North coast animal charity to bring together leading animal welfare campaigners, politicians and academics for annual conference
A north coast animal charity is set to bring together politicians, academics, legal experts, charities and leading animal welfare campaigners for its annual conference at Stormont.
Causeway Coast Dog Rescue (CCDR) will hold its conference at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, October 6.
Under the theme “A Decade On…Legislation into Action: Celebrating Progress and Shaping the Future of Animal Welfare in Northern Ireland”, the conference will examine progress over the past decade and what now needs to change to strengthen animal welfare legislation, implementation and accountability.
The event will also see the launch of the CCDR Animal Welfare Manifesto 2026 to 2030, setting out a programme of proposed reforms for the next Assembly mandate.
Key discussions will include Ruby’s Law and domestic abuse; Lucy’s Law and third-party puppy sales; dog breeding; microchipping and traceability; licensing; dog bites and community safety; greyhound welfare; and the effectiveness and oversight of animal welfare and dog-control services across Northern Ireland.
CCDR Manager and animal welfare lobbyist, Tara Cunningham, said: “A decade of working in animal welfare has shown us that legislation alone is not enough. We need to know that it is being effectively implemented, enforced and delivering better outcomes for animals and our communities.
“Animal welfare crosses policing, justice, health, safeguarding, housing and local government. Our conference brings those voices together, while our new manifesto sets out practical reforms we believe Northern Ireland now needs to take forward.”
For more information on the conference, go to Causeway Coast Dog Rescue’s website www.causewaycoastdogrescue.org or email [email protected]