rescue dog

We’ve covered quite a few unusual dogs in need of a forever home on DogCast Radio, but I can’t recall one quite like Jodie before. Jodie is an older Staffordshire bull terrier, and as such is not an uncommon resident of a rescue shelter. But Jodie is extremely unusual in one respect – she is a hermaphrodite. This means that she has the reproductive organs of both sexes.

The RSPCA took Jodie in when her previous owner abandoned her, and they are now seeking a special home for her. The search is proving to be a challenge.

A headline caught my eye today, that a dog was adopted by a senior home after her owner passed away. Clicking on the link to find out more, it emerged that poor Izzy was left homeless when her elderly owner died after they both went to live in an assisted living facility in Tennessee, USA.

Her owner's family were unable to take Izzy in, and that's the point at which so many dogs find themselves entering the rescue system, facing an uncertain future. Incredibly luckily for Izzy, that's not what happened to her, because she has become so popular with seniors in the home, as well as with staff and visitors, she is now the home's official meeter and greeter.

What more could a dog want? Well obviously, I'm sure

Most dogs who are found as strays face a challenging future – but two Chihuahuas who were recently found abandoned at the side of a busy road faced extra challenges. The poor, tiny dogs were not only dumped by the roadside, but one was blind and one was missing a foot.

I receive press releases every day, and this morning when I went through my emails, I spotted two which highlight the plight of too many dogs at this time of year. We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for dogs, and there are various reasons for that, the saddest being abandonment by their owner. For Rottweiler, Roger, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tugz, this nightmare became reality.

Roger and Tugz were fortunate in as much as they were found and taken to Batersea Dogs & Cats Home, making them the charity’s first arrivals of 2017.

Roger is a six year old Rottweiler who is partially sighted, and was found on New Year’s Day

On Tuesday night at The Grand Connaught Rooms in London, The Mayhew Animal Home’s Tinsel and Tails Christmas Fundraiser had plenty of glitz, glamour and of course gorgeous dogs.

James McVey from The Vamps and Stephanie Pratt were among the celebrities and their canine companions, who attended the star-studded event which honoured some of the incredible achievements The Mayhew has accomplished in 2016. The evening also aimed to raise money to ensure the charity’s vital work continues in future.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home resident, Brody, loves cuddles and has a happy-go-lucky personality – in fact those who meet him find it hard not to fall in love with him. But despite his charms, Battersea staff face a challenge in finding the right home for this lovely five year old black Labrador.

Seeing Brody play happily with his human and canine friends, nobody would guess that Brody has a medical condition similar to arthritis of the spine. Brody’s condition is called Lumbosacral Disease.

A German Shepherd who was abandoned in London is in the care of the RSPCA. Now named Princess, the dog is seeking a loving forever home. Poor Princess was left, tethered to a tree at the side of a busy road. A passer-by spotted black and tan German Shepherd Princess on the A2, a dual carriageway in Greenwich and summoned Inspector Anthony Pulfer.