charity

Love is in the air at the moment, but one poor dog in the care of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, has been missing out on having a loving home of her own for way too long now.

Missy, who is a marvellous mongrel, has been in the charity’s care the longest of all their canine residents, and it’s high time she found her soulmate. So far, she has passed over 120 days in the London shelter – but let’s hope that Cupid can help her find a happily ever after. The average length of stay at Battersea is a month, so clearly, Missy is overdue to find a new owner.

One year old Staffordshire bull terrier cross, Skye, is hoping to find love this Valentine’s Day. She’s currently in the care of the RSPCA’s Leybourne Animal Centre in Kent, and staff are hoping to fine the paw-fect match for her.

Skye was found abandoned in Dover, and has since spent 188 days in kennels at the charity. She is a cuddly girl who enjoys going for walks – but she wants someone to share those walks with her.

“Skye is such a sweetheart and has the most beautiful brown eyes,” says Mel Dolling, an animal care assistant at RSPCA Leybourne.

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

Animals may do the funniest things, but sometimes the consequences of their actions can be serious. But luckily for accident prone or over-adventurous animals, the RSPCA is always there to help. So here are the charity’s to 10 best, unusual, or just plain wacky rescues of 2016.

1. Bar-king mad!
An enthusiastic pooch got herself into a bar-king mad situation after getting her head wedged between two bars during an afternoon walk.

Five-month-old Schnauzer, Juno, was released following an operation involving the RSPCA and Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service on 23 March.

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.

The days are growing shorter and colder in the northern hemisphere as we head towards Christmas. We may be hoping for – and singing about – a white Christmas, but the cold weather may not be so welcome for some of our pets, including dogs.

The RSPCA is urging people to get ready for cold weather, and make sure their animals will stay safe when the temperature drops.
Here’s some action you can take to make a difference for your pets, and for wilflife too:

Dogs

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.

Would you like to bring some warmth into the life of a Battersea Dogs & Cats Home dog this Christmas?

As winter takes hold of the UK, sending temperatures plummeting, the charity is appealing for the public to donate blankets (new or second-hand) to keep their residents cosy this Christmas. Battersea is currently short of bedding, and is urging people to help.

Think of your own dog snoozing comfortably, secure in your home, and imagine how delighted a Battersea dog will be to find comfort and warmth in a donated blanket.