Urgent rehoming appeal for precious puppy Ronnie

As you'll easily see in the video below, Ronnie is a gorgeous 7 month old puppy. He has been at the centre for about a month and although he is your normal playful puppy, he has a condition called megaesophagus that means feeding and drinking is more difficult.

Megaesophagus is a condition where the muscles in the oesophagus aren’t working properly. Normally, the muscles would expand and contract to push the food down while eating, but having this condition means that as Ronnie eats, the food and drink he takes in doesn’t move down into his stomach and instead stays in his oesophagus. The longer the food stays there, the higher the volume and this in turn can trigger the regurgitation reflex. This means Ronnie isn’t getting any of the food and not putting on any weight.

Having this condition means Ronnie needs some special attention during feeding times. As shown in the video, he eats up in the chair and is left for a while afterwards because gravity helps to slide the food down and settle in his stomach. Having feeding time in this way stops aspiration pneumonia – when food or drink could go down into the trachea and into the lungs.



Ronnie needs regular feeding and in the centre, they are currently doing this four times a day: at 8am, midday, 4pm and finally, those who live on site come in at 8pm to give him his last feed. This attention means Ronnie needs a very special home to give him all of the care that he needs.

Despite his condition, Ronnie is still your average loveable pup – he likes the company of people, enjoys being with other dogs and loves his toys. He doesn’t require any special food, but the food does need to be ‘mushed up’ to help it go down better. Ronnie also can’t have normal water; it has to be in jelly form.

Because of his feeding routine, Ronnie needs to be the only dog in the home. He also needs an active family and would be more suitable with older children. Due to his condition, Ronnie will be a part of our foster scheme and his new owners will receive financial support for any veterinary treatment required throughout his life.

If you are interested in rehoming Ronnie, please contact our Leeds centre on 0113 281 4920.

For more information about any of the dogs currently in our care, please visit our website.

Canine Care Card brings sparky couple into centre

Many dog owners worry about where their canine companion would end up if the worse were to happen to them. Dogs Trust created the Canine Care Card for this very reason. The free service ensures peace of mind that if you were to pass away first, your dog would be cared for at one of our 17 rehoming centres around the UK and given the chance to find a new loving home.

We’ve just had two great friends, Rocket and Sparkle come into our Canterbury centre. Their owner had registered for the Canine Care Card and this meant we were on hand to care for them.

Rocket, a six year old male Labrador, and Sparkle, a four year old female Cavalier, are beautiful dogs that came in together after their owner sadly passed away and are looking to be rehomed as a pair.

They are looking for a home together as they’ve always been a pair and would like to be the only pets in the home so they can get all the fuss they deserve. They’ve had a troublesome few months so are looking for a quiet home where they won’t be left for longer than 3 hours so they can rebuild their confidence in a new environment. Any children in the home should be 14 years plus as they’ve been used to older, calmer owners in the past.

The youngest of the doggy duo, Sparkle loves being out and about and often gets into mischief! Rocket, the older gentleman prefers a calmer approach and loves to plod through the woods. Rocket is quite nervous of other dogs but once settled this can be worked on and managed. Both dogs would benefit from some basic training to keep their brains active.

Rocket is incredibly soppy and loves a calm walk in any weather. He enjoys treats and gets excited whenever he sees one in your hand. He is so affectionate and tries getting as much of himself on your lap as possible. Rocket is a little shy of new people but when he knows them, he greets them excitedly.

Sparkle is a real character. Her carers say she can be as mad as a hatter, but loves attention and a cuddle on your lap. Sparkle loves her walks and the minute you pick up her lead, she gets incredibly excited and is out of the door quicker than you could imagine! Sparkle is affectionate, loyal and adores Rocket.

If you think you could offer this lovely pair a home together, please contact our Canterbury Rehoming Centre on 01227 792 505 or visit them at: Radfall Road, Chestfield, Nr Whitstable, Kent, CT5 3ER.

For more information about the Canine Care Card please visit our website.

The Canine Care Card service is currently only available for residents of the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands & the Isle of Man.

When a Labrador met a Meerkat

Glasgow Education Officer, Lorraine Hare recently had an opportunity to see what happens when Donny the Labrador made friends with Maku the Meerkat, at the Glasgow Science Centre's Dog Days exhibition.

The Glasgow Science Centre invited Donny and I along as part of a Dog Days exhibition for children. They created science experiments for children to get 'hands-on' and learn about dogs. There was a 'smelly test' where children found out about a dog's nose and put their own noses to the test to decipher different smells in jars. There was a hearing station where kids could learn about how a dog's sense of hearing works. There was also a chance for them to make dog toys from recycled materials and a picture activity about body language.

Donny and I had our own table with fun activities for children - colouring-in, puzzles and mini-workshops outlining responsible dog ownership and what a dog needs to be happy and healthy. Donny was the centre of attention and enjoyed having cuddles, demonstrating his clicker training skills, putting his nose into action on the ' Dog Treat Treasure Hunt', being brushed and having lots of cuddles. The kids learned lots about caring for dogs and parents joined in with the activities too - especially the Donny cuddles!

We met a Skunk (called Peanut) and a Meerkat (called Maku) as they were doing a short show for children in the exhibition room next door as part of another event. The gentleman who was caring for them on the day came into our room to say 'hi' and wondered if Donny would like to meet them. He thought it would be a good experience for the Skunk and Meerkat if Donny would like to interact with them. As Donny is a kind and gentle soul I was happy to let him say hello to both creatures! They were relaxed and happy the whole time and didn't seem in the least bit worried about Donny, and he was just the same. They sniffed him and the Meerkat was nose-to-nose with Donny for a while. I think they rather liked each other actually!

A doggy celebration for Canada Day

Modern Canada turns 142 years old today! The British North America Act of 1867 was signed on the first of July, giving Canada independence as a country of four provinces. As someone who's always wanted to visit, I'll be popping along to experience a taste of Canada at the Trafalgar Square celebrations tonight, but I thought it honour of the vast North American country I should do a bit of a Canadian-themed doggy celebration. No, no Labradors. Or Newfoundlands. In fact, let's go back to before modern Canada, to the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic and their canine companions...

Canada has produced several breeds of dog, but one of the oldest indigenous breeds - now one of the rarest - is the Canadian Eskimo Dog. It's also known as the Canadian Inuit Dog or Qimmiq, the latter name meaning 'dog' in the Inuit language.

Built for hard work rather than speed, this dog bears a resemblance to a wolf but was used as a working dog for generations, finally becoming less popular with the advent of other modes of reliable snow transport in the latter part of the last century. In common with other sledding dogs like Huskies, they need a phenomenal amount of exercise as well as plenty of mental stimulation, being highly intelligent. As such, they need very special care outside of their traditional home; aside from their need for work, they're built for snow and are prone to heatstroke if the temperature rises too much.

On a day for celebrating the best to come out of Canada, I think this very beautiful dog deserves a mention. Oh, and maple syrup is pretty fabulous, too.

Dog of the Week: Solomon @ Dogs Trust Salisbury

Introducing... Solomon!

Age: 7

Breed: Labrador Crossbreed

Likes: I'm a dapper fellow who has two great loves: food and my female doggy pals. I'm playful and affectionate, friendly with people and dogs (boys too, though I show favouritism to girls!), and came into care through no fault of my own.

Dislikes: None, really! I'm a well-behaved lad. I even get on with children provided they're sensible and not too young.

Needs: A family!

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Salisbury on 01980 629634 or see more dogs needing homes.

Previous Dogs of the Week: Mr. Shih Tzu @ Dogs Trust Harefield | Robbie @ Dogs Trust West Calder

Dog-friendly holidays: Ballachulish Hotel, Scottish Highlands

I've just returned from the freezing and extremely beautiful West Highlands, staying on the banks of Loch Linnhe (about two hours drive north west of Glasgow, or half an hour from Fort William). What struck me - aside from the good food, cheerful residents and positively cinematographic beauty of the place - was how very dog-friendly the hotel I stayed in was, and what a lot of scope for wonderful walks there was.

The Ballachulish Hotel is a pleasantly crumbly place on the banks of the Loch, which does package deals for short breaks that work out decent value due to the good meals included. In their brochure they state that dogs and other pets are welcome by arrangement, and well-behaved pooches can come into the communal (though obviously not eating) areas. We found ourselves sharing afternoon tea time by the fire with a very curious and bouncie Westie (how appropriate!), two curious black Labradors and a bouncy - and huge! - one year old Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Crossing the road to spend a few peaceful moments watching the mist change colour as the sun rose above the hills, I reflected that it was the perfect place for an active dog. Just in that one stretch of ground there was a pebbled shore, a grassy bank, a brook, some muddier patches and of course the water of the Loch - a veritable symphony of sights, smells and textures. As if to prove my point, the Labs came bounding over to investigate our ankles and generally explore.

We encountered another Lab and a Collie on walks in nearby Inchree and Callop (which I'll forever think of as Narnia, thanks to the photo we took, above), so clearly the locals have the right idea. Another hotel we stopped at for lunch in Arisaig while exploring the area by car had a couple of resident pooches of its own, Harris and Lewis; I don't think I've ever met such a docile, friendly and good-natured pair of dogs (except maybe Hubble).

Despite being a cat owner, it seems work comes with you wherever you go - even on honeymoon. As more people choose to stay at home to save travelling costs, I suspect Scotland will become a mecca for dog owners as they find the freedom to enjoy a holiday with their best four-legged friends.

Dogs Trust Darlington puppy chaos: babes of all breeds needing homes

Dogs Trust Darlington has had quite an influx of younguns recently, including 35 taken in during the last weeks of November. They're now very keen to find homes for a whopping eight litters of playful pups.

There are Labrador Crosses, Lurchers, Collie Crosses and Staffordshire Bull Terriers all available at the centre, so if you are thinking of getting a puppy then this might be the centre to start your search at!

Staff have had to be creative about naming their new charges, so have given each litter a theme, including:

• Contestants on I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here
• Hat types (e.g. Fedora and Beret!)
• Reindeers (e.g. Blitzen and Prancer)
• Characters from The Lion King
• Celebrity offspring (e.g. Cruz and Knox)

At the centre, Supporter Relations Officer Katie Purvis comments:

“Every year we take in puppies that have been bought as Christmas presents and abandoned once the novelty wears off.

Dogs need a lot of time, love and devotion and anyone considering getting a dog should think very seriously before adding a dog to the family. Remember that a dog is for life, not just for Christmas!”

If you are interested in rehoming one of the pups please call the centre on 01325 333 114.

The centre will not rehome from 21st December to 2nd January 2008, but visitors and dog walkers are still welcome and dogs can still be booked during this time.

Happy Dog Stories: Chris and 'oldies' Dixie and Missy

Chris McGrath had vowed not to get another dog after the last one died at the end of 2007. Here she explains how she broke that vow to get two 'oldies' who have filled the house with love:

"When our last dog died at the end of last year we said ‘no more dogs’. We are both now pensioners so have to think about our life span as well as that of a dog*. Morbid? Maybe, but necessary!

"But … the house seemed very empty - we had had at least one dog around for the last 35 years - and there wasn’t any real reason to ‘just go for a walk’. Our daughter, who works in Dogs Trust HQ, finally persuaded us that we needed a dog!

"I first saw Dixie, a crossbreed, on the Oldies website, where Dogs Trust Merseyside had posted details of her. She was 13 years old, which was possibly the reason why she was overlooked, so we travelled down to the Centre to meet her. It didn’t take very long to decide that she was The One and a couple of days later we brought her home. She settled in very well. Poppy The Cat looked a bit confused when they first met but there were no problems at all.

"A couple of weeks later we heard about another old lady, a 14 year old Labrador, who needed a new home. However she was very poorly and we had to wait until we could meet her. A week later we travelled back down to Merseyside to introduce Dixie to Missy. They took no notice of each other! Missy had a very bad skin condition which had made her tummy hairless and very very smelly. Previously she had been living in a garage because of her bad smell. She was also scratching a lot.

"We took her home (with the car windows open because she really was smelly) and it was her turn to meet Poppy The Cat. Again, no problems. In fact the cat didn’t seem at all surprised that another dog had suddenly appeared. With ongoing monthly injections and medicated baths Missy is now a lovely sweet smelling dog and her skin condition is improving. She actually runs (she wasn’t very keen on walking, let alone running and playing ball when we first had her), and both dogs enjoy the beach and going for a swim. We discovered that Missy is also deaf, but she has learnt a bit of very basic sign language.

"We don’t know how long Dixie and Missy will be around, hopefully for a while yet, but they’ve brought so much pleasure to us. Another plus for us personally – Poppy The Cat has stopped waking us up by letting out blood curdling yowls in the middle of the night because she was pining for our previous dog. Her life must have seemed to missing something as well as ours as she had lived all of her 16 years with a dog around.

"So – if anyone is thinking of adopting an Oldie – do it!"

If you have a happy story about your rescue dogs (whether they came from Dogs Trust or not), please email me with a photo and your tale and it could appear here soon! If you're interested in adopting a dog, please visit our website for more information.

Previous Happy Dog Stories: Jo and Daisy| Kim and Jake

*The Dogs Trust Canine Care Card scheme is a special FREE service that give you peace of mind, knowing that Dogs Trust will look after your dog in the event of your death.

Dog of the Week: Honey @ Dogs Trust Ballymena

Introducing... Honey!

Breed: Labrador Retriever Crossbreed

Age: 4

Likes: I am a bright girl, so I enjoy training. I've already learned basic commands and am hungry to learn more. I like children of all ages and enjoy being with a family.

Dislikes: I get stressed if I'm left alone.

Needs: I'm easy going and friendly; all I need is a house where I have company most of the day.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Ballymena on 028 2565 2977 or visit the centre's online gallery.

Dog(s) of the Week: George & Phoebe @ Dogs Trust Salisbury

Introducing... George & Phoebe!

Age: 8 (Phoebe) & 9 (George)

Breed: Terrier (Phoebe) & Labrador (George)

Likes: We're known as the 'dynamic duo' or 'Little & Large' because we go everywhere together. George likes playing in water, going for walks and finding hidden biscuits, and Phoebe loves a good cuppa, a play with a tennis ball and a squeaky toy.

Dislikes: None, really. We even get on with other dogs!

Needs: We want to be rehomed together! We have too strong an attachment to be separated. We'd both be happy to live with older children, and we're housetrained.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Salisbury on 01980 629634 or visit the centre gallery online.

Previous Dogs of the Week: Fran @ Ilfracombe | Jess & Brinkley @ Shoreham

Dog(s) of the Week: Jess and Brinkley @ Dogs Trust Shoreham

Introducing... Jess & Brinkley!

Breed: Golden Retriever Cross (Brinkley) and Crossbreed (Jess)

Age: Jess is 5 and Brinkey is 2

Likes: Both of us are shy and nervous types, so what we like best are patient people who will take the time to get to know us and wait until we trust them at which point we hugely enjoy cuddles.

Dislikes:

Jess - I am not keen on cats and although I can get on with other dogs I am very nervous so I need time to get used to the idea.

Brinkley - I haven't tried hanging out with cats yet, but Dogs Trust say they'll introduce me if a new owner really needs me to. I've had a rough start in life so I am not keen on too much pressure but will show a lot of love if I'm given time to adjust.

Needs: Both of us need houses with children over 12 where we are preferably the only dogs.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Shoreham on 01273 452576 or visit Shoreham's rehoming gallery on Dogs Trust's website.

No news to pet owners: dogs 'catch' human yawns!

Now, I know my late cats and I started yawn chains back and forth to each other all the time. And it does seem to me that dogs are very attuned to the moods and behaviours of their owners. So today's news that dogs can 'catch' yawns from humans doesn't surprise me, and I suspect I'm far from alone in that.

Scientists believe that human yawn chains are down to empathy, and this evidence suggests dogs are capable of empathising with people - again, no news to dog lovers! I've certainly seen a dog start the process; a dozy Chihuahua once set off a whole bus I was riding on, to the amusement of everyone in it. The key finding with the new research is that they can also 'catch' a yawn from us, and previously it was thought that only humans and close primates could do that.

I know I've managed to get cats to mimick my behaviour before (making them sleepy by blinking slowly at them and, yes, making them yawn after me). Dogs are, as the scientists who conducted the research pointed out, "very skilled at reading human social cues", tending to respond to mood and adopt a posture and behaviour similar to their owner. BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull couldn't get his two gorgeous inky black Labs to yawn when he did, but when he pretended to sleep they immediately settled down to do so as well - surely this suggests just as much empathy?

In the 15,000 years we've lived together, it's inevitable that dogs and people have learned certain habits together (it's just a shame we can't all be as unconditionally loving as dogs are!). But it's good to have yet more proof of how close and connected a relationship can develop between man and his best friend.

Dog of the Week: Olive @ Dogs Trust Snetterton

Introducing... Olive!

Breed: Labrador Cross

Age: 6

Likes: I love to play fetch or raggy - anything active that compliments my jolly nature. I also like keeping things clean and am perfectly housetrained.

Dislikes: Noise and fuss; I'm finding kennel life a bit hard because I had a quiet home before.

Needs: My owners moved and couldn't take me with them, but I know I would become a very loyal pet to a new family. I do need to be the only pet, though.
Contact: Call Dogs Trust Snetterton on 01953 498 377 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

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]

Working dogs and specialist homes

If you're a supporter of Dogs Trust, you'll know we have a strict policy of never putting a healthy dog down. So what do we do when encountered with a dog that might never make a suitable family pet due to hyperactive, feisty behaviour?

When I first started this job, a lot of people asked me this. My first response was always that the sponsor a dog programme is designed precisely for cases where, due to behavioural issues, ill health, age or other factors, a dog is unlikely to be rehomed. But for young, vibrant dogs there's also the option of becoming a working dog, something I hadn't considered much before becoming part of the team here.

As it turns out, boisterous dogs are always needed by the Armed Forces and prison services, while those dogs who are obsessed with their toys are much in demand for training as sniffer dogs.

The notion of a 'working' dog can be quite strange to some people, I think. The only ones I come into contact with on a regular basis are guide dogs, so I was subconsciously accustomed to the idea that working dogs are pretty docile, albeit with a fierce intelligence. Yet the Armed Forces, for example, look for dogs that have a drive for possession, are inquisitive and won't back down from confrontation.

Many qualities, then, that we wouldn't seek in a family pet, but that make for the extraordinary working animals who have featured in high profile police investigations and saved lives. They're not all work, work, work (sorry!) either. When talking to our subscriber magazine, Wag, PC Jacqui Hamilton gushed about her beloved partner Incy, who might be a determined cash detection dog - seeking laundered money - at work, but is a cuddly friend at home.

I had long suspected that not all working dogs are Hollywood-style big, bold, stereotypically "scary"-looking dogs, either. Quite right too; Incy is a Labrador/Staffy cross, and Ziggy, an active search dog in the prison service, is a friendly Springer Cocker cross (that's a 'Sprocker', apparently!).

Of course, you might be wondering, as I was, what happens when bright sparks like Incy and Ziggy come to the end of their careers. Well, the handler is offered first refusal on rehoming, and very often the dogs stay with them or go to their friends, family or a familiar colleague who has bonded with them.

If not, Dogs Trust is always here to help.