A woman has been left fuming after her ‘gentle’ Staffordshire bull terrier was banned – from a sausage dog group’s Christmas party.
Jade Gentry recently met some of the Cornwall Dachshund Walkers as she walked her Staffie Amber and two other dogs on a beach.
They got chatting and the group invited to her to their seasonal get together with Amber and her sausage dog Rosalie and Steve, a Yorkie cross chihuahua.
But Jade, 27, said she later received a message saying that some members of the group were ‘concerned about her Staffie running around in an enclosed space’.
The message – from an unnamed member of the group – said: “The dachshund walkers have some very nervous dogs and owners, this was the reason the group was set up.
“We have always allowed other small breeds as long as they are not bouncy. We will have daxis that are blind, one that’s pregnant and a disabled dog coming.
“I know lots wouldn’t be happy with a Staffy running about so I’m going to have to ask if it’s possible to leave him at home?”
Jade said she was stunned by the message and added: “The irony is my chorkie [chihuahua cross yorkie] is allowed to go to the party and she is more snappy than Amber.
“All the other dogs could be barking and Amber would sit there and ignore them.
“I’ve never had a dachshund before so I wanted to learn more about them by joining the group.”
Jade said on the day they met some of the Cornwall Dachshund Walkers all their dogs were playing together nicely and without any problems on the beach.
She added: “Me and my family have had Staffies for as long as I can remember and I like to make a big deal of it because they get so much bad press.
“The attitude towards Staffies is the same wherever you go – some people pick up their dogs and run away.
“I understand some dogs can be aggressive but she has had obedience training and she’s that small people sometimes question whether she is a Staffie.”
Jade, from Camborne, Cornwall, said she believed that several other members have decided not to attend now too.
She added: “I think after this a lot of people have boycotted their events but they are often doing things.
“They allow other breeds of dogs to go to their events but they told me to leave mine at home. I haven’t been to any of their events yet this was going to be the first one.
“The woman told me I should have taken my dog on a few walks to reassure people but I thought why should I have to reassure people – the attitude is appalling.
“We won’t be going to the party or any more of their events which is a shame. I have other staffie walking groups that all of my dogs are allowed to go to.”
