This weekend just passed Derby Animal Rights did a street stall in Derby City Centre raising awareness about some of the issues surrounding dogs.

There were several campaigners on St. Peter's Street from 11am until 5pm, highlighting in particular the plight of the staffie and also the dog breeds subjected to BSL - 'breed specific legislation'. This legislation punishes breeds of dogs without looking at the root of the problem, which is irresponsible owners training 'status' dogs to be aggressive and giving breeds undeservedly bad reputations.

More than 7,000 unwanted dogs were put to sleep by local authorities in the UK last year, but the actual number of dogs put to sleep is estimated to be tens of thousands higher as there are shelters that don't have "no kill" policies. A high percentage of those that die are staffie types, as this breed in particular is being overbred and then abandoned, and due to its bad reputation the dogs struggle to find new loving homes.

One of the main messages of the day was to please adopt from a rescue centre, don't buy or breed.  Also, people should think about choosing a staffie as there are so many in need of homes that would make lovely pets. The campaigners were also collecting money on the day for local dog rescue 'Just for Dogs' in Brailsford, who have a no-kill policy and do do some great work,

Lots of members of the public came over to the stall throughout the day and the petition to DEFRA asking for them to repeal BSL was filled in every available inch of space. There was massive public support for the staffie on the day and many people were very enamoured with the gentle rescue staffie girl campaigners had with them, who was saved from being put to sleep this Christmas just gone.

Other important dog-related issues on the day included raising awareness of the cruelities behind the greyhound racing industry, which results in the death of tens of thousands of innocent dogs a year, and the use of dogs in vivisection when there are numerous alternatives to animal testing that would be safer for human medicine and save so many animals from short lives of torture and misery.