BASC and NL&RC

[Barrie 1,325]

Hi Tom

 

Thanks for those kind words. Personally I hate the fact that we lost this particular battle in Scotland more than anyone else will even begin to understand.

 

One of the many things I learned in Scotland while fighting the Watson Bill was just how passionate everyone up there was and still are about defending their rights and their sport. For me, it was a privilege to work alongside such people, where whole families were prepared to get off their backsides and do everything possible to defeat the hunting ban, instead of just sitting there and spouting hot air. It’s a pity it’s not more contagious.

 

What makes this one doubly sad for me is that I firmly believe had it not been for that initial first time protest vote by Westminster backbenchers for an outright ban on tail docking, things would have gone the other way in Scotland too. The dogs and their owners both deserve better.

 

Kindest Regards - Barrie

[terrier.2 123]

Could I say at the outset that I’m not having a pop at any particular person with my comments. But this thread (along with a couple of others) offers an opportunity to get something off my chest, whilst hopefully also contributing something towards the discussions. This thread just happens to be the most current and therefore seemed the most appropriate.

 

First of all it’s a simple fact of life that not everyone gets everything right all of the time…. and that includes me too (at least that’s according to the wife, and considering she sends me out with a full belly and a clean set of underwear each day, I’d be an even bigger fool than I already am to disagree).

 

But we seem to have lost sight of the real issues here, including the reason why we’re faced with such restrictions and who the real guilty parties are. The truth is that it’s this present Government who’ve imposed these and numerous other restrictions on both us and on our various activities. They’ve done it with little if any real justification and simply pursued a particular line of political dogma. Yet we’re only days away from a General Election and I don’t see anyone blaming or attacking them, instead we seem more inclined to turn around and squabble amongst ourselves.

 

I also wonder just how many of those who’ve now suddenly become so vocal about tail docking actually took the time to respond to any of the consultation papers put out by this Government. Or how many have since bothered to contact Vote-Ok to offer their services in order to help get more pro hunting/countryside MP’s elected to govern. Those who didn’t should take their fair share of the blame too.

 

It doesn’t just end there, due to the increased popularity of so called “status dogs†there’s now further legislation under consideration and this could have far greater implications for us all than any restrictions on where we can, or cannot show our docked dogs. If approved, these proposals would require every dog owner to have each of their dogs microchipped and to take out third party liability insurance on each dog (think about it). This is something which will be well supported by most of the animal welfare/rights groups, it fits in nicely with their own political agenda of making dog ownership more difficult and expensive, and therefore less attractive. It will be a hard one for us to win.

 

The full details are available at DEFRA Dangerous Dogs Consultation , responses need to be in by 1st June and anyone who’s so inclined can respond by completing the online questionnaire at the above address. It’s an opportunity for those who really do care to do something about it, instead of complaining about it after the event.

 

Following on from decisions made by the Great Yorkshire Show and others regarding the showing of docked dogs, it’s also interesting to note some of the suggestions being been put forward on this and other threads about which shows to support and which not.

 

Equally interesting is the fact that when the Government’s White Paper was published there was to be NO EXEMPTIONS FOR WORKING TERRIERS from the tail docking ban, the only exemptions being limited to specific working gundog breeds. It was only as result of the NWTF’s direct intervention and skilful arguing that decision was eventually rescinded and our terriers are able to be docked today.

 

Yet surprisingly enough there’s not one single person who has suggested the need to support the only show which has actually done something to earn that support.

 

J.M.H.O. - Barrie

think perhaps that its taken for granted that the nwtf show is always supported very well as always