The positive externalities of pet ownership / Pets are good for Government:

The benefits of pet ownership also extend to the Chancellor as the Autumn statement approaches. The Pet Advisory Committee (PAC) using the government’s own figures estimates that pet lovers spent almost £6 billion in 2010 and contributed more than £2 billion a year to the nation’s coffers in taxes.

Paul O’Grady and Battersea dogs will be bringing Christmas cheer to millions of households across the UK in an ITV1 special of Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs.

The one hour Christmas special once more welcomes viewers into Battersea Dogs & Cats Home as dog loving presenter Paul O’Grady revisits the much loved animal charity and introduces a whole host of canine characters and new arrivals searching for a happy home.

Earlier this year viewers fell in love with Battersea when

87 puppies seized during RSPCA investigation into puppy trafficking

Public warned not to buy pets as presents after warrant

Thursday 29 November 2012

More than 80 puppies have been seized during a major RSPCA investigation into puppy trafficking and the alleged sale of sick dogs via internet ads.

RSPCA inspectors also discovered four dead puppies – including two left in a bucket in the footwell of a parked car – when they carried out three warrants across Stockport and Greater Manchester yesterday morning (28.11.12) as part of Operation Pagan.

SURF DOG RICOCHET LEADS A MILITARY GIVING DRIVE TO
BENEFIT SOLDIERS WITH PTSD, TBI AND OTHER COMBAT INJURIES

Surf dog Ricochet, the SURFice dog traded her life jacket for a Santa jacket to kick off her 4th annual Surfin' Santa Paws Howliday Giving Drive which starts December 1st and goes through Christmas day. This year it benefits several military re-integration programs for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and other combat injuries. The drive also includes military working dogs that are injured or suffer PTSD.