RSPCA: Doggie Defence! Working together to tackle ‘dangerous’ dog issues
The RSPCA has joined forces with the UK’s largest mail auditing company, Postal Audits, to help tackle the problem of how to deal with ‘dangerous’ dogs.
The company [that provide mail auditing, measurement and postal consultancy services in the country] have donated £20,000 to help fund a role within the RSPCA’s companion animal science department, to look at how to work with dogs with aggression or other behavioural problems.
At first the research will be used to help staff and volunteers working with animals in rescue and re-homing centres, but in the long term the RSPCA hope the advice can be used by anyone coming into contact with dogs on a daily basis – such as postmen, district nurses, utility workers, home care and social workers.
“The startling fact is that at least eight people have been killed in the last four years, and over 200 more have been seriously injured by dogs,” said Derek Fairhurst, Managing Director of Postal Audits.
“What we also see in our line of work is the staggering number of postal workers who are injured – around 6,000 a year. That is why we have funded this work with the RSPCA to try and tackle the problem head on.”
The RSPCA is often the one left picking up the pieces when people fail to train and socialise their dogs properly. Irresponsible dog ownership leads directly to abandonments; injuries to both dogs and humans and a rise in so-called status dogs – where owners buy dogs that make them look tough or that can be used for fighting.
“It is heart-breaking to have to deal with the fall-out of poor dog ownership and this donation will help us make a real difference to tackling this problem,” said James Yeates, head of the RSPCA’s companion animal department.
“We know that dogs can show aggression because they feel threatened or have had negative experiences in the past, so we hope that this vital research will help protect both animals and humans in the future,” he added.
Scientific officer Jenna Kiddie has already started work at the RSPCA and has been out and about working with dogs in RSPCA centres across the country.
The RSPCA, which is funded almost entirely by public donations, sees this of a perfect example of where UK business can support the work of a charity and have a positive impact on issues which span both the animal welfare and business world.
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RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 08448 222888 and ask for pager number 828825
Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk
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