The DogCast Radio blog

Animal welfare charity urges knitters to create leg-warmers for kittens
The RSPCA is calling on knitters to put their skills to use this Wool Week by whipping up leg warmers for sick kittens, snuggly nests for baby hedgehogs and jumpers for chilly dogs.

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A couple banned from keeping animals were found to be keeping a dog who had become overweight as a result of not being walked - because they were scared of being found out.

Anthony Makin (DOB 16/01/75) and Sally Makin (DOB 01/01/75), of Dale Avenue, Bromborough, were sentenced at Wirral Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Wednesday 4 October) after pleading guilty to two offences at a previous hearing - causing unnecessary suffering to the dog by failing to provide veterinary care for lameness, and being in breach of a disqualification order.

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New statistics released today show black Greyhounds are the loneliest dogs at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s Old Windsor centre.

While the average Battersea dog takes just 35 days to rehome – black Greyhounds at Old Windsor typically wait 55 days to find a family.

Sadly, some can take even longer to find a home – such as seven-year-old former racer Nellie who’s been at Battersea for over 100 days.

Battersea Old Windsor Centre Manager Kaye Mughal says black dogs often have a harder time catching people’s eye.

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Surrey residents are true animal lovers. The county is the top destination for the homeless dogs and cats from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, with residents giving a second chance in life to over 350 unwanted dogs and cats in the first half of the year.

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Singer Peter Andre backs RSPCA’s Big Walkies challenge

An RSPCA survey has revealed that 75% of dog owners chat with their pet while out walking - and one in six SING to them.

Just over 90% of pet owners polled by the RSPCA* didn’t like to walk in silence while exercising their pooch. While 75% like to talk, 16% go one step further and serenade their dog.

The survey also showed that:

• 9% of dog-owners only talk to their pooch to say “come on!” while 1% don’t talk at all;

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Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is today putting out an appeal to residents in Berkshire to encourage more foster carers to come forward and help provide a temporary home for some of the most vulnerable dogs and cats at its Berkshire centre.

Battersea often seeks foster carers who can provide a safe and calm environment for cats, including pregnant mums and kittens, and temporary care for dogs most in need of a break from kennel life.

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RSPCA receives more than two calls every hour during heatwave - despite charity’s key advice to call 999

The RSPCA fears more dogs will lose their lives this summer locked inside sweltering cars after almost 400 calls during the recent warm weather and over the Bank Holiday weekend.

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The RSPCA has teamed up with acclaimed cartoonist Rupert Fawcett - famed for his Off The Leash series - to spread the ‘Adopt Don’t Shop’ message this National Dog Day (26 August).

An animated series of the popular cartoons has been launched and, to celebrate, creator Rupert Fawcett has released a special charity cartoon supporting the work of the RSPCA - the UK’s oldest and largest animal welfare charity.

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Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has today sent two adorable Jack Russell Terriers on a mission: to help make commuters at London Waterloo smile during the August engineering works.

The inseparable duo and former Battersea residents, 14-year-old Mollie and 16-year-old Millie, are also spreading the word that plenty of their friends back at the world-famous animal charity are in desperate need of homes of their own.

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When we go on holiday, I prefer to take Buddy with us if we can, but sometimes there are places we want to visit that are just not suitable for him, and so he will be happier, safer and better cared for at home, rather than left in a caravan or hotel room while we go out.

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