Causeway Coast Dog Rescue host this year’s animal welfare conference in Queens University
and extend their invitation to vets of NI
Causeway Coast Dog Rescue has announced the return of its highly anticipated Animal Welfare Conference, now in its third year. This year’s event will be hosted in October at the prestigious Queen’s University Belfast, offering a fitting backdrop for a day of informed discussion and collaboration.
Previously held at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, the 2025 conference continues under the theme “Reform”, and remains focused on advancing evidence-based, data-led decision-making in animal welfare.
“We are thrilled to be hosting this year’s conference at Queen’s University Belfast,” said Tara Cunningham, Manager of Causeway Coast Dog Rescue. “As a centre of research and progressive thinking, the university provides the perfect platform for meaningful dialogue and collaborative action.”
Tara added: “It is important to host this conference each year to go through the progress and the issues we are facing as charities and other stakeholders
working in the animal welfare industry including government agencies. The level of speakers each year continues to focus on reform and the issues we face with reform and legislative enforcement which is why we have extended the invitation to vets, with free attendance for the day https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/CCDRANNUALANIMALWELFARECONFREFORM”
The charity has been campaigning for three key areas within Reform: 1, Aligning legislation in N.Ireland with GB, including the implementation of Lucy’s Law within a Northern Ireland wide animal welfare strategy which addresses the issues around Enforcement, 2, A review of Dog Breeding and Breeders, and 3, A review of the Animal Welfare services and service needs in our communities.
This year’s conference will bring together an expert panel of barristers, solicitors, veterinarians, CEOs, and charity leaders from across the UK and Ireland which will discuss at length the Minister’s response to these key topics, which will include:
- Review of DAERA’s Pathway for Companion Animals
- Scrutiny of proposed Lucy’s Law legislation, which the charity campaigned to implement in 2024
- Current position of the Minister’s Breeding Advisory Group to support ongoing research and evidence sharing and Greyhound Welfare Reform
- Protect People, Protect Animals: Legislative approaches to tackling domestic violence and coercive control when animals are involved,
- Legal Overview of Dog Law in Northern Ireland, examining its impact on charities and companion animals. The event will also offer opportunities for delegate engagement, collaborative discussion, and strategic planning to address key challenges within the sector.
For more information on the work of Causeway Coast Dog Rescue, and to register for the forthcoming conference, please email info@causewaycoastdogrescue.org
Photo: Chair Margaret Dimsdale-Bobby, seen here centre, at Causeway Coast Dog Rescue Charity’s 2024 conference at Stormont. This year’s conference will be http://DAERAfocusing on legislation with solicitors, barristers and vets from London and Northern Ireland discussing the proposed new legislation and hearing first hand from charities on some of the issues they are facing in animal welfare. Speakers to be announce over the coming weeks. www.causewaycoastdogrescue.org
