Lord Mayor's Show 2009: Windy and wet, but fun!

I was delighted to volunteer to walk in the Lord Mayor's Show for a second time... until I saw the weather forecast! It really was as cold, wet and windy as it's ever been for the show (to the point that the fireworks had to be cancelled) but it's hard to have anything but a smile on your face when you're accompanied by a bunch of friendly, happy dogs showing off their best sides in search of a home.

The three featured in the video below aren't the only ones, but they were among the few willing to sit still(ish!) for the camera! Apologies for the dodgy sound quality that was due to the strong winds, but all the relevant information is on the slides. And yes, that is me in the last segment, looking seriously classy in my Waggy Walks hat, I think... ahem.


I completely fell in love with Apple and had to remind myself about a hundred times that it wasn't the right time to get a dog. But really, how many times can you be expected to resist being licked on the chin by a Jack Russell pup?! She walked beautifully, often nudging at Education Officer Natalie's beautiful Patterdale Terriers who came along for the walk. Other dogs needing homes included the most fabulously placid Corgi cross, Rex, and a fantastically exuberant - and stunningly beautiful - German Shepherd x Dobermann pup who really wanted to get to know everyone.

Despite our numb fingers - warmed somewhat during the lunch break by the hot chocolates our Communications Director Charlotte managed to snaffle from somewhere, to our immense gratitude! - we did all have a lovely time, and the kind folks from The Cook & The Butler made our dogs very happy with the odd helping of sausage from their delicious-smelling barbecue float.

Now I just have to dry out in time for next year November...

Video: Lord Mayor's Show 2008 - Getting ready and showing off dogs needing homes!

While we were busy getting ready for the Lord Mayor's Show, Charlotte from our Communications department was running around with her camera getting video of the float, the Canine Gang and two of the dogs coming along with us who are looking for homes.

Happy Dog Stories: Jo and Daisy

We like to share our new happy dog story updates on our Facebook page, and this prompted Jo to leave us a message and then send us some very cute pictures, at least one of which I couldn't resist publishing above. Here's what she had to say about her rehoming experience:

"I just wanted to share my experience from Dogs Trust Snetterton. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. They matched me with my puppy who had been found abandoned along with her sister a few weeks before. Her sister had been fortunate to have found a home and we're glad we were matched with Daisy as she has bought nothing but fun and excitement since bringing her home! She had been named Susannah but we renamed her Daisy. She is a 9 week old JRT Cross.

"Jo & Daisy (who is curled up next to me having a nap!)"

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: Kim and Jake | Sarah and Alfie

Meet Dogs Trust's Dogs: Liniker

You always know when Liniker's at HQ; it's hard to believe he's already six years old because he's a pure bundle of energy! Here he gets his chance to shine and be made a fuss of online:

Name: Liniker Baillon

Breed: Jack Russell

Colour: White, tan and black

Age: 6

Who's your favourite two-legged friend at Dogs Trust? I love to get to know everyone at Dogs Trust, but my Mummy is my favourite – she gives me lots of cuddles and kisses and yummy treats when I’m a good boy!

Who's your favourite four-legged friend at Dogs Trust? I haven’t really met many other dogs at Dogs Trust because I don't come in every day, but I enjoy seeing Buster and saying hello to him in the mornings!

What's your favourite toy? I like anything that squeaks and is soft, I like to hold the toys in my mouth and chew on the squeaker for hours!

What's your favourite treat? I’m not really a biscuit type dog, but I love anything that has really juicy meat…ummm yumm!

What do you dream about? I dream about running in fields with my sisters and brother and going to the beach to swim in the sea (I love swimming!)

Where's the best place to take a walk? I really like going to muddy fields where I can splash around in the muddy puddles and find lots of different smells and trees.

What are you favourite activities? I like to find where the toys and treats are!

What's the one thing you can't stand? My sisters and brother getting more attention than me!

What do your humans like best about you? My silky coat and nice nature, I just love attention and I’ve been told I have nice eyes.

How did you meet your humans? My Mum came and picked me up with my sister from Bedford when I was 7 weeks old. That's Britney, my sister, in the background of my photo, trying to steal the attention again...

Check in next Monday for another doggy profile!

Previous Dogs Trust Dog Profiles: Harvey | Charlie aka Chas

Meet Dogs Trust's Dogs: Buster Boy aka BB

Sometimes the humans at Dogs Trust HQ get a little lonely without their dogs - and who can blame them? Us four-legged creatures are the best, after all. As such we've decided that we ought to get just as much press as the two-legged folk, and you can't be said to have 'met' Dogs Trust if you haven't met us...

Name: Buster Boy, but my friends call me BB

Breed: Lurcher cross

Colour: Tan and white

Age: I think I'm about 12. I was a stray, so no-one knows for sure.

Who's your favourite two-legged friend at Dogs Trust? My mum of course! She's called Jo and that's her giving me a cuddle.

Who's your favourite four-legged friend at Dogs Trust? My best friend is Charlie, a terrier who is also in the office. We go for walks together every lunchtime. Outside work I'm a bit of ladies man; lady dogs find me irresistible, but my favourite girlfriend is Bess, who's a Lurcher like me.

What's your favourite toy? I love anything with a squeak, especially my squeaky sheep. You know I'm really happy when I start throwing it around!

What's your favourite treat? Sausage. Mmmmm.

What do you dream about? Chasing squirrels! Mum says I run and woof to myself in my sleep, so you you know when I'm dreaming.

Where's the best place to take a walk? In London, I like walking by the canal as there are always squirrels to chase.

What are you favourite activities? Showing off how fast I can run, barking at the postman to make him jump, playing in the garden, sleeping and getting my humans to scratch my tummy and ears.
What's the one thing you can't stand? Being left alone. I suffer from chronic separation anxiety, which is one of the reasons I love coming to work with my friends.

What do your humans like best about you? They love my cuddles, my gentleness and that I'm always smiling.

How did you meet your humans? They found me at Dogs Trust Snetterton.

Meet Dogs Trust's Dogs is our new weekly Monday feature - check back next week for more!

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]