The Kennel Club is extremely dismayed that its recent announcement regarding the dangers of leaving dogs in cars in warm weather does not seem to have been heeded by a small minority of dog owners. Offending owners found to have ignored such warnings are liable to be disciplined by the Kennel Club.

The Kennel Club urges people never to leave a dog in a car alone. Even on a day that is just warm, leaving the windows open and supplying water will make little difference, as a car can still heat up all too quickly to around 50°C even when the sky is cloudy.

The Kennel Club has received several reports of dog owners failing to heed requests not to leave dogs in cars when attending shows and other events over the summer, and even also refusing to co-operate with specific requests made by show organisers over the public address system.

Such lack of responsiveness and co-operation is unacceptable.

It is not open for an exhibitor or competitor to question, analyse and decide that in some way they are exempt from the directions being issued by the show management at an event.

The Kennel Club wishes therefore to remind all participants at events that there should be a mutual relationship of care, courtesy, respect and co-operation. If the show management does request or instruct that something is to be done, this should be done without argument and done promptly, amicably and with goodwill.

The Kennel Club has a range of options available to it to address specific individuals who fail to co-operate with such reasonable requests and which are properly reported to it. The matter may be referred to the Kennel Club’s Show Executive Committee as a breach of Regulation or in grievous cases treated as a more serious issue under KC Rule A42. The maximum penalty for even a minor breach of regulation of this kind is a warning and censure and fine up to £300. If the individual is a judge then the Judges Sub Committee may then consider suspending their CC approval under F9 (code of best practice). For more serious offences stringent penalties up to and including banning may apply where the matter has been referred under Rule A42.

It is a pity that it is necessary to issue such a threat but the Kennel Club will maintain zero tolerance over such breaches of the regulations, and action will be taken as necessary. Those who choose to ignore this have been warned.

ENDS

7^th July 2010

[205.10]

For further press information, images or interview requests please contact:

The Kennel Club Press Office

020 7518 1008

press.office@thekennelclub.org.uk

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