The DogCast Radio blog

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is launching ‘behind the screens’ tours of the world famous charity, as the resounding success of ITVs Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs continues to draw in high numbers of visitors to the Home.

Visitors can experience the inner workings of Battersea’s London centre and willenjoy a guided tour of the Home,hearing about the history of Battersea and the vital work it does. The tours will give visitors a behind the scenes experience with the opportunity to see key areas where ITV filmed for the hit second series.

Yes, the dog did eat my homework, but also my phone, shoe, earrings, net curtains…
Battersea reveals the strangest things that dogs have swallowed

A 20 pound note, a mobile phone, and a pair of earrings are things you would expect to find inside a handbag, not your pet dog. But a new survey by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home reveals some of the more unusual objects our four-legged friends have accidentally consumed.

A family from Sittingbourne, Kent have given a loving new home to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s 1000th dog of 2013.

The nine week old Staffordshire Bull Terrier pup named Emerald arrived at the world famous animal charity along with his six littermates because their owner could no longer care for them.

But it wasn’t long before precious little Emerald caught the eye of a new family, and was at Battersea for just eight days before finding a new home in Kent.

Walkers and their waggy-tailed friends are being encouraged to put their best paws forward in the world’s largest dog walk this summer to raise money for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Thousands of fundraisers and canine companions are set to bound around the coastline on The Leas, South Shields, on Sunday 9 June, in the Great North Dog Walk, which has broken the Guinness World Record for the largest dog walk 17 times since starting in 1990. Organisers are hoping to smash last year’s total of more than 23,000 walkers and 185 breeds of dog taking part in the event.

On the day when long awaited amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act were announced in the Queen’s Speech, leading animal charity Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has outlined some of the steps it is taking to help prevent the use of dogs as weapons in acts of anti-social behaviour.

There is good news for devoted pet owners struggling to find rented accommodation with their best friends. A specialist insurance policy is available through Endsleigh Insurance Brokers and Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, to encourage more landlords to accept pets in their properties, making it easier for pet owners to rent with their pets.

Record numbers of pet owners are giving up their dogs and cats and leaving Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to pick up the pieces. The world famous charity has received almost 5,000 enquiries this year from members of the public struggling to care for their dogs, a 50 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Battersea is releasing the shocking figures as a new series of Paul O Grady: For The Love Of Dogs airs on ITV. This eight-part series reveals the work that goes into caring for thousands of abandoned dogs every year.

If you fancy trying something new with your dog, the APDT - Association of Pet Dog Trainers - has an activity weekend in June that could be just what you're looking for. You can attend and participate with your dog, or you can just watch what's going on. So if you'd like to find out more about gundog training, search and rescue, treibball (a dog sport that's very new to the U.K.), working trials or rally, and even have a go at any of them with your dog, all the information you need is here:

World famous animal charity Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has already welcomed its 1000th dog of 2013 to its iconic London centre.

Seven week old Mongrel puppy Emerald arrived at the charity along with his mum and five littermates after his owner was no longer able to care for them and turned to Battersea to help find them a new home.

Battersea takes in an average of eight dogs every day, and precious little Emerald is just one of the thousands of dogs that Battersea will care for this year. Last year the charity cared for 5,880 dogs, nearly half of which

Star of Shrek the Musical Carley Stenson will be leading a new chorus line of loveable furry characters at this year’s Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Old Windsor Fun Day on Saturday 6 July.

TV and stage actress, Carley, who played Princess Fiona in the hit West End show, is inviting dog lovers and their canine companions to join her at the animal charity’s Berkshire centre for a day of fun-filled activities, dazzling dog displays and entertainment for all the family from 10.30am to 4.30pm.