Dogpeople Limited is a small company, our operations produce very low environmental impact but our size restricts the non-business positive contributions we can make.  None-the-less we try hard to minimise our negative impact and to make positive contributions to society beyond our immediate aim of promoting responsible dog ownership.

Our business is solely devoted to development and maintenance of this website and related activity.  It runs from a small office space utilising information technology equipment.  Most of our operations rely on electronic and postal communication but we do travel to visit customers, record dog friendly walks (see our Walks Directory), to market our services and otherwise meet stakeholders.  Because we service customers and visitors across the whole of the UK some of our journeys can be quite significant.

Social Responsibility

The directors are keen to use our limited influence and spare resources to promote dog (and other animal) welfare, responsible dog ownership and support some more general ‘people’ causes.

Animal Welfare

• The Blue Cross is the company’s main charity partner.  We host a banner on our ‘side bar’ linking to their website.  We have also provided a series of ‘bottom space’ banners linking to specific campaigns and events run by them.  When appropriate we highlight events, promotions and campaigns via our News Updates section and subscriber driven E-Newsletters.  All Blue Cross dog rescue centres are included in our Links Directory.
• The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a near permanent ‘bottom space’ link.  They also have a link to their animal rescue page in our Dog Rescue Organisations – Scotland links category.
• A number of charity run dog rescue centres are included in our Links Directory.
• World Horse Welfare has three visitor centres in the UK.  We are pleased to host free directory entries for them in our Attractions Directory (Norfolk, Lancashire and Eastern Scotland).
• The Donkey Sanctuary has a dog friendly, visitor welcoming farm in Devon.  We are delighted to host a free Attractions Directory for it.

Responsible Dog Ownership

• Company policy is to strive to improve responsible dog ownership – especially in the holiday sector.  During 2008 we launched our own Dog Friendly Rating System.  This was designed to help advertisers provide more of what dog owners might need on holiday or a day out – especially to help them remain responsible if something important was inadvertently left at home (food, scoop bags, lead etc.).  We hope the initiative also helps draw attention to what dog owning visitors might do to behave responsibly.
• We have worked with other stakeholders  to promote responsible ownership and dog welfare.  In so doing we have challenged others’ policies, provided our perspective on a positive way forward and publicised progress through our News Updates and E-Newsletters.

Supporting other causes

Hamish is a big cricket fan – well he likes cricket balls, the type of people he meets at cricket clubs and cricket teas!  He watches games quite intensely at times – but probably only when he thinks the ball might come his way.  The directors too like the game, one plays regularly.  Because of this strong connection with cricket we are happy to try and help out (as do the directors personally).

• Leeds and Broomfield CC – one of the directors played here for several seasons, was a committee member and Club Captain in 2007.  The club has a strong youth section.  It has a long term project to raise funds for young player development.  To contribute towards this the company devised and ran a sponsored walking event in 2006.  Much to the credit of a few L&BCC members the event raised a four figure sum.
• Boughton under Blean CC – one of the directors has an even longer connection with this village club.  He now plays for it again.  Hamish loves opportunity to wander around its picturesque ground.  He has discovered many balls lost to human senses.  The company sponsors the club’s website stats package. A director acts as ‘web master’.  The company provides free directory adverts for two of the club's other dog friendly sponsors.  Sponsored Walk 6 June 2009 - we are delighted to have helped BuBCC by organising this event, devising and recording routes, printing walking instructions, staffing 'check in' and providing the focus for other participants.   Support from The Kent Pet Airedale Club and other dog walkers was very welcome.  We, and the Club, are pleased the event raised nearly a thousand pounds.

The company is happy to try and help other good causes.

• John O’Groats to Land’s End cycle – an intrepid band, known as The Biking Turtles, cycled the length of the UK in May 2009 to raise funds for Demelza House Children’s Hospice and Preston Skreens Care Centre (for children with severe learning difficulties).  All the participants – both cyclists and support driver – were colleagues of the directors in a former working life.  See www.end2endbikingturtles.co.uk for more details.  Both the company and directors personally sponsored this initiative.  The company gave it publicity and hope some of our site visitors and E-Newsletter subscribers pledged funds for these two very worthwhile children’s charities.  We are delighted to report the 'Turtles' raised an amazing £8,000 - deep respect!

Minimising Impact

Energy requirements are low but the company minimises electricity consumption by use of low energy light bulbs, turning off printers and other computer equipment when not in use and being careful with our heating system.
The company does not own any vehicles.  Car travel is reimbursed on a mileage basis.  Both vehicles owned by the directors and by Tia’s people – the only claimants – are low emission, low fuel consumption vehicles.
The company uses very little water – the supply used is metered.
Relatively small amounts of stationery are used, we maximise electronic communication within both best practice policies and legal requirements.  The company uses recycled paper for most of its printing.  Most of our envelopes are from mixed, sustainable sources.
All incoming paper is either recycled and / or reused.  Confidential papers are used to ‘kindle’ the directors’ log burner.
Used postage stamps are sent to a dog related charity via one of the company’s contacts.
Printer ink cartridges are part exchanged for factory refilled replacements.
Almost no other waste products are produced and sent to landfill (e.g. an occasional empty pen!).

© Copyright Dogpeople Limited 2009