30 September 2005

Chairman of Kennel Club (UK) has warning for New Zealanders

“You need to make sure that in New Zealand, dogs are accepted as an integral part of your community,” is Ronnie Irving's message to responsible dog owners. He is Chairman of The Kennel Club in the UK, speaking today at the New Zealand Kennel Club in Wellington.

“Sometimes it is easy for us to be so involved in specific issues that we forget the biggest challenge facing man's best friend – the ill-informed anti-dog lobby,” said Mr Irving.

“In the United Kingdom we are dealing with many of the same problems you are facing in New Zealand.

“Ill-conceived dangerous dog legislation, reduced places where dogs can be freely exercised, so-called animal rights groups with anti-pet agendas, and well-meant but misguided opposition to docking of dogs' tails, are all problems being foisted on us.

“We need to deal with all those issues. In addition, within the dog world we have robust debates about the direction we should be going in for our dogs.

“But above all, we must make sure that dogs are easily accepted in our communities.

“Not every family has to have a dog (though there are those that would do better if they did have a dog!) But every community must accept that responsible dog owners have their place next door to a non-dog family.

“Some people are fearful of dogs through ignorance. Others are ideologically opposed to the idea of the dog as part of the family. We must not let them prevail.

“Dogs do great things for man and are undoubtedly a force for good in this modern age,” said Mr Irving.

Ronnie Irving has been in New Zealand for the 2005 NZ Kennel Club PRO PLAN National Dog Show where he was a judge. He has been Chairman of The Kennel Club since 2002 and as a 3rd generation border terrier man has been involved in the dog world all his life. He is an accountant by profession and is now semi-retired and pursuing several business ventures.

ENDS

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