The DogCast Radio blog

Incident happened at 6.30am yesterday morning in Pallion, in a street in Sunderland, Tyne And Wear.

The RSPCA is appealing for information after a dog was seen being hit with a chain lead in a Sunderland street yesterday morning (Wednesday 3 January).

The dog - a female German shepherd-husky cross called ‘Delilah’ - slipped her lead during the incident at around 6.30am on Percival Street, Pallion and ran into a nearby garden.

The dog’s attacker ran away. She in now in RSPCA care.

...more

Every year the advice is given out not to buy dogs as Christmas presents.

Many times a year, the advice is given out not to buy dogs online.

Poor Ronnie is living proof that that advice is given out for a reason. Because Ronnie was bought online as a Christmas present - and on the 2nd of January he found himself a resident of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and in need of a new home.

...more

The skinny and freezing puppy found abandoned inside bag for life
A 10-week-old puppy is lucky to be alive after she was dumped in a bag and left in a wood in freezing conditions in Stockton-on-Tees.

Thankfully, two members of the public discovered the puppy in a Sports Direct Bag for Life in the woods near Lowfields Avenue in Ingleby Barwick at about 12.30pm on December 28 (Thursday).

The small dog is virtually bald, covered in scabs, very thin and was freezing cold and hungry when she was found.

...more

RSPCA need help finding Oliver Twist’s owner.

A starving dog, just hours from death, has been rescued from a bleak pit on Christmas Eve.

Eagle-eyed dock workers in Goole called the RSPCA when they spotted the scruffy terrier trapped down a 4ft pit under a road bridge.

RSPCa Animal Collection Officer Helen Martindale discovered the terrified terrier cowering at the bottom of the steep trench with no food or water.

She coaxed the dog, she’s nicknamed Oliver Twist, out with some cat biscuits before lifting him out of the pit.

...more

Dogs Trust offers advice for owners to minimise suffering for four-legged-friends.

An estimated four million dogs are likely to be showing signs of fear or anxiety this New Year’s Eve, according to Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity.

To help make fireworks less stressful for our dogs on New Year’s Eve and beyond, the charity is offering some immediate tips and long-term advice to dog owners available on their website.

1. Walk your dog before dark
2. Make sure your house and garden are secure

...more

Many pets across the country would have woken up on Christmas Day to loving families opening presents under the tree. Sadly, this wasn’t the case for the animals at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home – where some spent their very first Christmas at the animal shelter.

...more

Animals do the funniest things. But sometimes they can get themselves in a bit of a pickle and need a helping hand to set them free.

That’s where the RSPCA comes in. The animal welfare charity’s dedicated officers and inspectors spend their days rescuing pets from cruelty, helping sick and injured animals, and freeing both domestic and wild critters from rather embarrassing situations!

Here are some of the most random (and ridiculous!) rescues of the past 12 months:

1. Bike cat-astophe!

...more

RSPCA searches for homes for some of the festive pets in rescue this Christmas

Christmas is a time of love and kindness - and the RSPCA is urging animal-lovers who think they have room in their homes for a pet this festive season to consider rescuing.

The largest and oldest animal welfare charity expects to take in around 19,000 animals during the Christmas period - and has thousands more already in its care patiently waiting to find their fur-ever homes.

...more

If you celebrate Christmas, what does it mean to you?

A day to spend with family?

Loads of prezzies?

Overindulgence in food and drink?

A baby in a manger?

Great television?

Being forced to play charades?

Whatever else Christmas means, it often means compromise. Do you spend it with family or friends? If it’s family, your own or your in-laws? And what if your family includes dogs or other pets? And what if not all your family appreciate your dog(s)? Things get complicated very quickly, and there is a huge scope for feelings being hurt.

...more

Poor Staffordshire bull terrier is overlooked time and time again - could he be the loneliest pup this Christmas?

Beautiful Bentley has his bags packed and is ready to find his forever home just in time for Christmas - after one year in RSPCA care.

The three-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier doesn’t want to spend his second Christmas in kennels and has written his list for Santa with just one wish included: ‘A new home’.

...more