2010s

I had done an increasing amount of dog cases during my 5 years at the Environment Agency and so the time had come to return to it on a full-time basis. I spoke to Clarissa Baldwin, who at the time was the Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, and she asked me to join Dogs Trust on a consultancy basis. This allowed me the rest of the week to undertake Doglaw again in private practice at Cooper & Co. My main focus initially for Dogs Trust was to act as a resource for social housing providers to amend their tenancies and create pet policies to promote responsible dog ownership.

I reunited with Nik Starmer-Smith as a caseworker for Cooper & Co – I’d known Nik since our days at Sharratts together and so when I wasn’t around I knew that our clients would be in good hands.

Nik and I initially worked from a large shed in my garden (oh the glamour of it all) but after a time we moved to an office at the Canterbury Innovation Centre.

As Cooper & Co, I’ve done lecture ‘tours’ for professionals throughout England & Wales on Doglaw in most years since 2010. Mainly this has been on the law on dangerous dogs but has also included the law on strays, ownership, microchipping and nuisance (including the introduction of Community Protection Notices and Public Spaces Protection Orders). These talks have been aimed at Council enforcement officers (including dog wardens), Police, rescues, vets, vet nurses and behaviourists/trainers.

I also decided to offer myself as a speaker to Dog Clubs and found that I had a knack for explaining the law and, despite the somewhat dry nature of the subject, do it with some humour. These talks have continued to today and I now do a huge number each year – I’m kept busy most weekends at a village hall somewhere in England & Wales doing the talk ‘Doglaw : What every responsible dog owner needs to know’. Most of the hosts take a pic or two of me giving the talks, but I only have a few to show you. People have been known to attend these talks time and time again and I have referred to these people, (with my tongue firmly in my cheek), as being ‘groupies” – badges are freely given out at the talks so you can wear one with pride if you come along.

KELLY

2012 – On 1st October 2010 at Canterbury Crown Court Kelly’s owner pleaded guilty to a number of aggravated Section 3 offences (for biting people at a local park) and the Judge ordered that Kelly be destroyed. The dog had been transferred to a local animal rescue who were prepared to keep Kelly for the rest of her life so when we were asked to look at this case we really couldn’t see why it was felt that this dog would have continued to be a danger to public safety. We applied for the Recorder to state a case for the opinion of the High Court but this request was refused because it was said to have been ‘frivolous’. We subsequently Judically Reviewed the Recorder’s refusal to state a case. This application was ultimately successful at the High Court and the destruction order was lifted.

The barrister was Pam Rose.

https://lexisweb.co.uk/cases/2012/february/r-on-the-application-of-housego-v-canterbury-crown-court

Subsequently in this decade we also acted in three further Judicial Reviews at the High Court (Pam Rose was the barrister in two of them). Client confidentiality prevents us from saying a great deal but, in a nutshell, in 2013 we issued against a Council for failure to provide adequate services (settled by consent), in 2015 a Section 3 aggravated appeal was won and in 2016 a Section 3 non-aggravated appeal was settled by agreement prior to a hearing.

I also must add in David Rogers at this point, our resident pop star! He works with us when he’s not jetting around doing fun things in exotic locations in the sun. This is him being a boy band member (he’s on the right)

17^th March 2015 – I appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss the consultation by the Sentencing Council on new guidelines for dangerous dog offences.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-31921437/dangerous-dogs-sentencing-consultation-begins

10^th September 2015 – I did a short video presentation for Dogs Trust on sentencing for dangerous dog offences.

During the second half of 2015 I started doing consultancy with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. There was some time when I was advising both them and Dogs Trust but after a few months my consultancy world changed from yellow to blue and I’ve been doing two days pw just with Battersea ever since. I split my time between their Operations dept and their Public Affairs dept. I’m totally in awe of the dedication shown by the staff, Directors, trustees, volunteers and foster carers. A great bunch of people who really do work as ‘One Battersea’. And before you ask….yes, I have bumped into Paul O’Grady.

I have been going to Crufts for many years and for the last couple of years we’ve had a stand there. Come and see us! The pic is of me being interviewed by Claire Balding for their Channel 4 programme.

I’ve given two talks at the International Companion Animal Convention (Prague & Greece),five talks at the Association of Dogs & Cats Homes annual conference and a three times at the KC Breed Rescue annual conference.

1^st October 2015 – Launch of ‘Doglaw SOS’, which is a membership scheme offering unlimited advice (+ other benefits) on Doglaw.

I’ve created instructional videos for a few years. We have a free video on the Microchipping Regulations in England which is available below.

I’ve known Carolyn Menteith, the dog trainer, behaviourist and broadcaster since the early years. The pic below is a still of us at a recording of a video. https://dogtalk.co.uk

20^th May 2016 – I called for a clampdown on irresponsible breeders during a radio interview:-

http://talkradio.co.uk/highlights/canine-law-specialist-calls-clampdown-irresponsible-dog-breeders-following-blyth-attacks

3^rd June 2016 – Carolyn Menteith and I released a video presentation on How Not to Greet a Dog (with fab illustrations from Lilly Chin):-

July 2016 – Your Dog

Another magazine feature on my Doglaw work.
“Of all the champions of the dog world, there are few more worthy of our gratitude than Your Dog contributor and legal beagle Trevor Cooper.”
“Not many people have done more for the rights of dogs than Trevor Cooper.”
“He has become the leading dog law specialist in the country after winning high profile cases during the previous two decades.”
“He’s often stood up for the dogs no one else would defend.”
“He has helped shape dog law, changed the public perception of dangerous dogs, and worked to promote responsible dog ownership.”
“Incredibly modest, he’s quick to credit his colleagues for landmark legal victories.”

Carolyn Menteith and I released a rough cut of a video Q&A session of us discussing our opinions of Breed Specific Legislation:-

February 2017 – I ran this year’s seminar ‘tour’ for professionals. This included a talk at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate on 2nd February 2017 – rather weirdly one of the highlights there are the amazing gents toilets (though the pic below is of the conference room)…….

We had a stand at Crufts 9^th – 12^th March 2017 and the pic below is of Mark Walden, me and David Rogers wearing our newly acquired Doglaw hoodies

6th July 2017 I chaired a debate on microchipping at the ADCH meeting in Guernsey. The pic below is of me enjoying the sun with Sarah Fry and Anita Tabrett (the day before the conference…). I’m very much the thorn between two roses – wish I’d taken off the cap as the shadow is hiding my face (though that’s not necessarily a bad thing).

August 2017 – Dogs Monthly

“Solicitor Trevor Cooper is the UK’s leading expert in dog law, and his tireless work has saved countless dogs from Court ordered destruction.” “Described variously as the Dog God, the Dog Saviour, The Legal Beagle and one of the few legitimate sources of support to desperate dog owners.” “Trevor Cooper is regarded as one of the UKs leading expert on dog related legislation, and his entire legal practice is devoted to defending, advising and representing owners of dogs who have found themselves entangled with the law.” “Around the country, thousands of owners whose family pets have been saved, either through direct intervention, or because of timely advice at a Doglaw seminar or over the phone, know they owe their dog’s life to Trevor Cooper.” “He may not have his own dog, but he has a small piece of everyone he has saved, as well as the unending gratitude of their owners.”

14th September 2017
The pic below is of Sam Gaines (RSPCA) with me at an address we gave to members of the Greater London Assembly. I was there on behalf of Battersea to explain about Breed Specific Legislation and how it needs urgent review.

2018
This has proven to be another exceptionally busy year including the following:-

15th March 2018 Gave a talk at the RSPCA annual conference in Yarm
29th March 2018 Interviewed on the Barking Hour on BBC Radio London with Jo Good and Anna Webb
25th & 26th April 2018 Speaker at the ADCH annual conference on Operational Risk Management at the Metropole Hotel, Birmingham
1st May 2018 jointly presented a talk for Victory Housing Trust with Carolyn Menteith in Norwich

21st June 2018 Speaker at Mars Petfood in Waltham
20th September 2018 Conference for Lancaster Council in Morecambe on the Licensing Regulations
Numerous professional seminars for the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018
December 2018 we started being retained by PetPlan

2019

25th June 2019 presented a live webinar for PetPlan to rescues
11th July 2019 presented a seminar for South Somerset Council in Yeovil
2nd October 2019 presenter at the Barkbusters conference in Crewe
24th October 2019 speaker at the StreetVet conference in London
17th & 24th November 2019 professional seminars for small businesses at Gatwick & Sutton Coldfield (jointly with barrister Kate Richmond)

Do I deserve the title of The Legal Beagle? You can judge for yourself. But beware I’ve trademarked it so if you want to follow in my footsteps (or should that be paw prints) you’ll need to get your own title…..

Trevor Cooper

Dogs Trust Manchester

A caricature of me

8th October 2016 I did a talk at the Festival of Groomers