ZigZag Kennels – How You Can Help
05.06.10
Dear Supporter
We urgently need your help to ensure the welfare of a large number of greyhounds kept in appalling conditions at ZigZag stud and puppy farm on the outskirts of Lincoln.
http://www.greytexploitations.com/resources-and-reports/zigzag-stud-and-puppy-farm-suppliers-to-liverpool-university-a-the-racing-industry
The farm is owned by Charles Pickering who was first exposed in 2008 by the Sunday Times for selling puppies to Liverpool University for research and dissection.
Since then, many supporters have devoted much time and effort trying to encourage Mr Pickering to surrender his dogs for re-homing, whilst campaigners have tried to apply pressure on the local authority – West Lindsey Council – to use their powers to either force Mr Pickering to comply with the law or to close him down. In short – the council have done nothing and as a consequence, greyhounds bred to supply a highly commercial industry or for research and dissection are continuing to suffer in dreadful conditions.
Unlike trainers kennels who are regulated by the GBGB, it is the council's responsibility to ensure compliance with both UK Breeding Establishment legislation and associated EU law but officers at West Lindsey District Council appear to be in conflict over which department should take responsibility for enforcement.
Although the council’s planning department has confirmed Mr Pickering has not had planning permission to operate as a Breeding Establishment since his initial application expired in 2008, the licensing department has been unable to confirm whether Mr Pickering still holds a license to breed. What is clear is that the council has in the past and as recent as last year, granted Mr Pickering a breeder’s license fully in the knowledge he was not complying with relevant planning law.
Despite the fact that Mr Pickering’s premises are not licensed by the GBGB, his kennels will have been visited many times by the GBGB earmarking stewards and Mr Pickering still currently owns a number of dogs that have raced and dogs still eligible to race on GBGB tracks and he has to comply with the Rules of Racing.
The industry’s governing body have previously disciplined and ‘warned off’ owners similar to Mr Pickering, for breaches of Rule 18 and disciplined unlicensed people - David Smith of Seaham for the slaughtering of 1,000’s of dogs and more recently the Freeman’s whose license had expired.
At least 25% of the dogs re-homed by the industry’s Retired Greyhound Trust have never raced on licensed tracks – wont chase or too slow and the RGT have also be known to re-home stud dogs and brood females in the past.
Regardless – Mr Pickering, as the largest racing greyhound breeder in the country has supplied 1,000’s of dogs to the industry and as such the industry should accept some responsibility for the welfare of these greyhounds and Mr Pickering actions as an owner.
In a statement to the Sunday Express, Mr Pickering claims the RSPCA made unannounced visits to the farm and found the condition of the dogs to be of the ‘highest order’. From the evidence provided from the investigators – this clearly is not the case.
The Member of Parliament for the area is Edward Leigh who signed an Early Day Motion in March of this year on the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds.
Please write to West Lindsey District councillors, the RSPCA, Edward Leigh, the GBGB and also the local media requesting they investigate this appalling situation and to help ensure the welfare of these greyhounds as a matter of urgency.
Please remember to enclose these links in support of your request and please remember to keep all correspondence polite.
http://www.greytexploitations.com/resources-and-reports/zig
zag-stud-and-puppy-farm-suppliers-to-liverpool-university-a-the-racing-industry
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/178015/Agony-of-caged-greyhounds
West Lindsey Councillors
Cllr Ms G F Bardsley This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr O C Bierley This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Ken Bridger This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs J Brockway This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr T Brown This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr A D Caine This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr D J Cotton This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr S Curtis This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs M W Davidson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr I G Fleetwood This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr A H Frith This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Cllr S F Kinch This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs A T Lawrence This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr M G Leaning This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs J B Milne This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr P J O'Connor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr M J W Parish This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs I Parrott This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr W S R Parry This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs J A Rainsforth This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs S Rawlins This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Thomas Regis This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs D M Rodgers This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs L A Rollings This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs H Shore This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr R A Shore This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr K J Smith This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr M L Starkey This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr C L Strange This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr J J Summers This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr M Tinker This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr C J Underwood-Frost This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr Mrs A Welburn This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr G Wiseman This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cllr T V Young This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Member of Parliament
Edward Leigh This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
GBGB
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RSPCA
Cruelty Helpline 0300 1234 999
RSPCA Lincolnshire Mid and Lincoln Branch
Telephone 01522 544862
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Local Media
Lincolnshire Echo
Newsdesk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
BBC Lincolnshire
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If any rescues are in a position to re-home any of these greyhounds, please contact your local RSPCA
Many thanks ~ as always ~ for your care and compassion for the greyhounds
