Causeway Coast Dog Rescue held their second annual conference in Stormont on 2nd October, focusing on ‘Collaboration’ and what that looks like to improve companion animal welfare.
“CCDR is like many charities in N.Ireland, we rescue and rehome unwanted dogs, to ensure they have a second chance with a caring and loving family, free from abuse and neglect. We look at Animal Welfare from a different perspective than any other charity, which is through legislation and governance, identifying the gaps and implications on the services being delivered. We look to ensure there is accountability and transparency included by the three government service providers responsible. This is the rationale for the conference said Tara Cunningham, Manager and Animal Welfare Lobbyist for CCDR.
“I reached out to specific key leaders in their field, and they all immediately agreed to support and fly in to share their expertise. These speakers included: Peter Laurie, CEO Battersea Dog and Cats Homes; Adam Clowes UK Ops Manager Dogs Trust UK with Conor OKane local manager in Ballymena; Helen Ballantyne Animal and Human Nurse discussing ‘One Health’; Dr Paula Boyden, BVetMed MRCVS Chair The Links Group and Veterinary Director Dogs Trust discussing the crisis between animals and people; Mark Randell Naturewatch, discussing ‘how taking crimes against animals seriously, can help create safer communities for people too; Dr Tara Quinn CPsychol AFBOsS HCPC Reg, the Human Animal Welfare Alliance, supporting the mental wellbeing of our charity volunteers and staff; Professor Carri Westgarth Chair in Human Animal Interaction University of Liverpool Addressing animal welfare and human health through collaboration; and Demi Mullan ROI Legal Advisor on policy and legislation.
“The conference was extremely well received by the key stakeholders which included charities from N.Ireland, Wales, England and Ireland, PSNI, local government, MLAs and Councillors. Some of these topics were difficult to discuss, showing examples of domestic violence, examples of news reports and evidence of where the legislation is continually not being enforced to support our communities and animals.”
Over the forthcoming weeks, Causeway Coast Dog Rescue will be sharing this overall focus of Public Health, and the implications to our communities which each of the speakers identified through their presentations.
“Collaboration opportunities to partner with these specialists, range from learning from other successful projects, identifying when animals are at risk, child safeguarding and dog safety as a public health issue, understanding ‘one health’ and how human and animal health & well-being interlinks, legislation and government policy and finally, to be able to share the amazing work that all companion animal rescue charities do in Northern Ireland and how their financial and resource investment outweighs what any government body currently provides.
“It has been identified that charities in Northern Ireland are subsidising local government to deliver their legislative remit. Pound for Pound, one charity alone is matching what DAERA donates to the Animal Welfare Service for All 11 Councils! This is a shocking revelation of under resourcing. In addition, out of all the hundreds of breeders in Northern Ireland, only 56 are legal, however we don’t know who those 56 are as councils will not tell us, resulting in public spending hard earned money on black market activity.
“We need to do more for our communities, and by improving their knowledge and responsibility on dog ownership, will ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of our companion animals,
“On behalf of the Chair, Mrs Maggie Dimsdale-Bobby and the Trustees, I would like to say a huge thank you to all the delegates who travelled from throughout the UK and Ireland to attend, and of course the amazing speakers who are leaders in their field of expertise who took the time to share their wealth of knowledge, stated Tara Cunningham, Manager and Lobbyist for Causeway Coast Dog Rescue charity located on the North Coast.
Thank you all for your support, driving forward Animal Welfare Reform, where we believe that all dogs deserve a second chance. https://causewaycoastdogrescue.org/elementor-3645/
