Lady Gertrude Stock facts for kids
Lady Gertrude Georgina Stock, born Douglas (21 August 1842 - 25 November 1893) was an English noblewoman and writer. She also wrote books using the pen name George Douglas. In 1891, she started the National Canine Defence League. This group is known today as Dogs Trust. Its goal was to protect dogs from "torture and ill-usage of every kind."
About Lady Gertrude Stock
Gertrude Douglas was the daughter of John Douglas, 7th Marquess of Queensberry. A Marquess is a high-ranking noble title, like a duke or earl. Her mother was Sarah Sholto Douglas (who died in 1856). Like her mother, Gertrude became a Roman Catholic.
She wrote several novels. One of her books was Brown as a Berry, published in 1874. She wrote this book using her pen name, George Douglas. Her stories were known for having strong and lively female characters.
Starting Dogs Trust
Lady Gertrude Stock gathered a small group of people. They met at the "Royal Agricultural Hall" in Islington, London. This meeting happened during the very first Crufts dog show. Crufts is a famous dog show held every year in the United Kingdom.
The National Canine Defence League started its work. It was fully funded by gifts from its members and supporters. The group worked hard to protect stray dogs. They also pushed for dogs to get proper care from vets.
They campaigned against things that hurt dogs. This included muzzling dogs for too long. They also fought against keeping dogs chained up for long periods. Another big issue they tackled was using dogs for experiments. This was a common practice at the time. By 1902, the group had grown to 1,000 members.
