The Sheffield Star used to have a box printed at the top of the Pet Section saying "Before you buy a puppy - make sure you see the mother and that she is well cared for etc., etc., etc.,"

They have since stopped doing it - I have phoned them on numerous occasions to ask them to put it back in, but as yet - they still don't. I thought it was a good example, and maybe more papers should also print things like that.

I don't think the general public realise so many puppies are being bred in sheds - outhouses - barns - producing puppy after puppy after puppy - in horrendous conditions - then the pups are ripped away from their moms - cleaned up - and flogged in the local car park, lay-by, pub - or delivered to your door.

People usually end up buying these poor mites - basically cos they feel sorry for them and don't know whats happening.

Awareness has to be the answer.

Anyone know how we could start getting papers to print something in them?

I'm currently finding out about getting an advert in every week about rainrescue.com, so when I ring them this week to follow up, I'll ask about that.
I did notice in Friday's paper there was a big box at the top of a page in colour advertising the Sheffield Dog rescue.
I'll try using my contact at the paper to find out the right person to talk to! that's often the key to getting heard - is finding the right person.

I suppose in most free papers we could actually phone up (or write in) and put an ad like that in there ourselves?

Yes i think that may be worth thinking about as well - putting it in our selves. We could see if they would put it in for free first, with the info on and maybe put our web site on as well.

ps beancounter - don't forget its CO.UK (not com) cheers

sorry RR - I did know that, and have got it right in my writings, just forgot!!

I've been talking to someone about the rates they offer for long term charity adverts - and I'm still trying to get them to bring it down a bit...... I'll keep working on them for a while, but maybe we could come up with exactly what we'd like in the paper at the meet on tuesday?

No probls re co.uk - i maybe should look at buying the .com just in case we loosing some there.

yep - sounds good to me - but odds are we won't get down to much nitty gritty on tues - but will be nice to meet up - c u then

I've just had a quick look and rainrescue.com has actually been taken - don't recognise the owner though.
might be worth approaching them to see if they'd sell?

approached now - its just a parking site where they up for sale. mmm not worth a lot tho.

thanks for news on papers

I have had some contact with the sheffield star and they had aggreed to give a small space for a story why dont we choose a topic and send something accross for instsnce this week could be plight of the staffy

We could give out the statistics on how many dogs are bred and how many of them end up being put down or neglected I bet this would make people think about buying a puppy. :thumbsup:

If this thread gets enough attention, they might put it back in. The Star journos read the forum all the time.

what a good idea

i know the dogs trust publish the destruction figures on their web site - we could try using that. thats whats raised major attention due to the massive increase in yorkshire for strays and high destruction

here's a link to the dogs trust statistics.

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/press_office/stray_dog_survey_2006/full_statistics_breakdown/

Yorkshire Regional Press release from Clarissa Baldwin, Chief Exec Dogs Trust
http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/press_office/stray_dog_survey_2006/regional_press_releases/yorkshire/

A couple of good staffy rescue sites - attempting to ease the problem
http://www.firesiderescue.co.uk/about.html
http://www.staffycross.org/batstats.html

I don't think anyone breaks it down by breed - how many staffys are actually destroyed - i know theya re trying to do it, but because they are 'staffy' types - its hard to count.

I will have a scan on the dogs trust site and see if there is any more useful info in their news section - or others have a look round as well.

If this thread gets enough attention, they might put it back in. The Star journos read the forum all the time.But we've not seen them in the pets group yet ;)

I wonder if they fall into the category of 'people who didn't know we have groups'?

This might not be the best place to ask Rainrescue, but wanted to bring it up before tomorrow. What are the North East doing differently to Yorkshire (17% decrease in dogs pts compared to 18% increase?)

When did the boundaries change? would that skew the figures :suspect:

Jess22 that was a brill point - and one of the reasons why forums are good. they raise things that are sometimes obvious - but not always easy to spot.

I phoned my contact today at the Dogs Trust who produce the figures. She says they have been working up in the North East now for 8 years as it has been so bad for longer. they are surprised after all the work they have put in that its not much higher - but obviously happy its going the right way.

They are also sad that Yorkshire is going down hil so fast as well. it would probably be so much worse due to East, West and South Yorkshire - just the good statistics from North Yorkshire - keeps it from getting so far down.

They are really pleased we are doing this on the forum and I can keep her informed of the work we are proposing to do. In fact whilst taking to her - she has given me a brilliant offer which i am so pleased about - but that will warrant its own thread later on. I need to put a bit more thinking behind it.

I think this thread can probably come up with a solution - even if its that we do some fund raising to start and pay for some adverts around yorkshire to raise awareness?