Sponsored by
OWNERS BARKING MAD AS DOG CLUB FACES CLOSURE
A DOG training club which has helped hundreds of owners overcome their pets' behaviour problems looks set to fold because of a huge rent hike for the hall it uses.
The Man's Best Friend Dog Training Club has been meeting weekly in Bentley Pavilion for the past nine years.
But Doncaster Council has told organisers Wanda Goulty and Violet Hurd that it is almost doubling the venue's hourly hire fee from 10 to 18.90.
The trainers say they will be forced to cancel classes from the end of November despite being inundated with pleas for help from pet owners following recent publicity about dog attacks.
The club runs three classes every Wednesday aimed at different levels as well as regular nights when owners are given the chance to take the Kennel Club's Good Citizen Dog tests.
The tests are aimed at turning the average family pet into a well-behaved, friendly dog that is kept under control.
Said Mrs Goulty: "We have to find money for expenses, Kennel Club fees, insurance and equipment so we just can't cover the rise.
"We charge owners 3 per class from week to week and don't feel that it's fair to ask people to pay any more than that.
"It's very sad that we're looking at not being able to continue. It's so important for dogs to be socialised early and for people to learn how to be responsible owners."
Marianne Brett, of Skellow, who run's the club's website, added: "Anybody would have thought that after the spate of dog attacks, every council in the country would like to encourage people like Wanda and Violet who give freely of their own time to teach dog owners."
Owner Julia Banks, of Bentley, said her rescue dog Weimaraner Millie had been transformed since first attending the club less than four months ago.
She said: "She used to be aggressive towards other dogs and when I took her for a walk people would look at me as if to say I shouldn't be out with her. But now we really enjoy our walks and there isn't a problem.
"The class has given her the chance to surprise us and show us what she's capable of but there's more to achieve. It will awful if the club has to close."
Mayor Martin Winter said this week: "We are committed to maintaining Bentley Pavilion for the use of the community and have recently invested in it to improve the decoration and the state of repair.
"To keep the Pavilion up and running we have introduced a new fair and consistent charging policy which, for some organisations, means an increase in hire charges. We do not make a profit on hiring out this facility, the charges we ask for just cover our running costs.
"We hope that the dog training club continues to use the pavilion and makes the most of the new facilities."
Anyone who can help club organisers with an alernative venue should contact Mrs Goulty on (01709) 581340.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Doncaster
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
