2008 was a tumultuous year in the organised world of dogdom.

The year began with dogs in the headlines as the fallout erupted following the late December death of tragic dog attack victim Archie – Lee Hirst, an incident which again brought the subject of Britain’s dangerous dog laws to the front pages.

Dogs were sitting atop of the media schedules again in 08 when the powerful and much debated documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed hit British BBC screens. The ramifications of the film are still rubmling but suffice to say the BBC’s decision to drop Crufts from its TV schedule in 2009 was one of the more dramatic consequences.

It feels to many as though we are in a state of flux.

Two independent reports in to the state of dog health are underway – one by the KC in partnership with the Dogs Trust and one by the RSPCA.

A cross-party group of politicians is getting involved. The Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare have called for evidence on the state of pedigree dogs.

A sense of change is in the air but nobody quite knows where we’re headed. There is an old guard who still steadfastly refuse to accept that there is much wrong with the world of dogs and there are others who are increasingly frustrated by the lack of radical reform. Things are happening though.

So who are the ‘big dogs’ in the canine sector?

K9 Magazine offers you our list.

[List relates to level of UK influence in 2009]

10: Daniel Foggo.

Daniel Foggo is a journalist for the Sunday Times who has brought Greyhound related animal welfare scandals to national attention. He was the journalist who exposed the sick practice of a knacker’s yard which supplies meat to the greyhound racing industry also operating a sideline in slaughtering dogs that were no longer fast enough to race. The intrepid Foggo also revealed the sordid details of a clinic killing healthy dogs and secretly selling their body parts to Britain’s prestigious Royal Veterinary College (RVC). A man who is clearly ready, willing and able to bring genuine animal welfare scandals to national attention.

9: Ingrid Newkirk

The figure head of the highly controversial US-based animal rights organisation, PETA. Newkirk is a much malingned figure, even for many involved in the animal welfare sector, however her organisation is highly prominent and due to its celebrity endorsements it holds a great deal of appeal and interest for youngsters in the UK who have a burgeoning interest in animal welfare related issues. PETA’s influence stretches far and wide. The world view of many animal loving teens and young adults in the UK is influenced by PETA.

8: Dr Albert Bourla

Dr Bourla is the European president of Pfizer Animal Health and as such he oversees the area of a company which produces a wide array of healthcare products and veterinary treatments for dogs. As large pharmaceutical companies increasingly invest in animal health – spotting the link between animal health and its value in teaching us about human health – we can expect the animal health sector to be working harder than ever to treat dogs for all manner of ailments, major and minor.

7: Nigel Gibbens

Mr Gibbens is the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). In simple terms, as vets go, he’s the one who’s in the most influential position within the government set up.

6: Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior

Lord Soulsby is the chairman of the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) and oversees a group which is broadly respected and was set up to conduct independent studies into the welfare, care and treatment of companion animals and their role within society. As the chairman of CAWC, Lord Soulsby’s and his fellow committee members have a voice which carries weight.

5: Jemima Harrison

Simply put, Jemima Harrison’s documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed shook the pedigree dog world to its core. It has shaped opinion and caused a reaction. With a follow up documentary in the works, the old guard within the pedigree dog set would find it hard to deny Ms Harrison’s influence.

4: Ronnie Irving

Ronnie Irving is the chairman of the embattled Kennel Club. He is charged with the task of leading the reform and modernisation of an organisation which has, by his own admission, suffered a annus horribilis   in 2008. The Kennel Club is the governing body of all things pedigree dog as well as the organisation in charge of Crufts dog show. Mr Irving is challenged with the job of repairing the damage done to the image of the club as well as pushing through health initiatives to breeders and breed clubs. The Kennel Club has admitted that it has listened to public opinion and will be undertaking measures to reform. Whether they are able to convince dog owners and the media will depend greatly on how much momentum Mr Irving can generate as he leads the organisation in to a new era.

3:Nicky Paull

British Veterinary Association (BVA) President Nicky Paul is in an exceptionally influential position as head of the organisation that represents the veterinary profession. Never before has there been as much public interest in health and welfare of our domestic dogs. Vets are increasingly coming under public scrutiny on issues such as fees, prescription charges and alleged profiteering on the back of the growth in pet insurance. But on the flip side, never before have vets been as skilled and capable of treating such a wide range of health issues affecting dogs. From canine cancer to flea prevention, vets are an integral part of the lives of most dog owners. However, dog owners are becoming far more savvy and aware of canine health issues thanks to the wider distribution of information and knowledge exchange offered by the world wide web. While the vet will always retain a position of trust, more dog owners than ever before are prepared to hold their veterinarians to higher levels of accountability. As head of the BVA, Nicky Paull has a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of the growth in demand for advanced veterinary care amongst a hardcore of dog owners. The BVA can also play a pivotal role in leading education and awareness drives throughout the dog owner population, including educating breeders on genetics and other good practice.

2: Mark Watts

Mr Watts is the chief executive of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). The UK’s largest animal welfare charity is a big hitter. The general public have ALL heard of the RSPCA and most of them have a lot of affection for the charity. All of which means when the RSPCA speak, people listen – including the mainstream media. It was the RSPCA who lead the way in taking action post Pedigree Dogs Exposed when they quickly pulled out of their association with Crufts, a move followed by others – including the Dogs Trust and BBC. The charity does come in for (in many cases, just) criticism, a challenge all the more problematic since the advent of chat forums and easier dissemination of information using the web – but they are a big player and have an exceptionally powerful voice.

1: Jacqui Smith

Jacqui Smith is the Home Secretary and is ultimately responsible for laws and legislation related to dogs. Britain is constantly in a state of debate about effective canine legislation with widespread opposition to the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. It seems not a week goes by without dog laws coming under the spotlight for one reason or another – be it as a result of a dog attack or perceived anti dog owner by-law proposals. As support grows amongst ordinary dog owners, animal organisations and even the media for reform of ineffective legislation – which costs the ordinary tax payer millions upon millions of pouds, the home secretary is undoubtedly in the most influential seat in the house when it comes to the dog world.

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Related posts:

1. Dog World – The Best Canine Newspaper by Some Distance
2. K9 Magazine Comment on BBC Decision to Suspend Crufts
3. A Message to the BBC on Behalf of True Dog Lovers (Pedigree Dogs Exposed)
4. RSPCA Chief Vet Condemns ‘Parade of Mutants’ – Pedigree Dogs Exposed
5. RSPCA Responds to Bateson Report “The World has Woken Up”