Oversight Committee

Charter Oversight Committee

The UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter has been set up in order to give owners the confidence and knowledge to select someone to help them with their dog that they can be sure will be using up to date, scientific, effective, and humane methodology. This is not possible however without robust oversight and accountability. The Charter has a unique three-level process to ensure this:.

Firstly, all members of a Charter organisation has to adhere to that organisations codes of conduct and have their own insurance.

Secondly the member organisation must have a fully transparent complaints procedure to ensure their own independent oversight.

Lastly and uniquely, for any complaint that go to an appeal or that a member organisation is unable to deal with internally the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter has an Oversight Committee.

This committee is made up of highly regarded professionals of renown in their own fields who are both independent of the training and behaviour industry and have no links with any of the member organisations. They will be tasked with looking at submitted evidence should a complaint or grievance need arbitration, and will look at the evidence in relation to the codes of the signatory organisation and the expectations laid out in the Charter.

The oversight committee currently comprises of:

  • Gemma Bowkett LLB PGDip(LP)
  • Fiona Clarkson RVN
  • Robin Hargreaves BVSc MRCVS
  • Rabbi Dr Charles H Middleburgh
  • Hon David Newall
  • Pamela Rose – Barrister
  • Dr Motje Wolf

The UK Dog Charter Complaints Procedure

Members of organisations that form part of the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter pledge to work within the organisation’s code of conduct and hold themselves accountable to a high standard of ethical conduct.

While complaints should in the first instance be raised with the professional member organisation, the UK Dog Charter has an Oversight Committee who are available in the case of appeals against decisions made.

The UK Dog Charter’s Oversight Committee are professionals in good standing who have no links to any of the member organisations. The current member are listed on the website: dogcharter.uk

The Committee’s critical role is to investigate all reported ethics violations that the complainant feels were not handled appropriately by their parent organisation.

Below is the UK Dog Charter’s official ethics inquiry and review procedure.

Please review this policy and procedure carefully before submitting an appeal. Complaints with no evidence attached will not be reviewed.

Appeals Process

Reports of alleged membership and ethics violations will be handled according to the following policy:

  • Complaints must have been submitted to the individual’s parent organisation and been responded to via that organisation’s ethics review committee.
  • Complaints must be limited to alleged violations of the organisation’s vision, mission, pledge, key values, and professional ethics as stated on their website.
  • Complaints must be made promptly; allegations of violations occurring more than thirty (30) days prior will be considered only under exceptional circumstances as determined by the Oversight Committee. Preliminary evidence must be submitted with the complaint. (Evidence is the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.)
  • Any person who feels they have been treated in a fashion that violates their organisation’s ethics procedure may file a complaint.
  • The Oversight Committee will only consider complaints filed on behalf of a third party if the complaint is accompanied by verifiable independent evidence such as publicly available records, reports, business records, including those of a public agency, judgments of a court, marketing advertisements commercial documents and reports, commercial publications and the like.
  • All appeals and complaints will be investigated and handled within an appropriate timeline.
  • All appeals and ethics reports will remain confidential.

How to File a Complaint

  • The individual filing the complaint (the complainant) must present the allegation to the Oversight Committee chair in writing.
  • The following information must be included in the report:
    • The name of the alleged violator (the defendant) and the actual complaint(s) in reference to the violation of the ethics policy/code of conduct. This must be specific. The complainant must reference the area(s) of this code of conduct/ethics procedure that they feel has been violated by quoting the relevant text in the report.
    • A specific description includes when and where the violation was alleged, who was involved, and what happened.
    • The written outcome of the complaint when made to the parent organisation.

After the Complaint Is Received

  • The Oversight Committee chair will acknowledge receipt of the alleged violation without comment within 72 hours of receipt.
  • The person filing the report (the complainant) will be notified to keep the complaint confidential—this means no information about the complaint can be discussed with anyone else. If the confidentiality of the complaint is breached, it may be considered a violation of the ethics procedure
  • The Oversight Committee chair will forward the complaint to committee members within 72 hours. The details of the complaint will be kept confidential in order to preserve the ability to fairly and objectively interact with the member who is in alleged violation (the defendant) and to ensure privacy.

Investigation of
Complaints

  • The Oversight Committee will review the complaint. If necessary, the committee will gather more information and schedule an interview with the complainant.
  • If the initial review indicates that the alleged infraction is not a violation the complainant will be notified in writing and no investigation will be pursued unless further facts or evidence is proffered.
  • If it appears that a violation has occurred based on the preponderance of evidence (the violation is more likely to be true than not), then the chair of the Oversight Committee will notify the parent organisation of the complaint (the defendant) and allow fourteen (14) calendar days for a reply. If there is no reply to the compliant notification, the Oversight Committee will decide based on all available information.
  • Once all information has been gathered, the Oversight Committee will determine the sanctions, which may include:
    • Education—additional education and mentoring
    • Membership probation—probation for one (1) week or up to six (6) months, possibly combined with education
    • Exclusion—termination of membership

The Appeal Process

  • If a defendant wishes to appeal the Oversight Committee’s decision with additional evidence, they will have ten (10) calendar days to do so.
  • A final decision will be made within fourteen (14) calendar days, and the individual will be notified in writing.

Confidentiality

  • All involved parties shall maintain complete confidentiality throughout the process.
  • Once a determination has been made, the parties involved will be notified that a determination has been made.
  • Details of the determination will remain private.
  • A violation of confidentiality by any party involved in the matter will be considered a violation of the Oversight policy.