Lady Gertrude Georgina Stock (née Douglas; 21 August 1842 – 25 November 1893) was an English aristocrat and novelist, who also wrote under the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

George Douglas. In 1891 she founded the National Canine Defence League (today known as

Dogs Trust Dogs Trust, known until 2003 as the National Canine Defence League, is a British animal welfare charity and humane society which specialises in the well-being of dogs. It is the largest dog welfare charity in the United Kingdom, caring for ove ...

) to protect dogs from "torture and ill-usage of every kind".Learn with dogs, History of Dogs Trust
. Most of the information comes from page 5.

Life

Gertrude Douglas was the daughter of

John Douglas, 7th Marquess of Queensberry John Douglas, 7th Marquess of Queensberry (1779 – 19 December 1856), styled Lord John Douglas from May to December 1837, was a Scottish Whig politician. Early life Queensberry was the son of Sir William Douglas, 4th Baronet (died 16 May 178 ...

and his wife Sarah Sholto Douglas (died 1856). Like her mother, she converted to

Roman Catholicism The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...

. Her novels include ''Brown as a Berry'' (1874, as George Douglas). Her fiction has been described as "robust" and featuring "hoydenish heroines".

Founding of Dogs Trust

Lady Gertrude Stock brought together a "small party of gentlemen" in the "Royal Agricultural Hall" in

Islington Islington () is a district in the north of Greater London, England, and part of the London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the ar ...

, during the first

Crufts Crufts is an international dog show held annually in the United Kingdom, first held in 1891. Organised and hosted by The Kennel Club, it is the largest show of its kind in the world. Crufts is centred on a championship conformation show for do ...

dog show. The National Canine Defence League began operations funded entirely by donations from members and supporters. The group campaigned for the protection of strays, the provision of proper veterinary care and to campaign against muzzling, prolonged chaining and experimentation on dogs, which was a common practice at the time. By 1902 membership had risen to 1,000.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stock, Gertrude 1842 births 1893 deaths 19th-century British novelists Pseudonymous women writers 19th-century British women writers Daughters of British marquesses Gertrude Animal welfare and rights in the United Kingdom Animal welfare workers British Roman Catholics Converts to Roman Catholicism Victorian women writers 19th-century pseudonymous writers