ABERDEENSHIRE Council's Dog wardens have scooped third place at the Kennel Club's national Good Citizen Dog Scheme Awards in the section entitled 'Local Council Most Effective Campaign'.
The three making up the committed team of wardens are Maureen Adam (Inverurie), Alison Robertson (Peterhead) and Gillian Abel (Stonehaven). On the team's behalf, Alison Robertson and Dave Robertson, the Council's Environmental Health Manager, travele
d to London's Clarges Street, home of the Kennel Club last Friday, (January 25) to receive the £2,000 prize, which is to fund a future campaign.
Maureen Adam said: "The money will be allocated by the Kennel Club once the new campaign has been approved. The specific details of the 2008 programme have yet to be decided."
The three wardens are dedicated to promoting responsible dog ownership throughout Aberdeenshire by educating dog owners, offering advice where possible, and where dog-related nuisance occurs, liasing with Environmental Health, housing associations and Police.
Disputes arising with barking dogs, dogs out of control in public places and fouling of communal areas all fall within the warden's remit as well as lost or found dogs, dog related legal issues and microchipping. In addition, the team give talks to schools, playgroups, youth groups and any other interested parties.
The Good Citizen Dog Scheme, the largest dog training programme in the UK is a non-competitive scheme and is open to dogs of all ages and all breeds, whether Kennel Club registered or not. Starting with the Puppy Foundation Assessment, which aims to socialise young puppies, dogs and handlers can go on to achieve Bronze, Silver and Gold.
The scheme was introduced in 1992 and there are now nearly 1,800 participating dog training clubs, which offer training courses and testing sessions in the UK. Emphasis is placed on the handler's ability to handle, control and generally care for their dog in a domestic and public environment. The object of each exercise is to provide a good standard of control.
Dogs are tested in groups and examiners will either award a 'pass' or say the dog is 'not ready'. A pass earns a certificate and a rosette.
The council offer a variety of educational leaflets and microchipping at a reduced fee. 157 dogs were micro chipped in 2007. For further information on dog related issues, contact Aberdeenshire Council on (01467) 628195 or visit http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/animals/dogs/wardens.asp.
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