As we head into the Autumn we’re reflecting on our 15th Anniversary Year so far.
2024 marks 15 years of Dorset Dogs, it’s been a busy year and we couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved in that time and how we continue to go from strength to strength. We thought it would be good timing to give you all an update of how our 15th Anniversary year has looked like so far and what is still to come…
In January, the team attended a Dog Law seminar which covered lots of really interesting topics surrounding dog ownership. It is really important to us that we have the most up to date knowledge, so this was a great refresh for the teams ongoing professional development. The team also completed their Canine First Aid course refreshers.
We also started working alongside Guide Dogs South West and were joined at a number of our Pitstops by Guide Dog puppies in training and their puppy raisers. We got to learn about the work required to raise a Guide Dog and hear more about the incredible work that they do changing lives. Guide Dogs SW are currently looking for puppy raisers in the Dorset area, if you or someone you know may be interested then further information can be found here Puppy Raiser | Volunteer | Guide Dogs UK.
In February, we were invited to collaborate with Upton Country Park and co-created a dog friendly activity trail around the park which ran over the course of the February half term. This also coincided with their Winter Bioblitz and saw us showcasing the Dorset Dogs ethos alongside lots of organisations who are all working together to protect and enhance the Dorset coast and countryside.
March was a particularly busy month, with some of the team heading up to the Thames Basin Heath Partnership offices to see our friends from Heathland Hounds and attend a workshop about best practice with talks from Stephen Jenkinson, who is an expert in access for dogs, and Dawn from the New Forest National Park Authority.
We were lucky enough to be invited to the re-brand event for the newly re named Dorset Heaths Partnership. The event was attended by all 10 partner organisations along with a host of other special guests. As part of the celebration, we heard a truly inspirational talk from Chris Hinds MBE co-founder of Surfers Against Sewage.
The Dorset Dogs team were also invited to attend the 2024 National Mitigation meet up, which this year was held at Essex University. We were able to network with organisations from across the country and discuss best practice as well as attend several great workshops.
We went out on the heaths with the Dorset Heaths Education Team, as part of Ferndown Fire Day, where we spoke to 150 year 8 students about the importance of being responsible dog owners and how our actions can make positive change.
In May, we hosted the Dorset Dogs zone at the very first Heath and Harbour Hullabaloo and ran a fun dog show which saw Rebel crowned our 15th Anniversary Dorset Dog of the Year 2024. The sun shone for us and it was a wonderful day attended by hundreds of locals and their dogs, there were 7 categories in the dog show with rosettes and amazing goody bags for all of our winners!
To mark our 15th Anniversary, our new website launched, jam packed with information including our interactive Out and About dog walkers map, information about the work we do (and how you and your dog can get involved), a ‘Happy, Healthy, Stress Free Walks’ section, our Doggy Directory and much more.
Following the successful launch of the New Forest Professional Dog Walkers’ Charter in 2021, Dorset Dogs collaborated with the New Forest National Park Authority to create a Charter consistent across both Dorset and the New Forest National Park. Professional Dog Walkers alongside eight land managing partners of the Dorset Heaths Partnership teamed up with Dorset Dogs to review and endorse a best practice checklist for responsible dog walking businesses. Following months of work behind the scenes we are so proud of what has been achieved, you can find more information about the Charter here Professional dog walkers – Dorset Dogs.
Alongside the work we do within Dorset we are also hugely proud to have a national reputation as leaders in the field and as such often get asked to attend events across the country. In June, we became part of an exciting national project which took us up to Birmingham to take part in workshops and speak to a number of national organisations.
Over the spring and early summer months we attended a number of wonderful local events including the Brewery Square Pooch Parade in Dorchester, Mudeford Wood Community Day, Margret Green Ground Dog Day and Country Dog Show, the opening of the new Polygon Pets dog wash at Thorncombe Woods, Upton Country Park Community Wildlife Day and many more.
Across the spring and summer we recruited new members to our K9 Firewise Patrol, in partnership with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and supported by Firewise UK, helping to protect Dorset’s heaths and raise awareness of wildfires while out on their daily dog walks. Our existing team continue to do a fantastic job and we are very grateful for their contribution over the last few years. If you would like more information or to get involved you can find out about our K9 Firewise Patrol here Projects and Campaigns – Dorset Dogs
As part of our 15th Anniversary celebrations, we held a ‘Pawty Pitstop’ at Upton Country Park and saw the return of our group Waggy Walks. We are planning more walks for later in the year so check our what’s on section for dates and booking which will be released nearer the time.
As well as all of this we have welcomed new members to our FREE Dorset Dogs membership, taken our Pitstop across Dorset and continued our on-site engagement, an opportunity to meet people and dogs out and about, catch up with members and greet new ones, keep in touch with people, places and dogs and find out about the local issues that are affecting you.
We still have lots planned for the rest of our 15th Anniversary year with more Waggy Walks, events and partnership working to come. To keep up to date you can follow us on our social media channels on Facebook and Instagram where you will find us @DorsetDogs (always look for the logo so you know it’s us).
Most importantly we wanted to say a massive THANK YOU to all of you for your ongoing support, we would not be where we are today without the amazing dog owners, walkers, businesses, organisations, charities, partners and all the likeminded people who share our ethos. We look forward to seeing you out and about across Dorset as we continue to Love Dogs…Love Nature🐾