TAILS were wagging at Dogs Trust Ilfracombe as the centre’s VIPs (Very Important Pooches) were on their best behaviour to meet Peter Heaton-Jones, Conservative Party Candidate for North Devon at next year’s General Election.

Peter has a keen interest in animal welfare, and wanted to visit the centre to get an understanding of the work Dogs Trust does to protect dogs in North Devon and across the UK as a whole. During the visit, he discussed key dog welfare issues with frontline staff at the centre and learned more about what the charity does on the ground in the local area.

Peter made many new furry friends at the centre, but it was clear for all to see that there was a special connection with Gypsy, one of the many Dogs Trust Ilfracombe residents looking for her forever home.

Following the visit, Peter said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Dogs Trust Ilfracombe. It has been a fantastic opportunity for me to witness first-hand the work the staff at the centre do and meet some of the dogs being cared for.

If elected next May, I will strive to promote the various issues surrounding dog welfare and responsible ownership in Parliament, and work hard to achieve the best deal for dogs in North Devon and across the UK in the years to come”.

Claire Joselin, Supporter Relations Officer at Dogs Trust Ilfracombe, added: “We were delighted to welcome Peter Heaton-Jones to the centre, where we introduced him to our wonderful canine residents – all looking for a home – and showed him the valuable work that we do for the dogs of North Devon.

Dogs Trust will shortly be launching its ‘Dog Manifesto’ for the 2015 General Election, in which we set out our priorities for the new Parliament. All sitting MPs and PPCs will received a copy of this, and we home that they will take heed of our recommendations and help to make the next Parliament the most dog-friendly ever”.