DOGS TRUST LEFT TO TAKE THE LEAD
Dogs Trust makes strides to accommodate left hand dog walkers in accordance with EU law
Dogs Trust has launched a pioneering new rehoming initiative aimed exclusively at left handed dog owners. In accordance with The European Commission’s equality directive, detailing equal opportunities for left handed citizens, the charity must meet their quota of dogs available to left handed dog walkers. The charity’s network of 18 Rehoming centres in the UK, including one in Shrewsbury, will ensure that 11% of all dogs available for rehoming are expertly trained to fit the requirements of left handed dog walkers.
The initiative has been gradually phased in across the Rehoming Centres since the beginning of the year with over 300 dogs already finding loving homes with left handed owners as a direct result of the scheme. The charity has even experienced an 82% increase in left handed volunteers since January.
Volunteer dog walker at Dogs Trust Shrewsbury April Fuller comments: "I explained my predicament as a left handed dog walker to staff when I volunteered the Rehoming Centre and was delighted when they introduced me to dogs specially trained for this purpose. I am so grateful to Dogs Trust for going the extra mile by training dogs to respond to left handed dog owners as it makes walks so much more enjoyable for me. I wasn't even aware of the equality directive until I visited Dogs Trust but it really makes sense, why should Left handed walkers be penalised by walking their dogs on the right, imagine if Jimmy Hendrix had been forced to play the guitar with his right hand!"
Charlotte Speedy, Dogs Trust Director of Communications comments: “I was certainly surprised when I was informed by the Government last year that subject to EU Law we would be required to adapt our training guidelines to make them more sympathetic to the needs of the Left handed community. Dogs Trust are fortunate to have such talented trainers and behaviourists at our disposal who were able to work with our dogs to help prepare them for the requirements of their intended left handed owners, allowing us to meet our quota in the timeframe provided. Man's best friend has loyally endured the idiosyncrasies of man for over 10,000 years and it seems the whims of the European Commission are no exception."
Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and cares for over 16,000 stray and abandoned dogs each year through its network of 18 Rehoming Centres nationwide and one in Dublin.