Dogs Trust > Information > Poppy's Opinions > Duty of Care >
Hello everyone, it’s Poppy, the Dogs Trust Office Dog with an opinion.
One of the most important and exciting parts of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 - to come into force in 2007 - is something new to animal law called the ‘Duty of care’.
Luckily I’m well looked after by a responsible and loving human (she’d have to be or she’d get sacked from Dogs Trust!). I may look a bit scruffy, but that’s all the rage in famous dog circles these days, don’t you know? I get fed twice a day, have a couple of good runs off lead, meet lots of other dogs and humans and even go to work with my human companion. I also live with another dog (Meg – a temperamental old bag of a collie!) and a couple of snooty cats. I’m lucky because I’m never lonely or allowed to get bored.
But what if my human left me in a garden with no decent shelter, all day and night, with no toys or chews? They may put down a bowl of food and water, but what if I was never taken out for a walk, or played with and only ever spoken to harshly or taken notice of if I dared to use my ‘voice’ to complain about how bored, lonely or upset I was? What if I was kept apart from the rest of the family, spending hours on end alone, with nothing to do? Would you think this was cruel?
I would – as would any true dog lover, surely? Sadly, at the moment the law wouldn’t agree. As long as my human didn’t cause me actual injury, starve me, or fail to get me veterinary treatment when I need it, they can basically keep me in any way that they like. Amazingly, some people do still think it is okay to do this. It isn’t and finally if this part of the Bill becomes law, owners will have to make sure that their canine friends will be able to (quoting from the text of the Bill) ‘exhibit normal behaviour patterns in addition to the dog’s physical needs’. In other words, they must let a dog behave like a dog and have a good quality of life.
So by law, owners will have to make sure that we’re able to do and have all the things dogs need to stay physically AND mentally healthy. This really is a great leap forward as far as the law is concerned, but seems like common sense if you ask me.
So my furless fans, what basic rights do you think us dogs should have? What do you think makes a good quality of life for a dog?
Email your opinions and comments to me at poppy@dogstrust.org.uk and the best and most interesting will be posted up for all to see. Please remember that your comments may be subject to some editing by my colleagues in the Communications Department – they find the keyboard easier to use than I do with my clumsy, though perfectly petite, paws!
Thanks for reading – I look forward to seeing what you think.
Until next time, when I’ll be barking on about another interesting aspect of the Animal Welfare Bill.
Best woofishes,
PS. Hooray! The Animal Welfare Bill was in the Queen's Speech and will be introduced into Parliament in the coming session. For more information click here. We still need you to write to your MP and urge him or her to vote for it when it is considered in parliament - so please do your bit for doggy (and animal) kind!
For more information visit Dog legislation and the Animal Welfare Bill
I have difficulty in understanding why anyone would want to leave an innocent creature alone all day. It sickens me that they are not allowed to 'be dogs'. We moved house especially for the welfare of our dogs and so we would have room for another one from the Dogs Trust. It cost us nearly £2000 to create a greyhound and lurcher friendly garden and was worth every penny. They are very rarely left alone as I am unable to work due to a back problem. They have the full run of the house, including my bed, and are never reprimanded for doing 'dog' things. They are dogs and they will stay dogs. We adore them and spoil them rotten and they deserve it as they have had such terrible lifes in the past. How could anyone could mistreat a dog, or any animal, and get away with it disgusts me and something has to be done about it.
Keep up the good work, Poppy, and by the way, my lurcher (non-hairy saluki/greyhound) Colin thinks you are very pretty and it's a pity you didn't live nearer as he wanted to ask you out on a date.
Big Licks,
Fiona E. Reekie and Colin, Lizzie and Blue Bob
xxx
Poppy says "Big licks back to Fiona, Lizzie, Blue Bob and especially Colin (I've always had a bit of a thing for Saluki types)! Thanks for sending me such a great reply. It's fantastic to hear that there are some brilliant dog owners out there, who understand exactly what dogs need to do to live happy and contented lives."
I hate it when some people leave their dog alone in wet and dark places and it makes me sick seeing people being cruel to dogs and being so mean. It hurts my feelings because we have a Jack Russell who is only 1 and I can never imagine being so mean to dogs. I have to go to high school and my brother as well, also my dad is at work and my mum stays at home to look after him.
Having seen your TV ads and that, in my future I'd like to work with dogs.
love Laura
Poppy says "Thanks Laura for your grrrrrrreat comments - it's so encouraging to hear such passion for dog welfare coming from a younger 'pup'. I wish you well for your future career."
You are a beautiful lass! My late Salukis would have adored you. I am very glad to hear about the Animal Welfare Bill. Both education and legislation are invaluable means to put an end to the infliction of suffering upon animal companions. It is time to raise awareness and pass strict laws to protect those who have no voice. Please, bark aloud so as many compassionate people as possible write to their MPs. We must be the strong voice our furry companions need.
Keep us updated.
Love Carmen
We think it is about time that dogs had a say on the dogs trust website, so good on you. We fully endorse the principal that dogs should get first class treatment and for us it is living in the lap of luxury having the run of the house and working as testers for mums company, which bakes dog biscuits, so what more could you want? However we are also working gun dogs and lots of our friends enjoy the freedom of a kennel and have expressed their concern that some humans may take things a bit too far and stop them from having their own space. Our friend got her mum reported to the RSPCA just because she likes to drag her bed out when it snows and sit watching the flakes fall on her, they didn't appreciate that whilst humans think this is mad us dogs can't see what is wrong.
Hook and Truffle Wilmot
Every dog should and must have a safe and comfortable home, amongst humans and other animals if practical. They should be walked regularly and made a fuss of and groomed if so needed. If your dog seems to be unwell or showing signs of injury, you should take him/her to a vet straight away. Communication between the dog and the owner is very important as is regular feeding. A dog is not just an animal, it is a really true friend and should be treated with respect, just as we expect from other human beings. Also, a dog should be allowed to be "a dog", as long as it does not cause harm or offence to other animals or human beings. Basically, being a responsible and caring dog owner, all these points will just happen naturally and the bond between you both with be great and you will have a truly great companion. No dog should ever be treated unkindly and we must consider their feelings and needs just as we would any human being.
Sue.
Otto Lurcher here. I really hope the Duty of Care law is passed. I used to live with a woman who wasn’t that nice to me. I was kept in a kitchen and ignored, then one day a really nice lady said to her "If you ever want a good home for him let me know". I went with the nice lady, and she took me to a vet who removed a grass seed from my paw which had been very painful. I really love my new life; I have a big brother, Jack Lurcher and a big old softie of a Dad. The sad eyes work every time!!! - as I’m sure you know. Mom and Dad work but we have a lady to walk us when they are out. I wish all doggies could have a Mom and Dad like mine but I know a lot don’t. Anyway Poppy I will write soon again as I think you are grrr8t. You are very pretty, do you have a boyfriend? If not do you want one? I am a little older than you, 6, but I look just like you! So you know I am handsome, modest too!
Hey what do dogs deserve? Not rocket science- to be seen as creatures in their own right- not robot possessions. Love, food, water, shelter, freedom from harm & neglect & the right to behave in reasonable doggy ways.
If only!
Margaret
I’m a lurcher like you and I am very surprised that some dogs are kept alone
all day. I am never alone and I am very well treated but some cruel people don’t
care for their dogs and neglect or abuse their dogs in some sort of way. I am
scared of the thought of ever being neglected.
Kind licks,
Lily, lurcher xx
Hi again Poppy
Max the collie-cross here again. I was just looking at the Duty of Care article and some of the responses, and I felt compelled to get back on the keyboard and tell you that I very much agree with Hook and Truffle Wilmot.
Being a collie, crossed with a labxGSH, I have a huge thick coat and an undercoat which keeps me dry and warm even if it's pouring with rain. When my humans first rescued me and I was only 12 weeks old, I got really upset the first few days because it was far too warm for me to be indoors with them all the time. Eventually, they realised that I prefer to sleep outside, even in winter, so they converted the outdoor toilet into a stable type arrangement for me, and made me a gravelled area to play on because I didn’t like getting all muddy in the winter (they didn’t like that either!). My sister has a very short coat cos she's a staffy-cross, so my humans put sawdust in my stable area for her - and when the NCDL came to check it before they brought my sister home, they said it was great, which made me very proud. Still, it's too warm for me most nights now, so I just sleep out in the open.
I also have a friend who, like me, prefers to be outside most of the time in the garden, but he is very ill at the moment and lost a lot of weight. That wasn’t his humans fault at all, but people who live near them have reported them for neglect 5 times in the last 2 months. The vet told them to stop walking my friend too recently because he isn’t gaining weight like he needs to because he's too active! This will make the humans who live nearby think that he is even more neglected because he is so thin, likes to be outside on his own, and never gets walked. It would very unfair to have him taken away from his human when it isn’t their fault though, and my humans have suggested that she go round and explain the situation to all her neighbours so that they know the full story.
So really, I just wanted to say that it might be great for some dogs to be indoors with their owners, sleeping on the bed, and having fuss 24/7, but some of us like our own space and prefer to sleep outside under the stars. This doesn’t make our owners bad owners. Gosh, if I'm in the house with them for more than a few hours I ASK to go outside and have my own space. And I'll ask when I want to come back in too - but again, this doesn’t mean that my humans have neglected me or thrown me out into the cold.
Dear Poppy,
Fantastic news about the new duty of care law! The only thing I can say is that it should have happened sooner. It sickens me to think of anyone harming an animal. How could they? Myself and my partner are going through the process of adopting a dog at the moment from Dogs Trust Evesham. She is a beautiful dog who is quite old but had been badly mistreated in the past. She is so nervous that she won’t even let the kind people at Dogs Trust brush her. We will give her the most love and fuss she has ever had, as she is quite old as well we will make sure she has a quiet and loving home for her final few years. I just wish there were a few more people like all of us in the world to help stop animal cruelty for good.
Kind Regards
Klaire Baker
Dear Poppy
I am called Billy and I'm a Bearded Collie... I'm quite famous actually, like you. I got a three page spread in Dogs Today Magazine and won a special 'Going the Extra Mile' award in 2004. Well actually, Nix my mum won it really for taking good care of me. So you see I know all about having a happy life just like you. We live in central London but we go for lots of lovely walks all over Hampstead Heath. Kensington Gardens is my favourite place because there are lots of squirrels to 'look' at. Richmond Park is banned now as the deer don't like to play with me... funny things.
Nix got upset with a lady in the park the other day because she jogs round the park with her dog. The poor dog never gets a chance to stop and sniff the grass or say hello to the other dogs. When Nix tried to talk to the owner, she was jogging on the spot, couldn't stand still for a minute. When her dog tried to sniff the daffodils, she put him on the lead and tried to drag him off. Nix told the lady it was a shame that the dog couldn't have a sniff but she said that there was life outside of the park. Well there might be for her but for her dog, the park is just the best place and it's such a shame that he doesn't get a chance to have a sniff. Once she'd got the dog away from the daffodils, she let him off the lead. She was last seen disappearing into the distance while her dog did a really big poo by a tree.
I suppose it's better than being left at home all day but I'd hate to run round the park after Nix (not that she runs anywhere) I get tired quickly because I have autoimmune disease but if Nix was running ahead, I'd want to keep up with her and it would make me very sick. I hope that the dog in the park isn't sick at all; I hope that his legs don't hurt too much, I worry about him.
Anyway, it was nice to meet you over the cyber waves...
Best regards
Billy Cuthell
Hi Poppy
I really do hope they change the law, as I am sitting here listening to a little puppy next door that has been whimpering and barking and trying it's hardest to go indoors. This has been going on for a few weeks and is all day and night, and at the moment it is pouring down. I feel so helpless and want to bash the fence down to rescue the poor little mite. What is the point in getting a dog ( or any animal) just to throw it outside and ignore it. It makes my blood boil.
I think that dogs and other animals should have the same rights as humans do. That means food, water, TLC and a home where there will be no harm done to them.
