generally occur in dogs that have shown previous signs of aggression.

“This new legislation goes a long way towards protecting the public through tougher action at the first signs of dangerous behaviour. Owners of aggressive or violent dogs of any kind will be brought to account, which in turn will prevent a large number of attacks by dealing with problem behaviour at the first signs of aggression rather than when an attack has taken place.”

The Kennel Club continues to play an active role in lobbying against the injustices of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and runs the secretariat for the Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group (DDASG) which includes other organisations such as Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and Wood Green Animal Shelter. The DDASG established objectives for a review of dangerous dog legislation and helped to draft the original Dog Control Bill which was taken up in Scotland originally by Alex Neill MSP and continued by Christine Grahame MSP.
The Kennel Club together with the DDASG are also supporting the Dog Control Bill, a similar piece of legislation in Westminster focusing on deed not breed, which is due to begin Committee Stage in the House of Lords later this year.


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ROTTWEILERS ATTACK SCHOOLGIRL
DUNDEE
UNITED KINGDOM
September 1, 2010

Rotties attack child

A Rottweiler

A 33-year-old woman has been charged in connection with a rottweiler attack on a schoolgirl in Dundee.

Rhianna Kidd was riding her bike in Dryburgh Street, Dundee when she was set upon by two of the vicious dogs.
The 10-year-old suffered a fractured jaw, bite marks to her face and injuries to her right arm and left leg.

She had three hours of plastic surgery at Ninewells Hospital to try to repair the damage. She is said to be in a stable condition.

The woman has been charged under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 for failing to keep the dogs under control.

Both rottweilers have now been put down after being held in kennels.

Tayside Police say the attack happened at around 11am on Sunday as Rhianna was cycling towards her grandmother's home.

Her grandmother Irene Grady said: "One started biting her arms while the other went for her legs.

"Someone in a car pumped their horn and they stopped, but when she got up they just knocked her back down.

"When I got to her I didn't know what to do. I just kept repeating to the dogs 'be good, be good'.

"They let her go and I managed to get her to the house. Once we were inside, the rottweilers were peering in the living-room window. We were so scared."

A new law on dogs was passed by the Scottish Parliament earlier this year and is being implemented by local authorities.

Under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act, councils will have the power to destroy animals if their owners fail to comply with safety orders.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack.

 

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