14/09/2011Posted : September 14, 2011
Celebrities join fight against UK’s cruel puppy farming trade

Dozens of celebrities from soaps, film and reality TV shows will gather once again for Brighton's annual PUP AID Puppy Farming Awareness Day on Sunday September 18th at the beautiful Stanmer House.

Well-known personalities including Eastenders' Patsy Palmer, Harry Potter's Mark Williams, as well as Meg Mathews, Ali Bastian and Peter Egan will become fun dog show judges for the day to help educate the public about the correct and responsible way to choose a dog – by either adopting from a rescue home or visiting an ethical breeder like the Kennel Club's assured breeders, where mum can always be seen interacting with her pups.

Local Brighton businesses will also be helping out, with famous TV chocolate-makers Choccywoccydoodah judging "sweetest chocolate labrador" and top Brighton spa and beauty salon, The Treatment Rooms, judging the "prettiest bitch" category.

There will also be Scruffts heats, have-a-go-agility, doggy gift exhibitors and music from popular local bands, including sunny Ska punk from Los Albertos, the eclectic sounds of Bitter Ruin and alt country-folk with a modern edge from the talented Autumn Red.

Now part of the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival, there will also be plenty of food stalls and a unique competition with top Brighton restaurants competing to make the best human and doggy treats.

PUP AID, which is now in its second year, is the brainchild of TV vet and author Marc Abraham (resident vet on BBC Breakfast, Daybreak, This Morning) who is determined to raise enough public awareness that the demand for these sick diseased pups stops and the pain and suffering of millions of this country's dogs is finally ended both now and in the future.

Marc said: "Tragically these puppies are often riddled with diseases leading to expensive life-long health and behavioural problems and often die within days of reaching their excited new families thus causing emotional and financial catastrophe."

For more information about PUP AID 2011, details of how you can help, and to download PUP AID iPhone app please visit www.pupaid.org or follow @pupaid on Twitter.

• PUP AID 2011, Stanmer House Stanmer Park, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9QA. Tickets £8 adults with children under 12 and dogs free. All proceeds will be donated to charity.