VIDEO: Bentley the Canine Care Card Dog's Story

Bentley is a beautiful Collie x German Shepherd cross (we think) who was entrusted to our care through the Canine Care Card scheme, which means we promise to care for and rehome your dog in the event of your death.

He was a bit of a special case though, as you'll see by watching the video below.

And in case you're wondering, Bentley has now found an owner and will be heading to his new home soon! Update 24/04: Bentley has now gone home!

VIDEO: Bentley the Canine Care Card Dog's Story from Dogs Trust on Vimeo.

There are lots of other dogs who'd also like their forever homes, like lovely lady Lurcher Felicity and bouncy Boxer cross Shadey, both in Kenilworth.

For dogs needing homes across the UK, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming

Dog of the Week: Connor @ Dogs Trust West Calder

Introducing... Connor!

Breed: German Shepherd

Age: 6

Likes: Cuddles and kids are fine by me: I love the attention. I also really enjoy travelling in the car. I'm housetrained and like walks and playing with other dogs.

Dislikes: My arthritic hips have been known to let me down. Although I'm on daily medication for epilepsy, I rarely have a fit and am very brave when I do.

Needs: A really special, patient family who'll smother me in love and help with my medical condition. Dogs Trust have said that, to help me find a forever home, they'll pay my vet bills for the rest of my life so my new owners don't have to worry about the cost.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust West Calder on 01506 873 459 or see more dogs for rehoming online.

Previous Dogs of the Week: Sunbeam | Poppy

ASPCA assists Tennessee's largest ever puppy farm raid

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has lent its expertise and resources to Tennessee's largest-ever puppy farm raid, showing that the problem is just as widespread as suspected.

The cruelty investigation team, including two forensic vets, discovered 747 animals in enclosures dotted around the 92 acre Pine Bluff Kennels estate. The vast majority were dogs, but horses, burros, miniature horses, chickens, goats, parrots and pedigree cats were also found on the site.

Seven hundred dogs - over 200 of which are pups - were found lacking basic care in faeces-encrusted pens lacking ventilation and sufficient food and water. Most require treatment for matting, sores, broken limbs, hernias or abscesses. Various different breeds were discovered, including Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, GSDs and Great Danes.

Dr Melinda Merck, working on behalf of the ASPCA, commented:

“This is one of the worst situations I have ever seen. Animals are in extreme states of neglect and illness. Some are dead. The overcrowding, the unsanitary conditions, the flea and parasite infestation, as well as the stress of competing for food and coping with untreated illnesses, are all severe.”

Puppy farms, also known as "puppy mills" in the USA, are an international problem, and despite laws that prohibit some of the practices of puppy farms in the UK, they are still prevalent over here. The industry is often driven by innocent-looking Internet ads, and inexperienced future dog owners are duped into buying a puppy raised in conditions they would have been horrified by.

For more information on helping to destroy this cruel trade and tips on identifying a genuine breeder, please read the Dogs Trust information leaflet.

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."

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]