Canine fun day at Hall Bower

Jun 1 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

EVERY dog has its day.

And for dozens of Huddersfield canines, that day came this weekend.

A fun event for dogs and their owners proved a big success in the sun.

The Pooches Play Day, held at Hall Bower, in the shadow of Castle Hill, was the first of its kind.

The day aimed to give dogs a fun time and educate their owners on responsible dog ownership.

There was a wide choice of activities on offer. These included pet care demonstrations, agility and flyball, a puppy playpen and guide dog display.

Dog walks round Castle Hill were also organised.

There were a range of pet products available, including discounted microchipping, and advice from the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust.

The free day was staged by the Castle Hill Ranger team in partnership with the Kirklees Dog Warden Service and Kirklees Park Wardens.

Organisers said they hoped the day’s success meant that they would be able to continue to hold it as an annual event.

Tina Shaw, one of the dog wardens, said: “The idea behind this day was to both promote the area around Castle Hill as an open space where dogs can go and educate owners on responsible dog ownership.”

A spokesman for The Dogs Trust said they hoped the day would encourage people to be responsible dog-owners.

The trust was founded in 1891 to protect dogs from torture and ill-usage of every kind. Now the Trust, formerly known as the National Canine Defence League, has a declared intent never to turn down a reasonable request for help.

The Dogs Trust began operations funded entirely by donations from members and supporters.

In 1902 membership totalled 1,000 for the first time and continued to grow steadily to 6,500 members by 1910. Today Dogs Trust has more than 600,000 members and supporters.