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Our History

The Fell and Moorland Working Terrier Club

The Fell and Moorland WTC is funded by subscriptions from its members, from monies raised at its Terrier Shows and donations from people who have had help from them and the general public.

It was formed by working terrier enthusiasts in 1966 by a group of friends to provide a much needed organised rescue service for terriers lost to ground in the course of their natural working activities.

The aims of the Club then were the same as they are today.

  1. )  To rescue trapped terriers.
  2. )  To improve the breeds of working terriers by retaining old strains.
  3. )  To encourage the art of terrier and lurcher shows.
  4. )  To provide an advice and support service.

 

In the current climate of mis-information where the public are encouraged to condemn anything they do not understand, it is our responsibility to promote the legal activity of working terriers to their natural quarry. It is essential that we work within the law, and throughout its history the Club has shown its disapproval of illegal acts as the following statement shows.

“The Fell and Moorland Working Terrier Club, although accepting responsibility of attempting to rescue any member’s terrier which may become trapped while engaged in legitimate work, wishes to make public the fact that it neither encourages or condones the working of terriers in an illegal or unofficial manner. Any disputes, legal or otherwise, arising out of such action by a member are the sole responsibility of the member concerned”

The F&MWTC is a member club of The National Working Terrier Federation and fully endorses the NWTF Code of Conduct. All club members are expected to abide by this as a condition of their membership, and failure to do so will result in expulsion from the Club and removal from the NWTF register of accredited working terrier owners.

The club provides rescue cover for its members throughout most of the UK. Official Representatives are responsible for maintaining the Club’s presence, and upholding its traditions, in their own recognised areas.

Each area organises working terrier shows in the summer months and also holds regular meetings and other social events for its members.

In the event of a member’s terrier becoming legitimately lost to ground, it is the Area Representative who is contacted. If he feels that it is in the terrier’s best interest to have heavy machinery he will do so, the cost of this being borne by the Club.

No matter how often we hear of terriers trapped under ground, we are always determined to recover them fit and well. On numerous occasions we have been contacted by various animal welfare organisations for our expertise and our willingness to help in locating dogs lost to ground, no matter how hopeless it may seem.

Observers are often surprised by the genuine comradeship which binds the true working terrier owners together under such circumstances. It is a common bond which can best be summed up by the words of DP Todd in the Club Anthem “The Terrier Song”

“Always remember your terriers
Protect them wet and from cold
For the love of a tyke for its master
Can never be measured in gold”

You can support the aims of the Club by donation, or if you wish to join, and agree to abide by the Club’s conditions of membership, then please contact the Club Secretary or your local Area Representative on the members below.

Our Aims

Above are four of the founder members.

The clubs aims were

  1. The aim of the Club is to Rescue trapped terriers.
  2. Improve the breeds of Working Terrier by retaining the old strains.
  3. To encourage the art of terrier and lurcher shows.
  4. To provide an advice and support service.

With these noble aims the good name of the club grew, other terrier men heard of the club and wanted to join.

Men and women from all over the country wanted to join the club and as the numbers grew, it was decided to set up other areas.

The Reps from all the areas met up each year at an AGM. 

This soon snowballed and terrier men from all over the country decided to become members of this fine club, whos’ aims were to rescue terriers trapped to ground, whilst working quarry.

Over the years the club has seen ups and downs, more and more legislation against Terrier work, yet still continues and shall carry on as long as terriers go to ground.

The rescuing service the club supplies, for paid up members. Is for members on permission and on legitimate quarry.
If you have a dog trapped and requires help, first contact your nearest member for help,
Contact your area representative.
Members must abide by the Working Terrier Code of Conduct.
Ensure there is no damage to trees turf or hedges.
All earths are back filled as found.
No rescue can be undertaken or machine hire paid for unless current subs are paid.
Subscription to the club is £10.00 a year.
Thats less than £0.20 pence a week! If you’ve got more than one dogs, it’s less than TEN PENCE a week.
If you work a dog to ground, surely, it’s worth 20 pence a week.
The Fell & Moorland WTC has always recommended that all dogs being used to ground, wear a Locator collar. this is now a legal requirement.
i.e. A Deben www.deben.com or Bellman and Flint https://www.bellmanandflint.co.uk/
as in the Code of conduct.

This permits the use of a Single Dog below ground to Flush out wild mammals solely for the purpose of preventing or reducing damage to game birds or wild game birds being kept or preserved to be shot.
The person must carry with them Written Permission and intend to shoot the wild mammal as soon as it is flushed. All reasonable steps must be taken to prevent risk or injury to the dog and the manner in which the dog is used must comply with the following Code.
The terrier’s role is to locate and flush the mammal, not to fight with it.
Only soft terriers which stand back, and bark are to be used.
Care must be taken to ensure the safety of those involved and to minimise the risk of injury to the terrier or wild mammal.
The terriers time below ground must be kept as short as possible.
The terrier must always be fitted with an electronic locator.
Once it is determined a terrier is trapped, assistance must be given to release it immediately.
Notes: Nothing other than nets may be placed over entrance /exit holes during the flushing. It is not permitted to use a terrier to locate, dig down to and dispatch the quarry. But if the dog is removed, relocated, secured and not used again, then the quarry may be dug down to and dispatched.
The hunting of rats and rabbits is exempt from the above but does require the landowners or occupiers’ permission.