I'm not a great signatory to petitions I know little about - in fact I won't sign without a strong knowledge of the subject - either directly or from a source I trust.

So it's exceptional for me to have signed up to a petition calling for dogs to be allowed to continue to travel from Ireland to the United Kingdom without a rabies vaccination given 21 or more days prior to travel. EU law calls for this requirement between countries, but it has never been enforced from Ireland to the UK, and with both Ireland and the UK rabies free it's "just" more red tape. Except it's more than just red tape. It's a significant extra cost on transporting dogs and, regrettably, there are many dogs in Ireland - greyhounds especially, but others too, that need to be rescued. Unfortunately, in Ireland dogs are often treated as a commodity and dog pounds there put large numbers to sleep. Oh - that's a euphemism - they kill lots of healthy dogs.

I don't know - in reality - how many fewer dogs will be rescued if the regulations, which exist to counter a rabies problem that does not exist from Ireland, are enforced. But I do want to say "enforcement would be madness". And I have checked up on that - the following is from the trustees at the dog rescue centre where we adopted Billy from:

"We are obviously worried about this as we try and help the greyhounds of Ireland as much as possible as they have very little chance of being rehomed as they are just not seen as family pets!! - so sad. It this happens it will be extremely bad news for the people in Ireland trying to save these lovely dogs." - [see their site]

So, I have put my name to
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/649/515/007/eu-ruling-threatens-the-future-of-dog-rescue-organisations-in-ireland/.
I don't know where that goes; I don't know what difference it can make. I don't even know if there's anyone in the UK who can influence this. I don't know how serious the threat of enforcing this apparently senseless rule is. But I do know that I'm proud to stand up and say that I consider that enforcement would be a silly step. And, yes, I do know that the whole underlying problem is the overbreeding of dogs in Ireland, and if that could be solved ...

For the record, neither Gypsy nor Billy happen to have Irish origins - certain people in England treated them as badly before they were rescued - but that's another story
(written 2013-09-20, updated 2013-09-21)

 Z203 - Cat and Dog
  [62] Technical Open House - (2004-09-25)
  [96] Variable Scope - (2004-10-22)
  [547] Taking the dog for a walk - (2005-12-29)
  [744] We can offer a room, but we can't operate on a dog - (2006-06-05)
  [771] From cat breeder to Cobol to Perl - (2006-06-21)
  [2029] Also for the eyes of the cat - (2009-02-07)
  [2132] Learning about Lurchers - (2009-04-18)
  [2138] Ski bore ... train bore ... dog bore - (2009-04-24)
  [2140] Beware - giving copyright away when you upload a picture - Dogs Trust - (2009-04-25)
  [2167] Watching the tele - (2009-05-10)
  [2252] Leaping dog, Leaping horse, copyright of old masters - (2009-06-20)
  [2271] Dogs Trust, Dog Show, Newbury - (2009-07-06)
  [2295] The dog is not in trouble - (2009-07-17)
  [2450] Family Gathering at 404, The Spa - (2009-10-11)
  [2451] Gypsy says - (2009-10-12)
  [2456] Bright Eyes - (2009-10-16)
  [2496] A better design of mouth - (2009-11-07)
  [2499] ourdog is Greyhound, Staffie and Ginger Cake - (2009-11-09)
  [2555] Bookkeeping - (2009-12-29)
  [2689] Can my dog eat potatoes? Doggie Dietary Research, and political sleaze! - (2010-03-23)
  [2787] Sleeping in on Sunday - (2010-05-30)
  [2897] The Land of the Black Labrador - (2010-08-01)
  [3096] Contrast in pictures - (2010-12-20)
  [3324] Rabbit Shelter - (2011-06-12)
  [3338] Return trip - Dogs Trust, Newbury - (2011-06-27)
  [3530] A typical weekend?? - (2011-11-28)
  [3533] No message - just doggy pictures of the new doggy - (2011-11-30)
  [3537] Letting the foster parents know ... too little or too much? - (2011-12-04)
  [3541] I loves Melksham - (2011-12-06)
  [3553] Changes to morning routines - (2011-12-16)
  [3561] Happy Christmas ... a Christmas morning walk in Melksham - (2011-12-25)
  [3606] Gypsy and Billy enjoy the snow - (2012-02-10)
  [3625] An update on Billy the Greyhound and Gypsy the Lurcher - (2012-02-25)
  [3674] Off to walk the dogs - (2012-03-30)
  [3675] Spring 2012 - (2012-03-30)
  [3737] Postcards from Barmouth - (2012-05-20)
  [3906] Taking the lead, not the dog, for a walk. - (2012-10-28)
  [3908] Black dogs at Halloween - (2012-10-31)
  [3920] Challenge for a photographer - (2012-11-10)
  [3936] Lisa is home today ... - (2012-11-26)
  [3943] With us for a year already! - (2012-12-03)
  [4016] Red, yellow, green or pink dog? Yellow Dog Project - (2013-02-23)
  [4130] Soft furnishings up a Welsh Mountain - (2013-07-03)
  [4189] Who are we - Lisa, Graham, Gypsy and Billy - (2013-10-07)
  [4316] Too many Staffies, too many lurchers - (2014-11-16)
  [4333] Misty Melksham Morning - (2014-11-30)
  [4417] Crisp morning, fast run - (2015-02-06)
  [4433] Different views of a Welsh Valley - but headed home - (2015-02-20)
  [4507] In favour of adoption rather than puppy purchase - dogs! - (2015-06-07)
  [4517] Black dog day - and Bobby still seeks his new home - (2015-09-26)
  [4526] Day trip to Lancaster - (2015-10-10)
  [4666] Spring at Well House Manor - (2016-03-27)

Back to Changing transport and destinations - looking forward to a good future

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Forward to Grumbling about trains? Buses can be far worse!

A fond memory
Reaching a hotel standard where 99% of guests would return - and maintaining that standard
Welcome to Salford and Oldham
Grumbling about trains? Buses can be far worse!
Exceptionally, I sign a petition - on a life and death issue for Irish dogs
Changing transport and destinations - looking forward to a good future
Where are you? How to write a geosensitive application
Setting and publishing your hours to suit your customer base
International and off island travel from Melksham
An alternative format for a new train service timetable