The little dog behind Kelpie's Law.

Before there was a campaign, there was a little dog called Kelpie, who meant the entire world to me.

November
2025

A little life filled with so much love.

Kelpie was born on 5 July 2025. She was my beautiful little cockapoo, full of energy, curiosity, unlimited want for treats and an absolute love for the world around her.

She loved her walks, sniffing mercilessly, chasing squirrels, exploring new places and definitely playing with other dogs. Woodthorpe Grange Park was one of her favourite places, somewhere we visited almost every day.

She was only with me for 13 months but those months were filled with multiple adventures, being spoilt endlessly, total affection and memories I'll treasure for the rest of my life.

She deserved so many more.

Kelpie died that evening, just 15 months old, in my arms.

I had always believed the park was somewhere she could enjoy herself safely. It was her favourite park, the only park where she would whine in excitement to get out the car before we even parked.

I never imagined that an ordinary walk would be our last.

On 9 October 2026, Kelpie and I were walking in Woodthorpe Grange Park in Nottingham, somewhere we'd visited almost every day.

In the middle of the 53-acre large park enclosed in iron fencing, something frightened her and, in a moment of panic, she ran. Despite normally having exceptional recall, she was terrified and couldn't find her way back to me.

She escaped the park and reached Woodthorpe Drive, a busy road running alongside it, where she was struck by a vehicle.

The day everything changed.

Why I started Kelpie's Law.

I can't change what happened to Kelpie but I can try to change what happens to other dogs.

Losing Kelpie made me question something I'd never previously considered: how safe are the public parks we trust with our dogs?

I began looking more closely at the park where she died, its boundaries, entrances and proximity to the road. I also started hearing from other dog owners who had experienced escapes, near misses and similar incidents.

I realised this wasn't simply about one park or one accident.

Kelpie's Law is my attempt to turn that heartbreak into something meaningful by campaigning for clearer, consistent and enforceable safety standards in public parks and green spaces across England.

Not every accident can be prevented. But I believe more can be done to identify foreseeable risks and prevent avoidable tragedies

For Kelpie, and every dog who deserves a lifetime of adventures.

Kelpie should have had years of walks, adventures and ordinary days ahead of her.

Although her life was heartbreakingly short, I hope her story can help create something lasting.

If Kelpie's Law can help prevent even one other family from experiencing this loss, then sharing her story and fighting for change will have been worth it.

She may have been a little dog, but she has left an enormous legacy.