Dog of the Week: Monty @ Dogs Trust Glasgow Rehoming Centre

It's the start of a weekly feature - and who doesn't like weekly features? Every Friday, we'll be showcasing dogs from our Rehoming Centres around the country who would dearly love to find their forever homes. Just contact the centres directly if you think you might be the perfect match.

Introducing..... Monty!


Breed: Trailhound

Age: 2

Likes: Belly rubs! Happiest when out, about and occupied as I'm full of fun and energy.

Dislikes: Cats

Needs: A very active, adult home and a big, secure garden where I can get time to play. Owners who are willing to take me to training classes and who have experience owning hounds would be best.

Contact: Dogs Trust Glasgow Rehoming Centre on 0141 773 5130 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk for more information on the rehoming process.

Petition: Stop the cruel dog slaughtering methods in South Korea

The killing of dogs for food started in South Korea during a time of crisis and famine. Over time it has evolved into a cultural tradition, with dog meat becoming a prized delicacy.

As with any kind of farming, as consumers we hope that the animals are being treated with respect during their lives; the recent reports on battery farming by the likes of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall made many a consumer think twice about buying a battery farmed chicken over a free range option.

Dogs in South Korea, however, are being slaughtered using methods including burning, electrocution, hanging and drowning. These cruel and tortuous methods are commonplace, and you can show your support by signing a petition to urge the Government of the Republic of Korea to act now.

The Korean Animal Protection Society and Korea Animal Rights Advocates groups are working alongside others to improve the situation, and the petition also supports their aims.

Sign the petition here now.

Poop Scoop Week 2008: Every dog owner's duty!

It's every dog owner's responsibility to clean up after their dog but sometimes the irresponsible few can spoil our public areas for everyone.

National Poop Scoop Week is set for 23-29 June this year, and the UK's largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust, is urging all Local Authorities to get behind the national drive to clean up our public areas.

In the words of Dogs Trust Chief Executive Clarissa Baldwin:

"This campaign is hugely relevant to every single Local Authority and we're hoping for widespread backing to make this the most successful Poop Scoop Week ever.

All citizens, both human and canine, should be free to enjoy Britain's open spaces, so if we are going to look forward to a summer of picnicking in parks and lounging on beaches, it is vital that every single dog owner fulfils their duty and scoops that poop!"

You can get ideas, facts, stats, pictures and promotional materials to help you plan events in your area at the Poop Scoop Week website. Please do let us know what's happening in your location by emailing the team at Dogs Trust or calling 020 7833 7657 and we'll help you publicise the event by putting it on the website.

Farewell to Oscar the celeb dog (and other doggy news stories)

Flicking through the free London paper Metro this morning, you could have been forgiven for thinking the dog lovers on the editorial staff had taken over (and quite right too!).

The big photo story on page three was devoted to gorgeous GSD Oscar. The beautiful dog belonged to Big Issue seller Dennis Gill, who sells the magazine in London's West End. Many a celebrity fell in love with friendly Oscar, and Dennis snapped the famous folk with his four-legged friend. He reports that George Clooney even took Oscar for a stroll on the lead, and that the only star to ever get growled at was Liam Gallagher, who responded by giving Oscar a kiss on the head and telling him he was "beautiful".

Sadly, 12-year-old Oscar gave in to cancer in his old age and is now playing beyond the Rainbow Bridge. It's a lovely tribute to him to see him in the news.

Dogs are often the closest and dearest friends of people in housing crisis, and it's worth remembering that programmes such as Hope Project exist to help with veterinary care and ensure these close friends can stay together in times of trouble.

In happier news, Metro also featured Dottie the Border Collie and her goalkeeping skills. Collies and Collie types need masses of exercise and stimulation, and seven-year-old owner Grace Field keeps Dottie on her toes by practicing dribbling, scoring and penalty shootouts with her. Grace has now become a star striker in her local (boys'!) football team, and it's all thanks to the fact that Dottie is so talented at batting away goals with her paws and nose that Grace reports she "can never get past her".

Grace's mother Lisa adds: "Dottie loves to play ball in the garden. Not many goals get past her, although sometimes she does run off with the ball."

How do you care for the world's 'oldest' dog?

When David Richardson visited his local RSPCA rescue 26 years ago to choose a dog, he was recommended Bella, a lovely Lab cross who was already, according to the kennel, "at least three years old".

Twenty six years later David is still caring for Bella who, while she only has two teeth left, likes to suck on sweets. Unfortunately, as records are not available, it's impossible to prove that Bella is actually the world's oldest dog, but she certainly ranks high on the list with the record currently held by Bluey the Australian sheepdog, who lived to 29.

At this point, Bella's older than I am in human years, so it's no shock to discover that in canine terms she's around 200! This graceful old lady is seeing out her life, which has already doubled the average life expectancy of the most long-living breeds, in a safe and comfortable home.

So how do you care for an older dog? People are sometimes put off adopting the older dogs in our Rehoming Centres because of fears of endless medical problems and imminent death. However, many of these dogs come to us because the owner has had a change of circumstances (moving into sheltered accommodation, for example) and the dogs themselves are quite healthy and could continue to live a happy life for some time.

Caring for an older dog requires patience and observation. Small health complaints need to be dealt with promptly so they do not escalate; some of the more drastic treatments are too much for an older dog and with early preventative care the recommendation for euthanasia can be avoided. It is worth checking that there is no age cut-off in your insurance policy if you have had a dog from a puppy and he is now growing older.

It is important to note that dogs still require exercise to stay active and supple into their older years. For as long as they can manage it, daily walks should be continued, making them shorter, less intense and yet more frequent as necessary.

Older dogs still need plenty of mental stimulation, so gentle games and toys that require some sustained interest and activity (such as a food-stuffed Kong) could be ways to keep an elderly dog living much longer than you might expect.

Bella has been very lucky to receive two lifetimes of loving care from her devoted owner; can you offer an older dog a peaceful home for their remaining years?

[via BBC News]

Pet Owners Parliament helps launch Active Family, Active Dog campaign

Ryan at Pet Owners Parliament dropped me a line today to let me know that they've reported on our Active Family, Active Dog campaign. It's great that the word is getting out there and people are being reminded of the benefits to health and family dynamics that simply walking a dog can reap.

The Pet Owners Parliament is a free forum for discussing pet topics from dog ownership tests to breed specific legislation and everything in between. It is completely free and voluntary and is a hub for debates, commentary and petitions.

There are several interesting topics being discussed at the moment. Dogs Trust cannot comment on any particular debate and does not necessarily agree with all of the views expressed, but supports the rights of dog owners to discuss the way in which the law affects them. As I said before when writing about Dog Control Orders, telling us how you feel can help us be instrumental in shaping legislation and putting pressure on relevant groups.

Vote for the 21 Top Dog Walks in Britain for 2008

The Top 21 Dog Walks list is back, and open for nominations.

Some studies suggest that the life of an overweight dog is shortened by at least two years. In human terms, this would mean a life expectancy shortfall of 15 years. However, by simply choosing the correct diet and taking your pooch for twice-a-day walkies you can help reduce canine obesity and the risk of related conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, breathing difficulties and diabetes.

Tom Wright, chief executive of national tourism agency, VisitBritain says:

“Pet friendly holidays are increasingly in demand by the British public and are an ideal way to explore the fantastic rural landscapes that we are famous for. We hope that by finding the UK’s 21 top dog walks, it will inspire people to visit a new destination they haven’t explored before. Whether it’s woodland, beach, park, river or canal side, we want to know about it!”

Please visit www.21topdogwalks.co.uk to nominate your favourite walk or to see further details of the 2007 winning walks.

The deadline for nominations is 25th July 2008.

The Credit Crunch: how dog owners are feeling the pinch and what to do to save money

At a time when food prices are rising, fuel is expensive, house prices are dropping and repossessions are increasing, it's easy to see how every family might want to tighten their belts.

One sad consequence of the 'credit crunch' in the UK is an increase in the number of dogs brought to Dogs Trust Rehoming Centres. With waiting lists growing, we do feel sympathy for those owners who feel they simply have no option but to give up their pet. Still, we urge dog owners (and those considering adopting a dog) to remember that simple measures such as neutering your dog and taking out pet insurance will pay dividends in the long run.

Some dog owners might think they can't afford to neuter their dog but Dogs Trust works with numerous veterinary practices and local councils on subsidised and free neutering programs. If you claim benefit and live within one of our campaign regions (North East, North West, Wales and Northern Ireland), you might be entitled to help with neutering costs. Follow the link to check if your postcode qualifies and find out more.

If you think you might soon be suffering from housing crisis, Dogs Trust Hope Project might be able to help too. Although the Veterinary Entitlement Card scheme is available only to homeless applicants, resources such as this list of UK-wide dog-friendly homelessness projects (including shelters, housing schemes and advice centres) could stop you from having to make the heartwrenching decision to give up your loyal four-legged companion at an already difficult time.

Some other charities and veterinary groups do offer free health checks, emergency treatments and subsidies. Try ringing around this list of veterinary contacts to find out more.

Many owners aren't in financial dire straits but want to reduce costs and count the pennies, whether short of cash, saving for something special or just a keen bargain hunter. My thanks to Petsugar, which inspired some of these tips:

• Give up your gym membership; what's better exercise than running around with your dog?
• Write a brutally honest list of your pet's needs and work out where you might be spending too much on toys and gadgets that aren't necessary.
• Luxury foods (with luxury prices) might not be offering your pet any more nutrients and could be loaded with extra fat and protein they don't need. Check ingredients, talk to your vet and make a healthy, budget-friendly choice of chow.
• Got a birthday coming up and would rather have something for the pets? Let your friends know!
• Prioritise your dog's health. Regular check ups, vaccinations and fast responses to illness will stop serious problems developing and the associated vet bills spiralling.
• Bargain hunt! Don't skimp on quality when it comes to toys and equipment as this could be dangerous (not to mention more expensive in the long run) but do pay attention to sales and bulk buys that could last a long time.

It's a hard time, but you need not make it harder by giving up your beloved pet. Remember, a dog is for life.

Dogs Trust makes Alltop's pet list | Tell us a story

For people who spend a lot of time on blogs looking for the best posts and articles within their area of interest, content aggregators are very helpful. They are sites which peel off the best of the top blogs, video sites and more and deliver it to you on one page. 'Best' is sometimes categorised by peer review, rating and recommendation or sometimes by editorial choice.

Alltop is creating dedicated channels for the most popular and, in the editorial staff's opinion, best blogs related to any given topic. Their new Pets channel lists none other than this blog in its ranks! So now you can catch up with all the latest from Dogs Trust and cast a quick eye over what else is going on in the world of the pet blog.

Also, I'm hoping to include more of your stories in our blog. A lot of you do send in lovely tales and photos of rehomed dogs having a wonderful time in their forever home, such as this one of Bonnie that was on our DoggySnaps community site. If you'd like to see yours featured on this blog, then email me (including a pic if possible) and you never know - the next post you read could be about you and your four-legged pal.

Video: Dog Trust reaches out to homeless dog owners and families escaping domestic violence

I'd like you to take a moment out of your day to watch this video:



I wonder how many people out there who are dedicated supporters of Dogs Trust realise that there are successful outreach programmes like Freedom Project providing help to families escaping domestic violence? I didn't until shortly before I came to work here, and I thought I knew perfectly well what the charity did.

There are other people in housing crisis too. For many homeless dog owners, their four-legged companion is their best friend, and they will do whatever they can to keep their pals healthy and happy. Dogs Trust Hope Project offers a Veterinary Care Entitlement Card scheme, which enabled homeless dog owners to access free or subsidised vet care including some preventative treatments.

At Dogs Trust we are always looking for foster carers in Freedom Project regions (currently London and Yorkshire) and participating veterinary practices for Hope Project (across the country). Please follow the links to learn more about the projects and offer what support you can.

If you or someone you know could benefit from these projects, contact the relevant office by email:

Freedom Project: freedomproject@dogstrust.org.uk
Hope Project: hopeproject@dogstrust.org.uk

Active Family, Active Dog: Dogs Trust and Joanna Hall launch fitness campaign

Obesity isn't just a problem in people, but in dogs, too. The solution is to eat well and get plenty of exercise, and what better way to solve the problem in both two and four-legged creatures than by exercising together?

Dogs Trust has teamed up with fitness guru Joanna Hall to launch the 'Active Family, Active Dog' campaign and research trial. We're reminding everyone that walking a dog is a great way to:

• Burn calories
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduce stress
• Boost your immune system
• Improve your family life
  

Joanna explains: "Research shows that getting families to be more physically active as a whole improves group dynamics, increases family cohesion and significantly increases motivation. We're now asking real families to 'walk out' with a dog and see how they too can get healthy and still have fun together."

So not only will your family be fitter, they'll be happier and more confident too. You can learn more about the Active Family, Active Dog campaign from flyers distributed at the Summer Open Day at Harefield on the 8th of June, where you'll also get a chance to have fun and hang out with dog-loving TV celebs.

If you can't make it, or want to register your email, contact the campaign at activefamilyactivedog@walkactive.co.uk

What is Active Family, Active Dog all about?

Dogs Trust is looking for committed volunteers to sign up to a six-week family fitness and dog walking programme, running from 7th September to 12th October. You don't need to have a dog of your own, but must be willing to introduce one into your home for the six week period. You must also be able to make yourself available for fitness tests, health monitoring and practical active tasks throughout the trial.

Each family will be allocated a specific rescue dog according to their lifestyle and will be responsible for his or her care throughout the six weeks, as well as bringing them to Harefield for weekly updates, tests and activities. Sunday morning sessions from 9am - 12 noon will take place at the centre. Measurements of the benefits of walking your dog will be taken at the start and throughout the trial, along with simple physical and psychological tests to gauge self-esteem, fitness and family cohesion.

If successful, the trial may extend to all 17 Rehoming Centres. Media (photographers and TV) might be present during the trial.

Dogs Trust Merseyside at the Wirral Coastal Walk

Our Rehoming Centre staff don't just work tirelessly to provide a comfortable life for the dogs in their care, they also take part in numerous fundraising activities. Volunteer Co-ordinator Liam McDonald is seeking sponsors to help him raise money for Dogs Trust by undertaking the 15 mile Wirral Coastal Walk.

Taking place on Sunday 18th May, the centre has been drumming up support and volunteers to accompany Liam (with a choice of 5, 10 or 13 miles as well, depending on ability).

Fancy the opportunity to stretch your legs, whittle your waistline and help dogs across the UK? You can just turn up on the day and register at Seacombe Ferry registration table between 9am and 11:30am.

Otherwise, why not support Liam's effort by sponsoring him through his Just Giving page? It only take a few clicks to make a real difference to the dogs in our care, with no minimum (or maximum!) amount required.

As ever, your donations and support are gratefully received and appreciated.

Video: Sarah-Jane Honeywell of CBeebies visits Dogs Trust West London and explains rehoming

I thought I'd blog about this fabulous video because I'm not sure how many of you have seen it before. It features the wonderful Sarah-Jane Honeywell of CBeebies visiting Harefield's West London Rehoming Centre and taking a closer look at all the rehoming work Dogs Trust does. Enjoy, and thanks Sarah-Jane!

Louise the Terrier enters sponsored Swimathon for hospital!

When we said "sponsor a dog", this isn't quite what we meant...! Energetic Terrier Louise just had to put her talents to the test by taking part in a sponsored swim for Hillingdon Hospital. The Peter Pan Children's Ward at the hospital is benefitting not only for the money Louise will raise practising her doggy paddle, but from her company and cuddles which will cheer the young residents.

The swim will take place at Dipping Dogs in Cowley on the 26th of June. For more information on sponsoring Louise, call Harefield Rehoming Centre on 01895 453 951.

You see, the talented Terrier, who is just 18 months old, has been living at Dogs Trust Harefield (West London) while she seeks her forever home. She's an affectionate, fun loving, free spirited bundle of energy who loves a good run, game of football or, of course, swim.

Despite her good nature, Louise has remained at Harefield for almost a year waiting for the right, experienced, action-packed owners to take her home. Owners who would be willing to spend plenty of time playing and introducing her to activities like Flyball would be ideal; she's naturally great with children and gets on well with other dogs and cats.

If you love the keep fit lifestyle, Louise would be a brilliant challenge, motivation and friend. Interested? Make an appointment to meet the team, and Louise, by calling 01895 453 951.

A visit to a Rehoming Centre: Harefield, West London

Our flagship Rehoming Centre, West London's Harefield branch, has a lot to live up to. As a fairly new member of the Dogs Trust team, I was invited down to take a look at the day-to-day goings on at the centre on Friday, and I have to say that it quite clearly exceeds expectations.

Along with two other newbies, we were welcomed warmly by the dedicated team there, headed up by the brilliantly friendly centre manager Richard. Harefield was a particularly tricky site to develop, as there were a great deal of planning regulations that meant the careful restoration of sixteenth century farm buildings (one of which is now rented out as a conference centre and houses a popular weekend tea room!) and the inclusion of various water features. The advantage of being able to design the kennel buildings from scratch, however, was that both the dogs and their human carers have a peaceful, safe and secure environment in which to spend their days.

Kennels are at an angle, with glass doors. The doors keep visitors safe from finger nips and make the dogs feel happier as they're able to see what's happening around them. However, the angle of the kennels also provides an extra feeling of security as they can't overlook any dogs - this could unsettle some of our charges. Human visitors, on the other hand, are able to easily see a lot of our residents at once, giving everyone the opportunity to spot their new forever dog quickly and reducing the chances of any single dog being forgotten.

The puppy area is kept separately to ensure our older sponsor dogs get the best possible chance of a home, and only those owners who are able to take on the responsibilities of puppy ownership are able to meet the tiniest centre residents.

Admissions kennels, where new dogs are health checked and processed are blocked off into sections to ensure that any incidence of communicable disease can be quickly isolated. The state-of-the-art vet suite is a favourite place for student vets to observe and learn alongside the resident trained professionals who carry out the entry and exit health checks, vaccinations, neutering and microchipping that every dog will undergo.

Three sets of exercise compounds (concrete, sand and grass) complement the many acres of ex-farmland that can be used to walk the dogs and play with them. In addition, an on-site training centre where new owners can be supported in creating a bond with their eager pet means that the number of people finding themselves unable to cope with dog ownership is greatly reduced.

Visiting Harefield brought home to me more than ever why we at HQ do what we do on a daily basis. Sitting in our London office, it could be easy to forget what a difference can be made to the lives of abandoned, unwanted and mistreated dogs, but the excited welcoming bark of a happy, hopeful dog waiting in the centre to find his forever home reminded me of how little dogs ask for and how much they give in return.

From petting a silky-soft Border Collie pup as he turned his chocolate eyes towards me and snuffled into my palm, to seeing a volunteer being greeted with grateful affection by the Golden Retriever he was taking out for a walk, I was reminded of how very passionate and committed our staff, volunteers, sponsors and donors are. It's a humbling experience, and I hope I can serve them well.

You can visit a centre any time, but an ideal way to see West London Rehoming Centre at its best is to attend the annual Open Day. This year it is on Sunday 8th June. Starting at 11am, it will include the annual Fun Dog Show, judged by none other than Graham Norton and his canine companions, a Kids Activity Area packed with go-karting, football and facepainting fun hosted by CBeebies presenter Sarah Jane Honeywell and an absolute host of other fun activities and events. Call (01895) 453 951 for more information.

Dog Control Orders: what are they and what can you do about them?

You probably heard the phrase "a dog is for life, not just for Christmas" before you knew where it came from. Thirty years ago it was coined by a young PR officer called Clarissa Watson and since then the woman now known as Clarissa Baldwin has become Dogs Trust's Chief Executive and has driven the charity from strength to strength.

This week, in her own blog, she's been discussing certain concerning reports about Dog Control Orders. Many new or potential owners might not know much about these, so I thought it would be worth covering what these are before talking about what you should do if you disagree with your local authority's dog control measures.

Expanding and replacing Dog Byelaws in April 2006, Control Orders extend decision-making power to local authorities and parish councils. Where a Dog Control Order has not yet been made for a particular issue on the same land, the byelaw remains in effect. The Orders can cover the following issues:

1. Dog fouling
2. Restriction of dogs from certain land
3. Areas where dogs have to be kept on a lead
4. Areas where dogs have to be kept on a lead when instructed
5. Restrictions on multiple dog walking

Breach of a control order can attract a maximum fine of level 3 on that standard scale (currently £1000).

Alternatively, the opportunity to pay a fixed penalty may be offered in place of prosecution. Prior to a control order being made a period of local consultation and notices in local press is required.

On the surface, this doesn't seem necessarily problematic. Responsible dog owners will only let their dog off the lead where it is safe to do so, so that they can exhibit normal dog behaviour - a right enshrined in the Animal Welfare Act of 2006. Responsible dog owners will clean up their dog's mess and keep them under control at all times. Responsible dog owners, in other words, should not fall foul of Dog Control Orders.

However, the irresponsible few can prevail and lead to ever-more draconian Control Orders which might seek to prevent dogs ever being allowed off-lead in a public space, or banning them from certain areas altogether.

At this point, I must echo Clarissa's own words: "Strict Dog Control orders punish both dogs and owners for the sins of the irresponsible few. If you have any concerns about any measures being taken in your area, don’t forget to inform us. We have been instrumental in overturning such measures in the past but we can only do this if you let us know!"

Although our work at Dogs Trust centres on rescuing, rehoming and caring for dogs, we run extensive education programmes and campaign constantly for animal welfare, protesting the likes of the Dangerous Dogs Act and being instrumental in the addition of amendments to the Act. Our voices can be united with yours to put pressure on the Government for reform, but only if you tell us what you think.

Kids and dogs: playing happy families

Much of the time, when children and dogs are mentioned in the same sentence, it's in a negative way, when the media reports on rare animal attacks. But millions of households across the UK know that children and dogs can have a wonderful relationship, and a pet is an unparalleled way of teaching children responsibility and respect. Remember, a child should never be left alone with a dog but that doesn't mean they can't play together and form a strong attachment.

To celebrate all the families doing such a good job, I've been pootling around the Internet and blogosphere looking for interesting or funny family tales. One search resulted in this very sweet list of More Than 10 Tips for Dogs written by young Erin who has clearly understood the principles of dog training: "If you are good you get treats but if you are bad, you get in bad situations."

People and dogs have something in common, after all; they're both constantly learning and they both like positive reinforcement. One woman even advocates taking tips from animal behaviourists to improve all your relationships, leading to more than one headline suggesting you train your husband as if he were a dog!. As good parents and pet owners, we take responsibility for teaching children about dogs and vice versa. But sometimes we need help with that, and that's where projects like Dogs Trust's Learn With Dogs come in. The work of our Education Officers, who have made 2,000 visits to schools in the past year alone, the website provides resources and fun pages for teachers and young people learning about how to be an excellent dog owner.

Around the world, all sorts of creative projects are going on to help take advantage of the amazing bond that can exist between children and dogs. In Denver, in the US state of Colorado, the local Glendale community has set up a reading project for children who lack literary confidence. Having met a four-legged-friend, they choose a story and read to the dog, who revels in the attention and provides a non-threatening, uncritical audience for the struggling reader. I wonder if they only read shaggy dog stories?!

From offering emotional therapy to providing potential physical health benefits, there are some very good reasons for having a dog in the family. Owning a dog is always a huge time and energy commitment, and ensuring both children and pets are safe and well at all times can be tiring. Still, a great majority of families would tell you that it's very much worth the end result.

Don't let your hot dog burn this summer...

Well, it's finally sunny here in the UK, and the more responsible sun worshippers are slapping on sun cream, covering up in direct sunlight and keeping hydrated (that's with water, not booze!). But are they doing the same for their dogs?

Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust, explains:

"Dogs can suffer from sunburn just like us. Facing a higher risk are dogs with white or light-coloured hair, those with short or no hair at all and dogs that have lost hair through allergies or medical treatment."

Remember that it is also crucially important not to leave dogs in hot cars. Just twenty minutes waiting in a hot car can prove fatal.

You can keep your dog healthy and happy by following just a few tips:

• Keep him in the shade during the hottest part of the day - preferably ion the cool indoors
• NEVER leave her in the car in warm weather
• Avoid long car journeys in hot weather
• Clip fur and apply pet sun cream to easily burned areas: nose, ears, eyelids and belly. DON'T use human sun cream - it can be toxic so visit your local pet shop and get one made specifically for dogs.

More tips (updated July 2009):

• Be extra vigilant with older and overweight dogs as they are more prone to overheat. In a real emergency wet your dog thoroughly and use a household fan to blow cool air over their head and body. Seek urgent veterinary attention.
• If your dog takes a dip in a lake or pool make sure you rinse him as soon afterwards as possible. Never allow your dog to drink from ponds unless the water is clear as algae in the water can produce toxins that are rapidly fatal.

If your dog shows signs of distress – such as excessive panting, blueness of the tongue or collapse contact your local vet immediately. For more advice on dealing with heat and identifying the signs of heatstroke, please visit the 'heat' section of our website.

UK survey reveals pet owner trends

One of the best things about working at Dogs Trust HQ is the chance to meet some of the dogs staff members have adopted. Most mornings, Buster's soulful brown eyes pop up over the edge of my desk; he's accompanied his 'mum', Jo Howard to her job as head of donor development.

Today he yawns and stretches, and we're all reminded of that extra bit of indolent laziness that sets in the morning after a bank holiday. It's easy to see the wonderful relationship that Jo and Buster have, and what they each get out of their companionship. It seems that this is reflected in the rest of the UK; despite the problems of poor ownership and strays, we're still a nation of pet lovers.

Especially dogs! The Pet Food Manufacturers Association has revealed the results of research suggesting that of the 27 million pets in the country, dogs are the most popular. The study, carried out for National Pet Month (which ended yesterday) shows that 43% of all households have some sort of creature companion, 7.3 million of which are canine pals, edging ahead of 7.2 million cats.

In the capital, over a third of Londoners are getting pets for companionship (39%) with almost two thirds of singletons across the UK doing the same (60%), of which a generous chunk use their pet to 'replace' their missing partner (39%)!

Around a fifth of pet owners have, like me, craved furry / feathered / scaly / scuttling friends since childhood (21%), including almost half of people living in the North East.

Congratulations East Midlands: you are the greatest pet lovers in the country, housing 14% of all UK pets, compared to a lowly 4% residing in the whole of Wales - although we're surely they're just as loved!

Finally, the figure that interests Dogs Trust the most. Some 27% of pet owners were bought or adopted from a welfare or rescue centre, compared to 20% from a pet shop. Long may the numbers go up for centres!

So, out of all those dogs, which are the most popular breeds according to the survey?

1. Labrador
2. Border Collie
3. Jack Russell Terrier
4. Yorkshire Terrier
5. German Shepherd
6. Joint = Rottweiler and Dalmatian
7. Bischon Frise
8. Joint = Cocker Spaniel and Shih Tzu
9. Joint = Labradoodle and Golden Retriever
10. Joint = Greyhound (including Whippets) and Chihuahua

Nice to see the oft-maligned Greyhounds making an appearance there, and good to know that dogs are as popular and loved as ever. Now to get on with our daily job of ensuring that they can have happy lives, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.

[via K9]

Canine neutering: why and when?

Growing up in a household with all sorts of four-legged friends, I assumed all families did what ours did and neutered their pets promptly at the earliest age it was appropriate and safe to do so. We had no interest in breeding our pets, and saw no reason to increase the burden on charities to rehome animals we could not look after.

Then, of course, there's the preventative aspect. Dogs Trust never puts a healthy dog down, and everyone here believes prevention is better than 'cure'. For that reason, ever dog that passes through our doors is neutered.

There are people who disagree with this principle, so I've decided to take a look at the whats and wherefores so that our supporters can understand why we take this view. For some people the problem is not so much why as when, so I'll be looking at the conflicting advice on age.

Why neuter?

Well, as I've said, it's a crucial preventative measure against more strays. But there's also a behavioural aspect. Bitches will go into season regularly, and during that time will have side effects such as blood spotting - not to mention being sniffed out from miles away and chased by males dogs. Some suffer from uncomfortable phantom pregnancies, and young male dogs might suddenly ignore their training and exhibit territory marking, aggressive or inappropriate behaviours.

If you're not planning to let your dog breed, why let them go through all the natural urges? You're already making the choice for your dog as to whether he or she breeds, so it's also your responsibility to decide whether he or she is able to. Doggy contraception is delivered painfully and expensively by injection - a one-off operation is far less suffering for your pooch.

In addition, certain medical conditions are avoided by neutering. According to estimates, up to half of all 'entire' (non-neutered) bitches fall prey to pyometra, a potentially fatal womb infection. Neutering completely removes the risk and offers protection against mammary cancer if performed before a bitch's second season. Male dogs are completely protected from testicular cancer, and the likelihood of hormonally influenced tumours such as anal adenomas is reduced.

Let's not forget that pregnancies are also potentially life-threatening.

So why would anyone disagree with neutering?

Well, some people say it's not 'fair'. It's all a matter of how you look at it. We want to completely protect the rights of a dog to exhibit normal behaviours. However, being brought into sexual maturity but not allowed to act on the instincts that come with it could be considered substantially more unfair than avoiding the situation altogether.

There is some, mostly anecdotal, evidence to suggest neutering increases the likelihood of urinary incontinence in bitches. However, practices such as tail docking have also been associated with incontinence; how many of those dogs were also docked? We would welcome scientific research that could shed light on any possible links, but still believe that neutering clearly solves more problems than it is said to create.

Any other side effects? Well, possible weight gain, which is easily controlled with diet and exercise, and changes to the coat. Some dogs become fluffier, but they've never complained to us about their new look!

The fact is, if there were any evidence to suggest neutering could harm a dog, Dogs Trust would never do it.

When should your dog be neutered?

This is a controversial subject, and the best advice would be to talk it over with your vet.

Early age neutering can be beneficial because the operation is easier, safer and requires less recovery time. Many vets recommend waiting until six months; on the whole, neutering your dog before they come of age sexually is kinder, as they won't miss what they've never had.

Some practices offer neutering from as early as twelve weeks, others prefer to wait as long as ten months. Remember that it is an offence for a bitch to be mated before she is a year old, but she could come into season at ten months. If you cannot keep her 'safe', and you don't intend to breed her at all anyway, bear that in mind when you're deciding when to neuter your dog.

Last year 16,000 dogs passed through our Rehoming Centres. There are an estimated 100,000 stray dogs in this country, and we want to see every one with a loving home whilst at the same time reducing the scale of the problem. Neutering is a vital tool in that for us - could it be right for you, too?

What do Leona Lewis, David Bowie, Pele and Sean Connery have in common?

They're all part of our celebrity item auction!

You can now get your paws on authentic celebrity merchandise and help Scotland’s abandoned dogs at the same time! Dogs Trust Glasgow is holding a fundraising ball on 14th June and TODAY have opened pre-event bids on their celebrity item auction.

Up for grabs are:

1. James Bond 007 Goldfinger DVD, signed by Sean Connery
2. 33rd Ryder Cup team photograph, signed by Sam Torrence
3. Leona Lewis CD album, signed by Leona Lewis
4. Original Donovan ‘Greatest Hits’ 1969 album, signed by Donovan
5. Official Brazil t-shirt, signed by Pele
6. Rod Stewart CD Gold Disc ‘The Very Best Of’, finished in 24 carat gold and signed by Rod Stewart
7. Original David Bowie LP album ‘Diamond Dogs’ 1974
8. Dolphin and Whale watching experience package for 4 people
9. Top to Toe Pamper spa experience for 2 people

The live auction will take place at the Dogs Trust Glasgow Ball on Saturday 14th June at Glasgow Marriott Hotel.

Bids are open NOW and the final highest bid on the night will win. Pre-event bidding ceases 4pm Friday 13th June. The highest bidder for each lot will be notified that their bids will be taken to the live auction.

If you want to make sure you are not outbid on the night or if you would like to simply attend and support the charity, tickets for the event are £55 a person or £495 for a table of ten guests. The evening includes a four course meal and live Ceilidh band.

To place your bid or to book tickets please contact Victoria Kelly at the centre on 0141 773 5141 or victoria.kelly@dogstrust.org.uk.

Dogs Trust Glasgow looks after around 1100 dogs a year and receives no Government funding. Proceeds from the auction will help provide the highest standards of care for the dogs at the Uddingston centre which opened in October 2006.

Study claims owning a dog reduces allergies and boosts immune system

A six-year-long German study following some 9,000 volunteers appears to confirm what pet owners have suspected all along: that having a dog is good for your health.

Oh, I'm not talking about the things we've known for years: the extra exercise, agility, mental stimulation and emotional comfort. Having a dog, according to the study, helps to "train the immune system to be less sensitive to potential triggers for allergies like asthma, eczema and hay fever."

The research was conducted by Joachim Heinrich's team at the National Research Centre for Environmental Health in Munich. Admittedly, every study will involve a margin for human errors of memory, and in this instance parents were asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire about possible allergic symptoms in their children. However, blood samples were also taken from a third of the group (around 3,000 children) to test for common allergy antibodies.

Heinrich's conclusion?

"Our results show clearly that the presence of a dog in the home during subjects' infancy is associated with a significantly low level of sensitization to pollens and inhaled allergens."

Interestingly, children who had frequent contact with dogs but did not have a pet at home did not benefit from the same protective effect. Further study would be needed to establish the reasons why, but the hypothesis (which sounds like common sense to a lot of people) is that kids might get "beneficial early exposure to germs carried into the house on the animal's fur".

So, to those people who still wrinkle their noses and claim that animals are dirty it seems we can answer "maybe so, but our children are healthier for it!". (Besides, when was the last time those people cleaned their keyboards...?)

After all, remember Canine Charter for Human Health from Dogs Trust?

Canine Charter for Human Health

1) Owning a dog helps to reduce stress

2) Owning a dog can help to reduce blood pressure

3) Dog owners visit the doctor less

4) Dog owners take more exercise

5) Dogs can help to increase the attention span of children with learning difficulties

6) Owning a dog can boost your immune system

7) Dog owners are more likely to recover from a heart attack

8) People who have a dog tend to live longer

9) Some dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures

10) Dogs can help safeguard against loneliness and depression


[via The Register]