Alaskan Malamute

RSPCA launches annual Adoptober campaign to promote adoption of rescued animals as new figures reveal more animals are coming into shelters while the rate of rehoming has slowed

The RSPCA has launched its annual Adoptober campaign encouraging prospective pet owners to consider giving a rescued animal a new home as new figures raise concerns that more animals are being relinquished to charities at a time when rehoming has slowed.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has a weighty task on its hands - to rehome its heaviest dogs.

Five of the charity’s chunkiest canines weighing a combined total of 450 pounds are looking for new owners that can handle a whole lot of pooch.

Shyla the Alaskan Malamute, Enzo the Dogue de Bordeaux, American Bulldog Cruz, Kimmy the Akita and Bromley the Mongrel are together heavier than English rugby prop Kieran Brookes and weigh the same as 800 packs of butter.

Two dogs at the Brands Hatch site of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home are celebrating their anniversary of being in kennels – with an appeal for the right person to come forward and give them each a new home.

Four-and-a-half year old Jack Russell Jake was brought to Battersea in October, five months ago, by his owner who couldn’t look after him anymore. Jake is a lively and spirited little dog who will need an owner with a calm household and willingness to work on Jake’s behaviour.

Animal charity Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has seen a 40 per cent rise in the number of Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies being dumped and abandoned at its doors, and the charity is concerned these working breeds are becoming the next must-have ‘status’ dogs in inner city areas.

Huskies and Malamutes are known for running over long distances, and the Home believes people are taking on these dogs with little understanding of their needs or welfare. Already this year Battersea has taken in over 60 Huskies and Malamutes which have either strayed from their homes or been given up by their owners. These include Honey a Malamute who arrived at Battersea earlier this year and severely overweight because her owners could no longer cope and current resident Colleen, a Siberian Husky who arrived at the