I mentioned Jill Moss yesterday, and for those of you who don't know who this courageous woman is, you can hear her telling her story in Episode 58 of DogCast Radio. (http://www.DogCastRadio.com/node/158) Life was for Jill and her Samoyed dog Bella was going very well - until Bella was struck down with MRSA. It is incredibly moving to listen to Jill tell in her own words how she stayed by Bella's side, even catching MRSA herself, and how Bella lost her struggle against the infection.

Yesterday I had a very enjoyable, but at times quite surreal experience. I went on a wolf walk with the UK Wolf Conservation Trust. (http://www.ukwolf.org/) We had been invited to join Jill Moss of the Bella Moss Foundation (http://www.thebellamossfoundation.com/) on the walk, as she is a member of the trust. She had some great stories of her experiences with wolves, which will be coming up in an episode of DogCast Radio soon.

Apparently I’m now going where no other media organisations have gone before, because although the press release below was sent out, it has not been published – so you read it here first. (probably) It comes from Catherine O'Driscoll and Canine Health Concern (http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk/) and I find it very worrying.

I want to know what is safe for our dogs – and I don’t want any attempts to brow beat me into having my dog vaccinated. For example if there is an event I want to take my dog to, I don’t want to have to produce a “valid” vaccination certificate.

Puppy Farm Awareness Day is a terrific idea. If we can establish in enough minds that puppy farms are evil, and definitely not the right place to buy a dog from, perhaps they will finally go out of business. It's on 19th September this year, and to celebrate ThePet.net are throwing a party:

Celebrities support ThePet.net’s ‘World’s Biggest Puppy Party’
Puppy Farm Awareness Day 2009

TV Vet’s ‘Social petworking’ website leads fight against cruel UK Puppy Farming trade