It's not every day that you wake up and find that a town which is
virtually on your doorstep is launching a bid to be the dog-friendliest
town in Britain, but that's what happened to me this morning.
Bridgnorth, a very picturesque town in Shropshire, is setting out to
dethrone Keswick in the Lake District as being the most dog friendly UK
town. And since this is a place I can, and do, visit with my dog, it
caught my interest.

Enter Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s kennels between 12 and 1pm and you can hear a pin drop. You certainly won’t hear barking but perhaps the odd snore as hundreds of homeless canines enjoy an afternoon siesta. The world famous rescue has taken a tip from the continent and introduced a daily ‘Siesta Time’ to reduce the stress levels of its residents.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home are practicing their best smiles in hopes of finding a new and loving home. Roxy and Kye are posed for the cameras ahead of International Day of Happiness on Sunday 20 March.

Four-year-old Kye was given up to Battersea due to his owner’s allergies and is hoping that his beaming smile will win over a new owner whilst beautiful Roxy is a wonderful example of her breed. Roxy absolutely adores people and can be often be seen sitting in her kennel with the widest grin in hopes of enticing someone for a tummy scratch.

Charity surveyed hundreds of dog owners to find out what makes their pets happy..

Running, eating, and sleeping are some of the activities that make our pet dogs the happiest, according to an RSPCA survey.

The animal welfare charity spoke to hundreds of pet owners to find out what makes their dog happy.

90% of dog owners revealed that their canine companion loves nothing more than exploring and investigating, 81% said that their pet enjoys going for a walk off-lead, and 82% said that their pet enjoyed going for a run.

Scottish National Party MP Dr Lisa Cameron (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) proposed the debate in Westminster Hall on ‘Welfare of young dogs bred for sale’.

Opening the debate, she told MPs: “This issue has cross-party support… and widespread public support.

“We are here fundamentally to represent our constituents, not to enable big businesses trading in puppy maltreatment. Action, and not merely words, is required.”

Today, 8th March 2016, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and chair of The EU Dog & Cat Alliance, is delighted by the European Parliament’s adoption of the Animal Health Law - an important development in the European Union’s legislative landscape, streamlining almost 40 legal acts related to animal health into a single law and regulating transmissible animal diseases.

We’ve teamed up with Vitality to bring you the biggest, waggiest walkies of the year.

Dogs and your humans, get ready for the walk of the year - registrations for the BIG Walkies events open online today.

This year the RSPCA are joining paws with Vitality - and we are asking you and your dog to join us in the fresh air to stretch your legs and raise money to help our less fortunate dog pals.

Throughout May this year there will be flagship walks followed by 42 events spread across the country in September and October.