Staff and Spokespeople

The Press Office currently has several staff ready to take your calls and enquiries.  For general press enquiries call 0207 837 0006 or email the Press Office

Please also use the contact details above if you have come to this page from our Christmas Campaign and/or are a journalist interested in covering our holiday rehoming stories and appeals.

We also have spokespeople all across the country.  Our key spokespeople are:

• Clarissa Baldwin OBE, CEO

Clarissa has been CEO since 1986, having joined the charity in 1974 as Head of Public Relations. Her long-term goal is to ensure that all dogs, regardless of breeding, have access to loving homes and are treated fairly and humanely. Clarissa, who is the author of the slogan "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas", was awarded an OBE in 2003 for her work to improve animal welfare.

She is also:

• Chairman of both the UK & International Greyhound Forums
• Chairman of the International Companion Animal Welfare Conference
• Chairman of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes
• Chairman of the Welfare Committee for the Pet Plan Charitable Trust
• Chairman of the Pet Advertising Advisory Group

As well as being a respected opinion former within animal welfare, Clarissa is also an advisor to government ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and was heavily involved in the introduction of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Below, you can see a video of Clarissa speaking about the health benefits of being a dog owner on BBC News (2008). Clarissa, with the help of Charlie, call on GPs to prescribe dog ownership to their patients to help reduce stress and anxiety, blood pressure, immune system, etc.

• Paula Boyden BVetMed MRCVS, Veterinary Director

Paula graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1992. She then spent 11 years in general practice before joining Intervet / Schering-Plough Animal Health as a veterinary adviser in 2003. She joined Dogs Trust as Deputy Veterinary Director in June 2010 and became Veterinary Director in August 2011.

Paula has a particular interest in the ‘link’; the interrelationship between domestic violence, child abuse and cruelty to animals. She has spoken widely on the subject, is past secretary and current treasurer of the Links Group and has an ongoing involvement in undergraduate training on Non-Accidental Injury (NAI) within the UK veterinary schools.

Paula is also:

• Treasurer of the Links Group
• Chair of the newly-formed companion animal steering group within Eurogroup
• Member of the British Veterinary Association’s Veterinary Policy Group
• Member of the Microchip Advisory Group

She is available for comment on aspects of animal welfare including UK and EU legislation, microchipping and associated veterinary matters.

• Giles Webber, Operations Director