I’m A Woman’s Hour Woman
On Thursday I got the chance to tell a few million people about puppy farming and how the industry harmed Susie-Belle and Twinkle. I was on BBC Radio’s Woman’s Hour.
I could pretend to be cool and professional about what is a perfectly normal event for those who work in broadcasting, or, who regularly appear in the media, or those who have agents to sort these things out for them, or make their living through public speaking. But, I’m none of those, least of all cool about the whole thing, as for me, Thursday was a big deal, an exciting day. And for two main reasons: first, I’ve listened to Woman’s Hour for years, my grandma always had her wireless tuned to BBC Radio 4 , I grew up familiar with it and now when I’m sat writing, Woman’s Hour is a regular in my life; and secondly, I knew that speaking about puppy farming to the Woman’s Hour audience will reach an important demographic that we need to, in the campaign against the puppy trade.
Jenny Murray’s interview allowed me to speak about what puppy farms are, and I included back street breeding establishments, as well as the more stereotypical rurally located ‘farms’. It’s not enough for us these days to focus only on the latter, it can mislead people who don’t know that the same suffering that occurs in the large-scale operations, is also going on in suburban houses and garden sheds across the UK.
As the interview moved on, I was able to tell listeners about how the industry left Susie-Belle and Twinkle, and the journey we’ve shared. To be able to honour Susie-Belle’s legacy on the BBC is a personally rewarding moment in my life. Jenny finally asked what I advise people who wish to get a dog.
The interview covered a good amount in a short time, and from the messages I’ve received since Thursday, I know it’s enlightened people into what puppy farming really means for the dogs caught up in it.
I thank the BBC, Jenny Murray and her producer Beverley for giving me the opportunity, and I hope that I did the topic justice.
To hear the whole interview click on this link: