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BARKING FOR BUSINESS: LAUNCH OF THE KENNEL CLUB’S OPEN FOR DOGS AWARDS 2011

With one in eight UK households owning a dog1, businesses are becoming more and more canine-canny, so the Kennel Club has today launched its Open for Dogs Awards 2011, to honour those who are finding the most unique and wonderful ways to welcome dogs and dog owners into their premises.

Hotels with pet butler services, cafes with canine cuisine and pubs with dog beer are just some of the services on offer from Open for Dogs businesses which are trying to attract dog owners. Metro Bank – the new dog-friendly high street bank – is even offering £20 to customers who bring their dog along when they open an account on 6th and 7th May at the High Street Kensington store opening this weekend.

The 2011 Open for Dogs Awards are open for nominations from the public via www.openfordogs.org.uk, with everyone who nominates given the chance to win an Open for Dogs goodie bag and tickets to Discover Dogs at Earls Court this November.

The Kennel Club is inviting members of the public to put forward businesses in seven categories: Somewhere to Sleep; Somewhere to Eat; Somewhere to Drink; Somewhere to Visit; Somewhere to Holiday; 'Other' and a new category for Dog Friendly Care Homes. A prize of Special Recognition will also be awarded to a business that the Kennel Club identifies as pulling out all the stops for its canine customers.

Open for Dogs is the Kennel Club's campaign to break down barriers for our canine companions by encouraging more businesses to welcome dogs through their doors. Powered by Dog Friendly, the Open for Dogs website lists thousands of dog friendly places to visit, stay, eat and drink across the UK and Europe. Each year, the Open for Dogs Awards recognise the nation's businesses that have gone that extra mile to accommodate dogs.

Craig Donaldson, CEO of Metro Bank – which is part of the Kennel Club's Open for Dogs campaign - commented: "Dogs are the UK's most popular pet and so it follows that millions of people are looking for places that they can go to where their dog will also be welcome. At Metro Bank our mantra is 'dogs rule' - we always have water bowls, dog treats and dog bandanas in all of our stores. We are opening a new store in High Street Kensington this week and we want people to know that we are very much Open for Dogs!"

Kennel Club Communications Director, Caroline Kisko, certainly believes that dog friendly businesses, such as Metro Bank, are an important part of the British high street and beyond.

Speaking about the success of the Open for Dogs campaign and the annual Awards, Caroline commented: "Over the past five years, our crusade to get more businesses to open their services up to dogs and their owners has certainly gone from to strength to strength. Metro Bank is a fine example of the many companies and organisations that are reaping the benefits of a dog friendly door policy, both in terms of creating a welcoming atmosphere and bouncing back financially against the recession by widening their customer base."

Metro Bank will join businesses up and down the country to compete for an accolade at this year's Awards. With over 10,000 canine-canny businesses listed on the Dog Friendly website, this year's contest is sure to be fiercely fought.

If you know a business that is worthy of the nation's paw of approval, visit www.openfordogs.org.uk to submit your nomination. Or, if you own a business that is Open for Dogs, go to www.openfordogs.org.uk and download an Awards poster to encourage your customers to put you forward as an outstanding dog friendly service.

The competition closes on 19th August 2011. Winners will be presented with their prizes at Discover Dogs at London's Earls Court in November.

For more information about the Kennel Club's Open for Dogs campaign and the 2011 Awards, please go to www.openfordogs.org.uk.






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