This morning we noted that we had received 19380 hits on our Border Collie Rescue on Line website, worldwide, over the previous 24 hrs.
Most significantly, 723 of those hits were from UK visitors to our puppy farming pages between 8 am and midnight last night. There had been less than 80 views of that page in the previous 24 hours.
This surge followed the airing of Rogue Traders investigation into puppy farming on the BBC last night. For anyone who missed it, have a look at the BBC iPlayer here - http://tiny.cc/YO7O3 (although you may have to be quick as programs are only available for one week after broadcast).
People finding our site must have entered the words Puppy Farming and Border Collie in order to get our pages in the results. If they were searching for other breeds (or simply articles on Puppy farming, they would have been less likely to come across us).
Shortly after the program finished we got a call and decided to re-open the office and answer the phone for a while, in case there were more. There were - 17 in all and quite a few emails. It started again at 7 o'clock this morning, so the program certainly pressed buttons with a lot of people.
An article in the Telegraph on line yesterday outlines the concerns shared by many dog rescue organisations, including the RSPCA who are now running a dedicated campaign to raise awareness of the problem. http://tiny.cc/9dqLW
The Government consumer watchdog body, Consumer Direct, say the number of complaints from members of the public regarding purchases of animals and pets has almost doubled since 2006 from 2,793 to 4,627 in 2008. However, we suspect this is the very tip of the iceberg as many people would be reluctant to make a complaint on this matter for a variety of complicated and emotionally driven reasons. Most people who contact us for advice say they don't want to make a report when we suggest they do so.
The rogue traders program identified the main source of poorly bred puppy farm dogs to be the Republic of Ireland where, unlike in the UK, commercial dog breeding is unregulated.
This will not have been news to many involved in dog rescue. No matter what breed we rescue, we hear from people affected by such problems regularly and sometimes take in their problems dogs - those that have survived.
So, as revealed by the program, tens of thousands of pups are imported into the UK each year to be sold through pet shops, breeders and unlicensed dealers/agents to an unsuspecting public.
The dealer and agents tend to work though newspaper adverts and mobile phones, doing business in public car parks, service stations or by delivery to the door of the buyer. There may be a certain furtiveness about their activities that could arouse suspicion, but still they get away with it.
It seems that some people just get sucked in with the idea of getting a new pup and even when alarm bells ring they still go through with the transaction.
Breeders should only be selling pups they have bred themselves. They should be licenced to do so if they are commercial. Yet many supplement their own output by buying in pups and passing them off as their own. The reason for the subterfuge is that to buy and sell (other than those they breed) they should have a traders licence as well as a breeders licence. Being devious saves money and awkward additional regulation and inspection. Possibly avoids a bit of tax as well as income from 'under the counter pups' may well be hidden and not be declared.
Pet shops should be buying from legal sources and be fully licenced and inspected with clear records of where they get each pup from. You would expect a pet shop to be respectable and have reliable sources of quality pups, yet many of the pups sold through pet shops originate from unlicensed puppy farmers.
One of the biggest problems in this illegal and callous trade is the implementation and enforcement of the laws that are designed to regulate it and protect the animals from exploitation and the public.from being ripped off.
There is legislation in place but much of it is enforced by local authorities who do a poor job. Even those who try to do a good job are inhibited by a number of factors, the main one being - everyone has a right to make a living.
There are, in human terms, so many more serious crimes taking place that the fate of puppies has to take a low priority, so - even if a crime appears to be committed, the Police can hardly spare the manpower to investigate it.
Local authorities seem quite happy to take licence money - so much so that in many cases, when they catch a rogue breeder or dealer, all they really want to do is get them on board and licenced.
They do not seem to possess the will, manpower or resources to do proper and regular inspections and anyway - they have to give notice! How bad is that!
And in all of this, everyone attempting to enforce the law has to be very careful because if they make a single mistake in evidence or procedure the courts will throw the case out on a technicality and the person they were attempting to prosecute will seek compensation (and probably have it awarded) because everyone has a right to make a living and their living had been interfered with and they can therefore claim back the cost.
The law, as it stands, and the people that enforce it cannot be relied on to protect the pups or the public from exploitation and abuse. The whole system needs a good shake up.
The onus lies with us - the general public - to protect ourselves. Buyer beware.
While we continue to be weak and selfish in our desires to possess a pup we can be, and are, easily manipulated. We should be asking questions and when in any doubt, walking away and putting in a complaint to consumer direct.
If we stop supporting this unholy trade it will stop and the problem will go away.
Thousands of dogs lives will be saved - not to mention all the tears and heartbreak when a sickly pup dies - or if it survives the initial problems, suffers a miserable and foreshortened life due to long term hereditary diseases - or it grows into a monster because of behavioural problems brought on by poor breeding or socialisation and has to be re-homed or PTS after biting someone.
Breeders will not breed if they can't sell. They don't breed pups because of altruistic ideals and the love of dogs - they do it for money.
When the money stops they will do something else - perhaps more seriously criminal in the eyes of the Police, whereupon they will be arrested and banged up.
And there is an aspect of this trade that was not mentioned in the program - bogus rescues.
Animal rescue is not regulated in the UK and many dog dealers have cottoned on to the idea that if they call themselves a 'rescue' they can import pups and dogs from Ireland and sell them on without the need for any sort of licence or inspection.
Better still, they avoid the suspicion that such activities can arouse and people may even give them 'donations' to support their 'good cause'. They will even get their stock in trade given free.
Now what retailer would turn down an opporunity like that.
There are many dodgy people out there paying their rent and making a good living out of 'rescue' and many good hearted people supporting them in doing so.
Yet, any donations made to such 'rescues' would be subject to taxation as they are actually, in the legal sense, doing business. That is, if their activities are known to the taxman.
Seems like money down the drain any way you look at it.
It should be said that many legitimate rescue charities bring dogs and pups from Ireland, however they will have some sort of legally binding charitable status. The bogus ones do not.
Even so - with a huge number of unwanted dogs in the UK, born and bred here, it does not make sense to import dogs from Ireland and charities that do so are really letting the public down.
Essentially we should clean up our own back yard before we start to allow our neighbour to tip his surplus over our fence and for every dog imported from Ireland and re-homed in the UK, a 'local' dog looses out on a home. Many end up being PTS, so by taking on an Irish dog you are not saving one from being put down. That old chestnut is played out. You are simply transferring the sentence to another.
Charities are supposed to function for the benefit of the public. That is the essential criteria that gives charitable status. The legal definition.
Is it for the benefit of the public to refuse to help someone with a problem with their dog? Refuse to alleviate their suffering and distress, often caused by circumstances that prevent them from keeping their dog, because the rescue centre is full of dogs the charity has brought in from Ireland?
Is that what UK citizens support UK charities to do? Turn away UK dogs that need homes?
The incidental side effect being that in Ireland the problem of their puppy farm surplus at home is being resolved by our homes and our finances - so what's the incentive for them to clean up their act? We are doing it for them.
Many of their politicians can't even see there is a problem. The euthansaia rates are going down so things must be improving. Why legislate and deprive the country of a source or income and themselves a source of tax revenue?
UK rescue centres are constantly full and turning away dogs that UK citizens are asking them to take in. It does not make sense that any dogs are imported from Ireland. Commercially bred or rescued.
We don't have enough homes for our own.
Friday 20 February 2009
Wednesday 18 February 2009
Pedigree Dogs Exposed?
The following has been taken from our website - published there in 2006 with the kind permission of Advocates for Animals. So we have to ask ourselves - what's changed?
If the UK Kennel Club were aware these recommendations back in 2006, why was it that they only started to desperately make changes in their breed standards after exposure on a National TV program and the subsequent uproar.
We need to ask ourselves - do they really care? Do they really have the interest of dogs at heart - or mainly the interest of breeders?
Most important - we need to ask - do they mean what they are saying now and can they be trusted?
Remember, what follows below was published in 2006.
Advocates for Animals Statement and Press Release March 2006
On the opening day of Crufts 2006, celebrity TV vet, Emma Milne, backs new reports calling for changes in irresponsible pedigree dog breeding.
To coincide with the start of Crufts 2006, the world’s biggest pedigree dog show, Advocates for Animals has released a scientific report examining the welfare problems caused by pedigree dog breeding.
The Price of a Pedigree – Dog breed standards and breed-related illness, examines the vast number of inherited diseases affecting pedigree dog breeds.
These genetic diseases cause suffering and reduced quality of life for dogs and worry and expense for their owners.
The report calls for the UK Government, the Kennel Club and other breed societies, veterinarians and members of the public to take positive action to address these serious welfare issues.
The majority, three quarters, of the UK’s estimated 6.5 million dogs, are pedigrees from one of the diverse range of approximately 400 dog breeds that have been created by humans to date, all of them originating from the grey wolf.
Today, dogs are increasingly being bred for their looks and are required to conform to an ideal ‘breed standard’ of appearance.
Such breed standards often involve exaggerated and unnatural physical characteristics that are detrimental to the dogs’ health and welfare.
These include extremes of size, backs that are too long in proportion to the legs, flattened faces and abnormally short jaws and noses, loose skin and skin folds and bulging eyes.
Common diseases pedigree dogs suffer from include:
hereditary hip and elbow dysplasia (e.g. German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever);
inherited eye diseases (e.g. Pekinese, Basset Hound);
heart and respiratory disease (e.g. Pug, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel);
breed-related skin diseases (e.g. West Highland White Terrier, Cocker Spaniel);
inherited skeletal problems of small and long-backed breeds (e.g. Dachshund, Chihuahua);
bone tumours in large and giant dog breeds (e.g. Rottweiler, Great Dane);
and hereditary deafness (e.g. Doberman, Border Collie).
There is a danger that current trends will only intensify as dogs are increasingly seen as fashion accessories and new breeds are created to meet the demand for a novel or ‘perfect’ dog.
Irresponsible and unethical practices in dog breeding, including close inbreeding and developments in cloning, emphasise the need for better regulation of the pedigree dog breeding business.
Although scientists and veterinarians have long been aware of breed-related diseases, there is currently a lack of accessible information on their prevalence. This may mean that members of the public buy pedigree dogs in ignorance of the health status of the breed.
The European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals has been signed and ratified by 18 European countries, but not by the UK.
It states that: ‘Any person who selects a pet animal for breeding shall be responsible for having regard to the anatomical, physiological and behavioural characteristics which are likely to put at risk the health and welfare of either the offspring or the female parent.’
Advocates for Animals believes that the following steps should be taken to reverse the damage caused by inappropriate pedigree breeding and to improve the welfare of dogs:
The UK should sign and ratify the European Convention on Pet Animals. This would substantially modify, or eliminate, extreme breed standards.
The Kennel Club and other breed societies should require compulsory screening of dogs for known breed-related disorders before any dog is used for breeding. Registration of puppies should be made dependent on health screening of parent dogs.
Breeders should make the health of the dogs the primary goal of their breeding policies.
In addition, Advocates for Animals believes that veterinarians and the public each have an important role in improving dog health and welfare.
Advocates urges:
Veterinarians to educate owners and potential owners of pedigree dogs about potential welfare issues.
Members of the public to avoid buying pedigree dogs or attending pedigree dog shows.
Everyone who is thinking of becoming a dog owner to choose to give a home to a mixed-breed dog from a rescue centre, or to a pedigree dog from one of the many breed rescue organisations.
Celebrity TV vet Emma Milne, star of BBC’s Vets in Practice, says:
“Like many people in my profession I entered it because I had a strong desire to help animals and their owners. Also like many in the profession I still want that. At vet school you quickly start to get taught about ‘breed predisposition’ to disease.
This association between breed, conformation and disease is so strong that even before you qualify you are starting to question whether this should be acceptable. After a very short time in practice the reality becomes all too clear.
I am sick of seeing animals that are suffering in the name of the breed standard and I see it every day. It is high time we stopped accepting that animals are ‘supposed’ to look like this and stopped genetically modifying one of the most successful species on the planet into a collection of deformed animals whose welfare is compromised from the moment they are born.”
Advocates’ Director, Ross Minett, adds:
“Members of the public are led to believe that when they buy a pedigree puppy they are buying the highest quality and healthiest dog. But pedigree dogs are bred for their appearance rather than for their good health, which often suffers as a result.
Inherited diseases cause suffering and reduced quality of life for dogs and worry and expense for their owners. We believe that many vets are concerned about the health and welfare implications of pedigree breeding but feel unable to voice these concerns in public, since a large proportion of the dogs they treat are pedigrees.
Current pedigree dog breeding practices that damage welfare cannot be seen as ethical or acceptable. Members of the public who buy pedigree dogs or attend pedigree dog shows are, unintentionally, supporting a breeding system that surely cannot be justified on animal welfare grounds.
There is an urgent need to reform pedigree dog breeding goals and practices to reverse the damage done by inappropriate breeding standards and inbreeding. Signing up to the European Convention on the Protection of Pet Animals would be a good first step towards reducing the suffering we are knowingly causing to ‘man’s best friend’.”
Visit the advocates for animals website at - http://www.advocatesforanimals.org
Border Collie Rescue added at the time:
Border Collie Rescue supports and joins Advocates for Animals in their campaign to encourage people to change their relationship with animals from one of exploitation and harm to one of respect and compassion.
We have noted over many years that some people seeking the companionship of animals are more concerned about their own rights to own and control the life of a companion animal than any rights the animal might be reasonably considered to have to lead a life natural to its inherent instincts and needs.
We are sad to observe that many prominent individuals and organisations that have considerable influence over public opinion in matters relating to the keeping of companion animals do not use their influence to promote good welfare practices, unbiased understanding and sensible breeding programs. Much of what is promoted is for personal gain - be it power, financial or celebrity based gain.
There is little altruism in our Nation of Animal Lovers
It is quite shocking to us that the UK does not ratify the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals. We are supposed to be leaders in the field of animal welfare practices and yet our government does not see fit to sign this convention. Why not? -We should ask.
It is disturbing that animals have no legal rights in the UK and that efforts to legislate some basic rights through an animal welfare bill is fought and thwarted at every level and will probably not be allowed to pass onto our statute books until it has become so watered down and difficult to implement as to be virtually useless. Who is fighting against animals having some basic rights and why? - We should ask.
It seems that much of what we are told and fed about the needs of animals we keep as companions is dictated by organisations, companies and individuals who have vested interests in the exploitation of the animals they speak of and are reluctant to allow any legislation that may curb the exploitation that provides their income. Why do we listen to these people? - We should ask.
We should be looking more closely at the influences and interests behind the advice we are given before we accept and act on it.
Above all we should wake up to the fact that we share this planet with animals and as a dominant species we have an obligation of care to those who our domination places under our control. These rights we have over animals are the rights of a bully in the playground, of an armed criminal over a victim. These rights have been seized at the point of a sword, not granted to us - we have taken them.
It is about time we shared the rights we so ardently claim for ourselves with the weaker species we share our world with - and those we wish to share our homes with - they give us so much so shouldn't we give something back? - We should ask.
If the UK Kennel Club were aware these recommendations back in 2006, why was it that they only started to desperately make changes in their breed standards after exposure on a National TV program and the subsequent uproar.
We need to ask ourselves - do they really care? Do they really have the interest of dogs at heart - or mainly the interest of breeders?
Most important - we need to ask - do they mean what they are saying now and can they be trusted?
Remember, what follows below was published in 2006.
Advocates for Animals Statement and Press Release March 2006
On the opening day of Crufts 2006, celebrity TV vet, Emma Milne, backs new reports calling for changes in irresponsible pedigree dog breeding.
To coincide with the start of Crufts 2006, the world’s biggest pedigree dog show, Advocates for Animals has released a scientific report examining the welfare problems caused by pedigree dog breeding.
The Price of a Pedigree – Dog breed standards and breed-related illness, examines the vast number of inherited diseases affecting pedigree dog breeds.
These genetic diseases cause suffering and reduced quality of life for dogs and worry and expense for their owners.
The report calls for the UK Government, the Kennel Club and other breed societies, veterinarians and members of the public to take positive action to address these serious welfare issues.
The majority, three quarters, of the UK’s estimated 6.5 million dogs, are pedigrees from one of the diverse range of approximately 400 dog breeds that have been created by humans to date, all of them originating from the grey wolf.
Today, dogs are increasingly being bred for their looks and are required to conform to an ideal ‘breed standard’ of appearance.
Such breed standards often involve exaggerated and unnatural physical characteristics that are detrimental to the dogs’ health and welfare.
These include extremes of size, backs that are too long in proportion to the legs, flattened faces and abnormally short jaws and noses, loose skin and skin folds and bulging eyes.
Common diseases pedigree dogs suffer from include:
hereditary hip and elbow dysplasia (e.g. German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever);
inherited eye diseases (e.g. Pekinese, Basset Hound);
heart and respiratory disease (e.g. Pug, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel);
breed-related skin diseases (e.g. West Highland White Terrier, Cocker Spaniel);
inherited skeletal problems of small and long-backed breeds (e.g. Dachshund, Chihuahua);
bone tumours in large and giant dog breeds (e.g. Rottweiler, Great Dane);
and hereditary deafness (e.g. Doberman, Border Collie).
There is a danger that current trends will only intensify as dogs are increasingly seen as fashion accessories and new breeds are created to meet the demand for a novel or ‘perfect’ dog.
Irresponsible and unethical practices in dog breeding, including close inbreeding and developments in cloning, emphasise the need for better regulation of the pedigree dog breeding business.
Although scientists and veterinarians have long been aware of breed-related diseases, there is currently a lack of accessible information on their prevalence. This may mean that members of the public buy pedigree dogs in ignorance of the health status of the breed.
The European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals has been signed and ratified by 18 European countries, but not by the UK.
It states that: ‘Any person who selects a pet animal for breeding shall be responsible for having regard to the anatomical, physiological and behavioural characteristics which are likely to put at risk the health and welfare of either the offspring or the female parent.’
Advocates for Animals believes that the following steps should be taken to reverse the damage caused by inappropriate pedigree breeding and to improve the welfare of dogs:
The UK should sign and ratify the European Convention on Pet Animals. This would substantially modify, or eliminate, extreme breed standards.
The Kennel Club and other breed societies should require compulsory screening of dogs for known breed-related disorders before any dog is used for breeding. Registration of puppies should be made dependent on health screening of parent dogs.
Breeders should make the health of the dogs the primary goal of their breeding policies.
In addition, Advocates for Animals believes that veterinarians and the public each have an important role in improving dog health and welfare.
Advocates urges:
Veterinarians to educate owners and potential owners of pedigree dogs about potential welfare issues.
Members of the public to avoid buying pedigree dogs or attending pedigree dog shows.
Everyone who is thinking of becoming a dog owner to choose to give a home to a mixed-breed dog from a rescue centre, or to a pedigree dog from one of the many breed rescue organisations.
Celebrity TV vet Emma Milne, star of BBC’s Vets in Practice, says:
“Like many people in my profession I entered it because I had a strong desire to help animals and their owners. Also like many in the profession I still want that. At vet school you quickly start to get taught about ‘breed predisposition’ to disease.
This association between breed, conformation and disease is so strong that even before you qualify you are starting to question whether this should be acceptable. After a very short time in practice the reality becomes all too clear.
I am sick of seeing animals that are suffering in the name of the breed standard and I see it every day. It is high time we stopped accepting that animals are ‘supposed’ to look like this and stopped genetically modifying one of the most successful species on the planet into a collection of deformed animals whose welfare is compromised from the moment they are born.”
Advocates’ Director, Ross Minett, adds:
“Members of the public are led to believe that when they buy a pedigree puppy they are buying the highest quality and healthiest dog. But pedigree dogs are bred for their appearance rather than for their good health, which often suffers as a result.
Inherited diseases cause suffering and reduced quality of life for dogs and worry and expense for their owners. We believe that many vets are concerned about the health and welfare implications of pedigree breeding but feel unable to voice these concerns in public, since a large proportion of the dogs they treat are pedigrees.
Current pedigree dog breeding practices that damage welfare cannot be seen as ethical or acceptable. Members of the public who buy pedigree dogs or attend pedigree dog shows are, unintentionally, supporting a breeding system that surely cannot be justified on animal welfare grounds.
There is an urgent need to reform pedigree dog breeding goals and practices to reverse the damage done by inappropriate breeding standards and inbreeding. Signing up to the European Convention on the Protection of Pet Animals would be a good first step towards reducing the suffering we are knowingly causing to ‘man’s best friend’.”
Visit the advocates for animals website at - http://www.advocatesforanimals.org
Border Collie Rescue added at the time:
Border Collie Rescue supports and joins Advocates for Animals in their campaign to encourage people to change their relationship with animals from one of exploitation and harm to one of respect and compassion.
We have noted over many years that some people seeking the companionship of animals are more concerned about their own rights to own and control the life of a companion animal than any rights the animal might be reasonably considered to have to lead a life natural to its inherent instincts and needs.
We are sad to observe that many prominent individuals and organisations that have considerable influence over public opinion in matters relating to the keeping of companion animals do not use their influence to promote good welfare practices, unbiased understanding and sensible breeding programs. Much of what is promoted is for personal gain - be it power, financial or celebrity based gain.
There is little altruism in our Nation of Animal Lovers
It is quite shocking to us that the UK does not ratify the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals. We are supposed to be leaders in the field of animal welfare practices and yet our government does not see fit to sign this convention. Why not? -We should ask.
It is disturbing that animals have no legal rights in the UK and that efforts to legislate some basic rights through an animal welfare bill is fought and thwarted at every level and will probably not be allowed to pass onto our statute books until it has become so watered down and difficult to implement as to be virtually useless. Who is fighting against animals having some basic rights and why? - We should ask.
It seems that much of what we are told and fed about the needs of animals we keep as companions is dictated by organisations, companies and individuals who have vested interests in the exploitation of the animals they speak of and are reluctant to allow any legislation that may curb the exploitation that provides their income. Why do we listen to these people? - We should ask.
We should be looking more closely at the influences and interests behind the advice we are given before we accept and act on it.
Above all we should wake up to the fact that we share this planet with animals and as a dominant species we have an obligation of care to those who our domination places under our control. These rights we have over animals are the rights of a bully in the playground, of an armed criminal over a victim. These rights have been seized at the point of a sword, not granted to us - we have taken them.
It is about time we shared the rights we so ardently claim for ourselves with the weaker species we share our world with - and those we wish to share our homes with - they give us so much so shouldn't we give something back? - We should ask.
Introducing ourselves
Hi,
We are Border Collie Rescue in the UK, a charitable, voluntary organisation dedicated to the rescue and re-homing of Border Collies and Sheepdogs. We have been around in various formats since 1976.
We are Border Collie Rescue in the UK, a charitable, voluntary organisation dedicated to the rescue and re-homing of Border Collies and Sheepdogs. We have been around in various formats since 1976.
It's no coincidence that this was the year the UK Kennel Club first recognised the Border Collie breed, set up a standard, thus beginning the era of the Border Collie becoming popular as pets.
At that time, a lady called Hazel Monk forsaw problems would arise as more people tried to keep a working sheepdog breed as a pet and started the organisation.
Hazel's predictions proved to be correct and now, nearly 33 years later, we get a constant stream of calls from people wishing to re-home their Border Collies, sometimes as many as 200 in a week.
It was in 1995 that Border Collie Rescue first became a formal, incoprorated non-profit and registered voluntary organisation. By that time we had progressed to being more than a re-homing organisation and performed other public services to help people with the problems they were having with their pets.
In 2001 we ran a unique goverment approved program with MAFF (later DEFRA) to rescue redundant working dogs from Foot and Mouth infected farms.
In 2001 we ran a unique goverment approved program with MAFF (later DEFRA) to rescue redundant working dogs from Foot and Mouth infected farms.
In 2003 we opened a trial Rehabilitaion and Assessment centre using spare land and outbuildings at a farm in North yorkshire. The object of the trial was to see if such a facility could be run by volunteers. It could, providing the volunteers were dedicated!
In 2005 we moved to a smallholding near York, from which we now operate the charity. The facility has 10 acres of land for excersising the dogs and a flock of Swaledale sheep to assess them for working ability and drive. If a dog comes to us with problems based on its need to herd we can demonstrate this and re-home them to a working environment
This also means that we are not offering dogs as companions that should be working.
We also assess for Search and Rescue (SARDA) work, sniffer dogs for the Police and Prison service and other 'trades' that are of benefit to mankind.
The rural environment is fairly quiet and stress free which greatly aids the re-habilitation of dogs with behaveioural problems - something we are coming to specialise in.
We also give advice and offer work placements and work experience to students on approriate courses.
We have started this blog for a variety of reasons
To keep people in touch with what we are doing.
To talk about various matters that affect our work and the world of dogs, particularly Border Collies.
To spread a bit of cheer and share our joys and our freindships.
The posts may be a bit sporadic, perhaps not every day and the perhaps, like buses, several at once. Some will be serious, some less so, some short, some long. Constructive comments welcome. Abuse and spam deleted.
Oh yes, and you can follow us on Twitter if you are so inclined - http://twitter.com/BCRescueUK
or visit our youtube channels
As to the future - who can tell? Hopefully more centres like the York one.
Anyway it works out, we intend to carry on working for the benefit of Border Collies, Sheepdogs and their human companions.
You might like to visit our website where you can find out more about us, the work we do and the dogs we do it for. There are videos, stories, case histories and lots of advice.
We call it - Border Collie Rescue on Line. Hope you like it!
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