WIN a family ticket to the East Anglian Game & Country Fair!

THIS WEEKEND for the sixth consecutive year Dogs Trust will be returning to the East Anglian Game & Country Fair, at the Norfolk Showground, to join in their 10th Anniversary Celebrations. With new attractions, displays and workshops added, the event, yet again, promises a day packed with fun for all the family. The event features animals in their plenty, arena displays including sheep racing & crazy stunts from the like of mountain bike team Savage Skills, Have-A Go activities including clay shooting, mountain boarding, donkey rides & helicopter flights, canine events in the plenty as well as food tents, shopping and so much more…this is a must do date for your diary.

With its eye-catching yellow mobile rehoming unit Dogs Trust will take up position at the fair with two loveable four-legged friends from the Snetterton based rehoming centre which are looking for new homes. So whether you love dogs, have your own, or are looking for a new addition to your home pop in and say hello to the team. The team will be there to offer information on rehoming a dog, the local Dogs Trust centre, and the work of the charity, including ways in which you can get involved, plus the chance to meet a couple of our beautiful dogs.

And what’s more we have a family ticket to attend the fair up for grabs! All you need to do is just answer this question:

Which of these is not a dog breed that could be found at Dogs Trust Snetterton?

A) Collie Cross

B) Beagalini

C) Labradoodle

Please send your answer to feedback@dogstrust.org.uk with your name and address. We will be choosing the winners at 9:00am on the 25th of April 2013.

Please note: The prize consists of one family ticket per winner, which covers 2 adults (17yrs+) and up to three children (5-16, under 5s admitted free). UK entries only. Winners will be chosen at random after the closing date, and notified by email. Dogs Trust reserves the right to reject incomplete entries, so please remember to include your name and address. Your details will not be added to our database.

Creative Canine Carer Takes Part in New Photography TV Show

Nico, one of our Canine Carers at Canterbury, has been lucky to combine two of his passions - dogs and photography, in a new series for FIVE TV called 'How to Take Stunning Pictures'. We asked Nico to describe his experience of photography dogs and meeting his crush, the rather lovely Suzi Perry......

Working in dog kennels kinda keeps you at an even keel with reality, so when the Dogs Trust Press team called me about my name being put forward for a TV programme, I instinctively entertained the conversation then shrugged it off. After a call back requiring a photo of myself and that I may be called in to London for a screen test, I got that “good luck in the deep end feeling” (hmm, thanks Press Team!)

I figured my name had been put forward because I do have a keen interest in photography. Novice as it is, I enjoy it because it more often than not involves an important part of my life - dogs!

After the 2:30pm conversation, a 5:30pm phone call came up with plenty more questions and the invitation to come to London for the screen test. I was most definitely ‘bricking it’ shall we say - me, with a camera and lots of people I don’t know, is something my family would definitely laugh at!

A week or so later I found out I had been chosen for the programme. It was explained that in the coming weeks I would be taking a trip to Cotswolds Farm Park (work eh?), then spending some time at the Dogs Trust Harefield rehoming centre and ending it all with a couple of sessions at a studio in London.

On the filming days at Cotswolds Farm Park and Harefield I still could not get used to being relaxed with a big camera imposing itself on me and also repeating what you have said many times, but with the same excitement as the first time. However, the days themselves were great and rolling around with pigs, cows and goats made for my ideal day out. Harefield felt a bit more like home turf, so I felt a lot more at ease. The dogs I spent time with were great and the staff were really cooperative.

The final day of filming was all about the presenter links for the programme. For me, it was ALL about Suzi Perry – I have a bit of a childhood to (relative) adulthood crush. I was supremely wriggly when asking for a photo and signature, but it was the best 20 minutes I could have spent in London!

I am hoping the programme helps to raise awareness of the work of Dogs Trust and the rescue field. It also shows the enjoyment a person can get out of the job that I do. I’m obviously nervous about seeing how I have come across on TV and others seeing what I am like, but the less I think about that the better!

You can see Nico showing off his photography skills on the Tuesday 12th October episode of 'How to Take Stunning Pictures' at 7.30pm on FIVE.

Leap Anywhere takes to the streets for a Dogs Trust Flash Dance!

Love dogs? Love dancing?

Likely find yourself near London's Soho at 7pm tonight?

Then we think we have a great idea for you... courtesy of Leap Anywhere.

The team at the charity events promotion site decided that following on from another similar event recently, they would put on a Flash Dance for Dogs Trust. They let us know, and we've been helping them tell everyone about it because we think it's a great idea!

This is what they have to say:

Ants in your pants? Fancy a little dance?

Love a little pup? Need a pickme up?

Well it's time to shake some booty.

Woooooooooooof it up everybody...this Thursday 30 July we're filling Old Compton Street with a Flash Dance for Dogs Trust the UK's leading Dog Charity. Why? We say, why the woof not.

We love dogs. And we love dancing. We're going to shake a leg for about 2 minutes right in the middle of Old Compton Street in the heart of Soho to raise a bit of money and a lot of awareness for Dogs Trust, cause the little doggies deserve a dance.

Find out more by visiting Leap Anywhere's website.

Sadly I can't make it down there as I'll be at an event in Russell Square talking about Dogs Trust's work online, but Jacqui will be at the event, Flip camera and mobile phone in tow, ready to capture some great snaps to put on this very blog and out other social pages.

Something like this works best when lots of people get involved, so if you find yourself with a spare two minutes to shake your tail and drop a few pennies in the collection box we'd love for you to be there. Let us know in the comments if you're planning to attend!