The DogCast Radio blog

Friends of mine who live outside of the UK has taken on a foster puppy. It has been delightful to their photos and video of the delightful puppy going at life full tilt in the way puppies usually do. Except of course that bearing in mind the fate of many dogs in this particular country, this puppy is lucky to be having such a carefree start to life with the promise of a happy adulthood.

With temperatures set to soar to 20C this week, the RSPCA is issuing advice to pet owners to ensure their animals are comfortable and happy in the heat.

The Met Office has predicted highs of 20C on Saturday and Sunday, prompting the RSPCA to remind pet owners to consider their animals over the summer weather.

Just as cold, wintry weather can pose a risk to animals, hot temperatures in the summer months can also be hazardous to our furry friends.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has a weighty task on its hands - to rehome its heaviest dogs.

Five of the charity’s chunkiest canines weighing a combined total of 450 pounds are looking for new owners that can handle a whole lot of pooch.

Shyla the Alaskan Malamute, Enzo the Dogue de Bordeaux, American Bulldog Cruz, Kimmy the Akita and Bromley the Mongrel are together heavier than English rugby prop Kieran Brookes and weigh the same as 800 packs of butter.

OK, this is not strictly speaking a dog story, but these poor older cats are in Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, and they deserve a loving forever home.

The cattery at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in Old Windsor has reached full capacity, with the charity issuing an urgent appeal for people to consider giving a home to an unwanted cat.

Joss Stone has been in the headlines recently for
interrupting her tour to go home and spend some time with her
dog, Missy, who has fallen ill. Predictably, this has provoked a
variety of reactions, with some being sympathetic, and others failing
to understand Joss's motivation.

Oh my gosh! Just watched this advert, and it actually made me cry! What a beautiful face this dog has. Perhaps I need to get out more, but it really got to me. Glad he found the answer. I'm off to cuddle Buddy.

Take care,

Julie

Across the week in which the new compulsory microchipping law came into force – stating all dogs in England, Scotland and Wales must be chipped with up to date details by 6 April – Battersea Dogs & Cats Home chipped 343 dogs in local communities across London. The charity’s Community Engagement volunteers worked alongside staff to carry out this vital work, as part of the Home’s volunteering and fostering programme supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Fifteen-year-old Maggie went on a little adventure before the RSPCA returned her home.

The owner of a collie-cross who wandered off during a walk has urged all pet owners to get their beloved animals microchipped.

Amanda Devlin’s mother was walking 15-year-old Maggie (pictured left) in Barnet, where she lives, when the crossbreed disappeared on 24 March, prompting 48 hours of frantic searching and worrying.

On the day the new microchipping law comes into force, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Ambassador Paul O’Grady is urging pet owners to microchip their dogs, after new Battersea research reveals only one in five lost dogs have an up to date chip, making many stray dogs’ chances of being reunited with their owners less likely.

Worrying figures from Local Authorities showed in Battersea’s new report Microchipping Where it Matters Most, the vast majority of stray dogs (80%) either don’t have microchips, or the chips are rendered useless because of out of date contact details.

The spaniel was reunited with her ecstatic family after she was stolen exactly four months earlier

A beloved pet dog who was stolen from outside a supermarket has finally been reunited with her family four months after disappearing.

Four-year-old springer spaniel Bella went missing from Northampton on 20 October and was found more than 110 miles away - in Bristol.

The black and white dog wandered into a shop in Bristol on 10 February - four months after disappearing from outside a shop.