Membership Of The Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare

The Central Bedfordshire Canine Trust is delighted to announce that as of the 21st February 2011, it has officially become a member of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare.

In what is a major development in the trusts lobbying and external affairs activities, membership of the Parliamentary Group places the trust and more importantly the voice of Central Bedfordshire dog owners and their dogs firmly within Westminster.

The Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) is an all-party group made up of MPs, Peers and associate animal welfare organisations with a specific knowledge and active interest in this area. The aim of the Group is to promote and further the case of animal welfare by all means available to the Parliaments at Westminster and in Europe. APGAW seeks to influence the development and introduction of effective wide-ranging legislation to improve welfare and also acts as a discussion forum for politicians and welfare experts to look at areas of concern. Recently the APGAW has published reports and considered issues such as Dangerous Dogs, Dog Breeding, Dog Welfare and Pedigree Dog Health. 

The APGAW formally meets in the Committee Rooms of the House of Commons in London once a month. The Central Bedfordshire Canine Trusts first attendance as a member of the APGAW, will be on Tuesday 1st March 2011. The Central Bedfordshire Canine Trust is very proud to have become a member of this Parliamentary Group. 

Trust Patron, Mrs Spencer Commented “We will always be committed to frontline, local facilities for local dogs and their owners. Frontline welfare, education and training work will always be the trusts focus. However with new dog related legislation in the pipeline, there has never been a more important time for local dog owners to have a national voice. Whether you are a pet owner or professional breeder, the trust is here to represent you and your dogs!”

Gary Gregory, Chief Executive of the Central Bedfordshire Canine Trust and the trusts representative for the APGAW, added “National Lobbying and National External Affairs activities will definitely take a more defined role within the trusts work, and we very much see membership of the APGAW as a first step in this direction. On local issues the trust has been active over the last couple of years, representing dog owners, but what we will now see is this work extended to a national level.”

End Of Announcement
Monday 28th February 2011