Guide Dogs need protection – World Blood Donor Day – Live Webchat with Lothian and Borders Police – Under the Stars in St Andrew Square – Fringe by the Sea
Edinburgh East MP Sheila Gilmore has supported the campaign to stop attacks on guide dogs, and attended a reception at the Houses of Parliament this week. The Edinburgh East MP was amongst the 150 Members of Parliament that backed the charity’s call.
New figures that were released on Monday, 11 June 2012, showed attacks on guide dogs are at an all time high and now running at an average of eight a month. Guide Dogs held the reception to highlight the charity’s growing concern about attacks on guide dogs by other dogs and to ask MPs for their support.
The government is currently consulting compulsory microchipping but has said its preferred option is to microchip puppies only. Under this plan, it would take 10 to 15 years before all dogs are microchipped. Guide Dogs believes it would take too long to have an impact and wants to see the compulsory microchipping of all dogs within two years.
Guide Dogs sees the compulsory microchipping of all dogs as a vital first step towards reducing the number of attacks, but believes the Government should go further.
Sheila Gilmore said:-“Action needs to be taken to protect guide dogs and their owners from irresponsible dog owners. Microchipping is one step that would make a real difference.”
David Cowdrey, Guide Dogs’ Campaigns Manager, said:-“An attack on any dog is frightening, but for a guide dog owner it is much worse. With more than eight reported attacks on guide dogs a month, the trauma caused by these unprovoked attacks could leave a blind or partially sighted person a virtual prisoner in their own home.
“We welcome Sheila Gilmore’s support for our campaign, and ultimately we want the law changed so an attack on an assistance dog is treated as seriously as an attack on a person.”
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Mike Crockart, Edinburgh’s Liberal Democrat MP, is supporting World Blood Donor Day.
Mike will be giving blood on Friday at 11.00am at the Edinburgh Donor Centre in Lauriston Place. The MP has also tabled an Early Day Motion welcoming National Blood Week and World Blood Donor Day.
Commenting ahead of giving his donation, Mike said:
“Each summer sees a reduction in blood donations of up to 20%. The message to everyone this year, whether travelling abroad on holiday or enjoying the celebrations at home, is ‘Give Before You Go’. In the run-up to the London Olympics, British blood stocks need to be built up by an extra 30% in preparation for the additional visitors we will welcome to the UK for this summer’s events. I am doing my little bit to help by visiting the Edinburgh Donor Centre and I would encourage others to do the same”.
For more information about giving blood in your area visit www.blood.co.uk
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We are running a live web chat over lunchtime this coming Tuesday 19 June 2012 with Chief Inspector Murray Dykes about policing in the West Neighbourhood area, but he will take some general questions too as long as they are not about live criminal cases. Join us on Tuesday but send us your questions now! You will find us here on Tuesday morning, and you can join in on Twitter. The hashtag is #AskLBP.
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We rather fancy Back to the Future tonight in St Andrew Square although we might all have to get our winter woolies and waterproofs out again…But there are also films on from 12 noon today. (The Ladykillers!) More details here.
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News today from Fringe by the Sea….
 Fringe by the Sea 2012 is nearly here !
we’re about to go live! On Friday 15th June the official website, at www.fringebythesea.com will be up and running and on Friday 22nd June the printed programme will hit the streets. Tickets will go on general sale on Friday 22nd June in two places. 1. Online through our website
2. From the Fringe by the Sea office at 43e Melbourne Place, North Berwick, at the east end of the High St, in the big car park! The office will open 10am – 6pm Mon. – Sat. and 12noon – 4pm on Sundays. Phone 01620 890 787 We may not be able to accept credit or debit cards, so please bring cheques or cash. But…. subscribers can buy them two days earlier, from |
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
