Pets dumped in bins, boxes and buckets

The RSPCA have reported an alarming increase in animals being abandoned across England and Wales.

In the last year, the RSPCA were called out to rescue more than 37,000 abandoned animals and received a call asking for help every 30 seconds.

Every year the charity sees a sharp rise in abandonments at the height of summer. Evidence from the RSPCA and other animal charities suggests some people chose to get rid of their pets rather than pay for them to be looked after while they are on holiday.

Animal lovers are being called to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Old Windsor to join the rescue centre’s team of inspiring volunteers who make a huge difference to hundreds of dogs’ lives.

The RSPCA today (Tuesday May 28) launches its annual competition for budding young snappers to showcase their best images of animals.

The Young Photographer Awards 2013 (YPA13) welcomes all kinds of pictures from cheeky portraits of family pets to imaginative photos of wildlife and even close-ups of insects in a mix of categories open to young people under 19.

The competition is sponsored by Warners Midlands, supported by Olympus and Natures Images, and judged by a mix of photography professionals including presenter and wildlife expert Chris Packham.

Peddling to save working dogs

Steve Blakemore comes across as a regular guy. He works as an Operational Support Manager for 1st Reaction Security Ltd and has a normal family life. So it came as a bit of a surprise when he volunteered out of the blue to cycle around Pitsford Reservoir to raise money for the company’s chosen charity for 2013, Bravo Working Dog Rescue Centre. Particularly when his work colleagues knew that he hadn’t been on a bike for years!

Steve said: ‘Each year, 1st Reaction Security chooses a good cause to raise money for and this year, Bravo