Dogs Trust met with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at the Royal Welsh Show to discuss their priority animal welfare issues for Wales.
The animal welfare charity, which has 21 rehoming centres across the UK and Ireland, including one in Bridgend, cares for nearly 15,000 dog each year.
Dogs Trust never puts a healthy dog down and in the last year, the charity has rehomed more than 400 dogs in Wales alone.
The Dogs Trust stand at the Royal Welsh Show was visited by Rt Hon Michael Gove MP and they were able to draw his attention to their latest campaign – Happy Hounds – which launched at the show and aims to improve dog welfare by increasing public awareness of the five basic dog needs and ensure dog owners have a happy hound.
The campaign ties in with the recent update to the Welsh Government’s Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs in Wales and Mr Gove recognised the work of Dogs Trust in educating the public about how to be responsible dog owners.
The five dog welfare needs highlight good practice such as: ensuring your dog has fresh water, adequate food and shelter; making sure they receive quick diagnosis and treatment of illness, providing enough space for their needs, ensuring they get adequate exercise and avoiding mental suffering and distress.
Dogs Trusts Campaign Manager for Wales, Rachel Burr, said: “We were delighted to be visited by Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP and it was a great opportunity to tell him all about our latest campaign.
“The five dog welfare needs are not always understood by dog owners so we’re hoping to help people gain a better understanding of what their dogs needs and how they can have a happy hound. The campaign messages tie in with the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs, which the Welsh Government has updated so it’s great to have the support from the Secretary of State as we try to reach out to more dog owners across Wales.”
If you want to find out more about the campaign, you can visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/news-events/issues-campaigns
