The DogCast Radio blog

Emma Hindson, from Durham, adopted Zara from her local rescue centre. Suspicions that she might be a prohibited type of dog were first raised by her dog trainer, and so Emma contacted her dog legislation officer.

Following an assessment, Zara was found to be of type but, because she was so well behaved and had good character references from the trainer, she was allowed to stay at home until the day of the court case. She was returned the following day having been exempted.

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Mason, lives with Sean Andrews and his family in Enfield, London. He is on the exempted list, and has achieved his gold citizenship award in training and regularly attends shows. He’s also helped owner Sean through some difficult times.

“Shortly after Mason came home I lost my father quite suddenly and was at rock bottom,” Sean says. “I decided I needed something, or someone, to turn to and that was Mason.”

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RSPCA welcomes parliamentary inquiry into flawed law and calls for new legislation to better protect public safety and dog welfare

The RSPCA has today (Friday 11 May) welcomed an inquiry by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee into the current legislation on dangerous dogs.

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Temperatures forecast to reach 24C this weekend on Dogs Die in Hot Cars Awareness Day as campaigners urge pet owners to keep their animals safe!

Welfare experts are urging dog owners never to leave their pets unattended in parked cars as Bank Holiday Monday is set to be the hottest on record.

The RSPCA is bracing itself for a surge in emergency calls about dogs shut inside hot cars as a second mini heatwave is forecast to hit England over Bank Holiday Weekend.

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Golden oldie rescue dog feeling ‘all shook up’ after waiting for a home for two months.

Rescue pooch Presley is searching for a new home after months in kennels - perhaps you’ll be the one who can’t help falling in love with her?

She may be nothing but a hound dog to some, but staff at RSPCA Leybourne Animal Centre have got that lovin’ feelin’ for eight-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Presley, and can’t understand why she hasn’t been adopted in eight weeks.

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Football-loving Border collie Biki is a sweetheart but is also ‘bananas’!

Bouncy border collie Biki is full of life and bursting with energy - which seems to have been a little bit much for previous owners to handle.

Now the sweet-natured three-year-old is hoping to find her paw-fect match - an owner who can keep up with her on walks and on the pitch.

Biki was taken in by the RSPCA in October. Her latest stint in kennels is her third as the poor girl proved too energetic for her previous two homes who returned her to the RSPCA’s Macclesfield branch in Cheshire. She was originally rescued by the animal welfare charity in September 2016 when her elderly owner was sadly taken into care.

Carmen Cole, from RSPCA Macclesfield, SE Cheshire & Buxton branch, said: “Biki is bananas - and that’s what makes her unique!

“She’s got tonnes of energy and is extremely active so we’re looking for a new owner who will be able to keep up with her on long walks and play sessions in the garden.

“She’s incredibly sweet, once she gets to know you, and is very obedient, simply wanting to please.

“She has such a soft side and loves to curl up beside you on the sofa in the evening.”

RSPCA staff are hoping to find this busy-bee a rural home with experienced dog owners who can help work on her socialisation and can continue her training.

Biki is very alert and can react to loud noises so would be best in an adult-only home with no other pets in a quiet location away from busy roads.

“She’s such a fun girl who really enjoys playtime and absolutely loves footballs,” Carmen added.

“We really, really hope it’ll be third time lucky for Biki and that her new owners will be her forever home.

“We all love her for the crazy, loving girl she is and we know someone else will too.

“She’s such a wonderful dog and we know there is someone out there who will be her paw-fect match - we just need to find them!”

For more information about Biki check out her online profile or contact RSPCA Macclesfield by calling 01625 669620 or emailing enquiries@rspca-macclesfield.org.uk.

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Owner heartbroken to give up dogs after losing his home - but RSPCA step in to help him

A man who lived on a houseboat was forced to make the heartbreaking decision to give up his dogs when his home started to sink.

He contacted the RSPCA for help with his beloved dogs - terrier-cross Arthur and Jack Russell terrier Bennie - earlier this month.

This week, RSPCA animal collection officer (ACO) Cara Gibbon went to visit the man at his houseboat in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

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After 13 years in the USA, v-dog, an environmentally sustainable pet food brand, celebrated Earth Day with an announcement for their plans to expand internationally. The new international sister company, named v-planet, will reflect v-dog’s ethical and sustainable values. The celebration continued closer to home as v-dog released their new Blueberry Wiggle Biscuits ahead of schedule.

"As a team of sustainability advocates, Earth Day is a special time to announce our expansion with sister company v-planet,” said Lindsay Rubin, Vice President of v-planet.

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Did you know that different dog breeds get different lengths of walk? It's great to see that even those breeds who were taken for the shortest walks, still received over 30 minutes of exercise. And of course training and giving mental stimulation can be just as tiring for a dog as a good walk. The important thing is that activity - mental and physical - keeps dogs happy.

Here are the breeds who are given the longest walks:
Top five:
1.Miniature Schnauzers - 72 minutes
2.Cockapoos - 69 minutes
3.Boxers - 65 minutes

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Animal welfare charity has seen 157% increase in reports of dogs with cropped ears over last two years
The RSPCA is urging the public never to buy a dog with cropped ears as the charity has seen a surge in the number of reports coming into its cruelty hotline about the illegal practice.

Ear cropping is illegal in England & Wales under the Animal Welfare Act but, since 2015, the RSPCA is receiving more reports and tip-offs about dogs having their ears removed.

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