The DogCast Radio blog

Ella Eyre, Johnny Vegas, Mel Giedroyc and Rebecca Adlington feature in the charity’s ‘A Dog is for Life, not just for Christmas’ video

www.dogstrust.org.uk/Christmasvideo

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has teamed up with some of the nation’s most famous faces to launch their iconic campaign, ‘A Dog is For Life, Not Just For Christmas’, following a year of ludicrous excuses offered up by dog owners when giving up their pets to Dogs Trusts 20 rehoming centres across the UK.

‘Xylitol’ is a sweetener found in many everyday food stuffs and is toxic to animals

The RSPCA is warning about the hazards to pets from an ingredient called Xylitol.

New statistics show that The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) received 102 enquiries about xylitol last year. More than in 2013 (91) and 2012 (98).

Around 35 per cent of these cases involved chewing gum including sugar free gum. Others involve medicines including nicotine gums and throat lozenges also containing xylitol.

An unlikely item of furniture has saved the life of a Labrador puppy from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, who used a doggy high-chair to survive a life-threatening illness meaning he couldn’t swallow food properly.

RSPCA launches #ScrapThePuppyTrade campaign to bring in laws to protect puppies from callous and cruel puppy dealers
Puppies are being treated worse than scrap metal, according to the RSPCA which today launched a petition calling on the UK Government to clamp down on people selling sick dogs in England.

Due to its low cost, low risk and high yield appeal, puppy dealing is an attractive option for people willing to make money at the expense of puppies’ health and welfare and the heartache of families up and down the country.

“All each puppy wants is to be cuddled, loved and feel safe... the reality is very different”

“As a Special Operations Unit Inspector investigating the puppy trade comes as quite a challenge. The activity of selling puppies in itself is not illegal yet the volume of suffering puppies can be staggering.

The first thing that becomes very apparent with some of the cases I’ve investigated is that these poor puppies are nothing but a commodity to the dealers.

A four year old Husky from Orpington, Kent stole the show and was given the ultimate accolade of being crowned Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s Best Battersea Dog, which was sponsored by notonthehighstreet.com, at the charity’s Annual Reunion and Fun Day on Sunday 6 September.

Almost ten thousand animal lovers and their canine companions were in Battersea Park to enjoy the spectacle and make new friends.

Can your dog sit on command or wait while you walk away? How are they at coming back to you when called? Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is calling for London’s most obedient dogs to rally on Sunday 6 September for an elimination of the rebellious, where only the cleverest canines will be crowned ‘top dog’.

The obedience elimination is just one of many classes on offer at Battersea’s Annual Reunion and Fun Day in Battersea Park – the highlight of the charity’s canine social calendar.

A blind dog who was tied to a pallet of bricks and left to die is searching for a very special new home.

Delphine the springer spaniel captured the hearts of the nation after being dumped in a remote lane in Maidstone, Kent in May.

The terrified dog had ear infections and cataracts in both eyes which left her almost blind. Thanks to donations from the public Delphine had specialist veterinary treatment and although her sight could not be restored she is recovering well from her ordeal and now needs a new home.

People tend to think Christmas is the busiest time for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, however Battersea has seen a 204 per cent increase this year in the number of intake calls during the first week of the school summer holidays compared with a normal week in May.

With the school summer holidays in full swing and UK airports experiencing their busiest time of the year, the world famous rescue centre has seen a surge in the number of abandoned pets as owners head to sunnier climes.

Four year old tiny Cricket the nervous Chihuahua has finally overcome his fears and found a loving home of his own just in time for a summer of runs with the Ashes cricket series.

Cricket was so nervous of new people and new situations when he came into Battersea that staff at the Brands Hatch centre were worried he wouldn’t come out of his shell and find his perfect match.