Homes are being sought in Devon to give some German Shepherd puppies foster homes. It is hoped that the dogs will one day train to become police dogs. The police are looking to take the dogs in a year’s time, and need to find people to look after the puppies for the next twelve months.

The scheme is called the ‘Puppy Development Scheme’ and its aim is to provide the dogs with homes so that can socialise with humans in order to turn them into better police dogs in the future.

Once the year is up the police force will take the puppies back, where they’ll be assessed on their potential to become (more…)

At this time over year everyone looks to shed those Christmas pounds and heads for the gym, or at the very least cuts down on the alcohol and fatty foods; it’s one of the most popular of New Year’s resolutions.

Losing weight and getting in shape for the New Year isn’t something that’s exclusive to humans though, as even dogs like to lose weight too. Patch is a six-year-old Beagle cross, and is grossly overweight, so much so that he is unable to walk. Patch was handing into Glasgow’s Dogs Trust centre before Christmas when his owner died, and weighed a staggering 28kg at the time.

Due to his weight he was unable to walk, or even stand, because his legs were not strong enough.

As a result of his weight Patch has been put on a heavy diet to get him back into shape, with staff hoping to get Patch down to 15kg.

Victoria Kelly from the Dogs Trust in Glasgow said:

We get a lot of overfed dogs in the centre, but nothing to the extent of (more…)

This Christmas many dog owners would have bought dog coats for their dogs to wear during the cold months, but are these dog coats really a good idea? Animal welfare experts claim that coats for dogs, rather than provide much needed warmth for dogs, could actually be causing dogs to get too hot and overheat.

According to the RSPCA, allowing dogs to wear dog coats and overheat is the same as leaving dogs in cars during hot weather, and anyone found doing it could be prosecuted.

Coats and other forms of clothing for dogs has become very popular of late, with trouser suits, hoodies and coats becoming available for dogs. Even some of the top fashion designers, including Vivienne Westwood, have designed clothing for dogs. Dog breeding experts claim however that (more…)

Just one week after Jarvis the cocker spaniel fell through the ice in Manchester, another two dogs, also cocker spaniels, have been rescued by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service after they fell through the ice on a river in Portsmouth.

Linda Collins took her two dogs for a walk (Jarvis and Chino) when Jasper fell through the ice, and was closely followed by Chino, who dived in to rescue his friend. Linda phoned 999 and asked for the fire department, who advised Linda to stay away from the water, unlike Marc Greenhalgh from Manchester who dived after his dog on New Year’s Day.

Steve Williams, a dog walker who exercises dogs from Portsmouth Dog Kennels, happened past and helped Linda by (more…)

Battersea Dogs Home is appealing for donations to help them rescue dogs and cats throughout the winter, and keep them warm. Temperatures in the UK this winter have dropped to as low as -10C, and Battersea Dogs Home wants to make sure that the dogs they’ve rescued are safe and warm. They plan on using the money to buy dog blankets.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s Felicity Brotherton stated:

During these cold nights, blankets are not as warm or durable as Vetbed material.

It also has environmental benefits. Here at the Home, we currently use over 1,000 blankets a day. The material is designed not to allow fluid to penetrate the (more…)

In a scene reminiscent of a recent episode of Emmerdale, a Manchester man had to crawl on his front across the ice to rescue his dog as it fell through the ice on a frozen lake. Twenty-five-year-old Marc Greenhalgh was taking his dog for a walk on New Year’s Day in Middleton, Greater Manchester, when the dog decided the frozen lake was an ideal opportunity to pursue some ducks. The cocker spaniel named Jarvis chased the ducks onto the ice, plunging into the icy cold lake as the ice beneath his feet broke.

Marc Greenhalgh plunged in to rescue his dog in a selfless act. He stated:

It was very cold to be honest. You don’t want to think about it at the time, I just wanted to get to him really.

When it happens you just go and do what you’ve got to do. There’s a lesson to be learned I think, I won’t be leaving (more…)

Tory MEP Struan Stevenson has finally been successful in his nine-year campaign to get the trade of dog fur and cat fur banned in Europe. The EU imposed ban, Stevenson hopes, will result in China to do something about the slaughter of millions of dogs and cats every year within its borders.

Dog fur and cat fur is used by Chinese manufactures for things as common as the stuffing in children’s toys, as stuffing for coats and gloves. This has led to UK consumers buying imported products containing dog fur without their knowledge.

The trade of dog and cat fur is now illegal in the twenty-seven EU states.

Struan Stevenson began his campaign to get the trade in dog fur banned in 1999. He claims that Chinese manufacturers even use dog fur to stuff toy dogs, that parents buy in (more…)