Contact the Press Office

Members of the PUBLIC please telephone: 0844 463 3980.

If you are a member of the press and require further information or personal comment, please contact the Press Office via:

Telephone : 020 7518 1008 / 1020
Fax : 020 7518 1028
Email: press.office@thekennelclub.org.uk

Press Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm

Out of hours number available in case of emergency, please contact the main Press Office number.

The above contact details are strictly for use by the PRESS/MEDIA only. Any enquiries that are not made by members of the press or media will not be responded to.

The Press Office is part of the Kennel Club External Affairs Department that deals with journalists, broadcasters, external organisations, government departments and Parliament on a daily basis. The work of this department is divided into public relations and public affairs.

Public Relations

The Kennel Club Public Relations team co-ordinates public relations and promotional activity promoting all Kennel Club services in a consistent, quality image, which is sympathetic to the Club’s mission statement.

It does so by providing proactive contact with all media in order to achieve a good share of voice for the Kennel Club. As a result it receives over 2000 media enquiries each year (excluding those relating to Crufts and Discover Dogs), largely in response to the 250 press releases issued each year.

Public Affairs

The Kennel Club Public Affairs team has a wide ranging remit involving itself in issues such as: Tail docking, electric shock collars, dangerous dogs, puppy farming, chemicals testing on dogs, dog and cat fur, dog control orders and access. It lobbies representatives of the Westminster, Scottish and European Parliaments, Welsh Assembly, as well as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Government Environment and Rural Affairs Department and the Welsh Assembly Government Rural Affairs Department. As a result it has influenced debate on the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, the Animal Welfare Act, European legislation on a ban on the import, export and sale of dog and cat fur in the EU and European legislation on reducing animal testing (REACH). The Public Affairs team also organises the Westminster Dog of the Year event in conjunction with the Dogs Trust.

Spokespeople

Caroline Kisko is the Kennel Club Secretary.

Her responsibilities include managing the Press Office and being the primary Kennel Club spokesperson.

Caroline became Secretary of the Kennel Club in 2000. She joined the Kennel Club in October 1999 as the External Affairs Executive, having worked for many years in both sales and PR in the pet food industry.

Caroline has spent all her life with dogs – and both showed and judged prior to joining the Kennel Club. With her husband Chris she owns a boarding kennel in Suffolk. They have German Shepherd Dogs and Siberian Huskies which they race in harness.

Bill Lambert is the Health and Breeder Services Manager

Bill Lambert joined the Kennel Club in April 2006 as the Breed Advisor for the Accredited Breeder Scheme. His position involves assessing and advising kennels on the scheme.

Bill has owned Bull Terriers all his life. He has bred eight litters, including eight champions, and has taken Best of Breed at Crufts on three occasions. He judges Bull Terriers at championship level and has been on the committee of the Bull Terrier Club for over 20 years. He has represented Bull Terriers, and dogs in general, as spokesman for the breed club for many years, and has also spoken on behalf of the Kennel Club on occasion.

In September 2007, Bill became a full-time member of Kennel Club staff, managing the Health and Breeder Services Department. His knowledge and experience within the dog world has made him an all round expert on dogs, in particular so-called dangerous dogs.

Professor Jeff Sampson is the Kennel Club's Senior Canine Geneticist

Professor Sampson studied Biochemistry at Sussex University and attained a BSc. in 1970 and a DPhil in 1973.

1973 - 1978: Scientific Officer at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund
1978 - 1990: Lecturer in Biochemistry - University of Leicester
1990 - 1998: Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry - University of Leicester
1998 - present: The Kennel Club Canine Genetics Co-ordinator

Research Interests in brief:

Early research interests involved studies on cell growth, differentiation and development
Began looking at the molecular biology of canine inherited disease in the late 1980's and laboratory contributed to the development of the Canine Genome Map, working in collaboration with the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket.

Press Office and Public Affairs Team

Sara Wilde is the External Affairs & PR Manager responsible for managing the day-to day running of the public relations side of the press office and maintaining good relationships with the media.

Was loved and owned by Buddy, a Finnish Spitz.

Heidi Ancell is the PR Manager who is responsible for issuing press releases, handling media enquiries and running the Kennel Club’s PR campaigns.

Is loved and owned by Dylan, a Golden Retriever.

Laura Quickfall is the Press Officer who writes and issues press releases, handles media enquiries and runs the Kennel Club’s PR campaigns

Is loved and owned by Jed, a Labrador.

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Emily Jeffrey is the Senior Public Affairs Officer who leads the Kennel Club’s lobbying campaigns and is responsible for maintaining and developing good relationships with Politicians and Civil Servants.

Is loved and owned by Morag, a West Highland White Terrier.

Victoria Brown is the Public Affairs Officer who works on the Kennel Club’s lobbying campaigns and is responsible for maintaining and developing good relationships with Politicians and Civil Servants.