Down turn hits dog rescue centres

Pedigree puppies are being taken in by rescue centres because breeders cannot sell them. Dog rescue centres have said they have been left struggling to cope because of Christmas and the economic downturn.
Families were "thinking twice" about having a new pet because of concerns about how much it will cost. The authority's dog control officer said that the credit crunch was "definitely having an effect".
"Traditionally there is a slowdown in re-homing dogs at Christmas, but this year it has slowed down even further."
Pet is for life and not just for Christmas' remains an important one."
People are struggling to look after their dogs, because of financial reasons or because of the animal's behaviour. If this is the case then you should contact your local dog warden, turning a dog out on the street was not an option and is illegal.
People who can take on a new pet, to be loved and cared for "long after the festive season", are urged to contact the rescue centres.

It Is A Happy New Year

I couldn't have had a better New Year present than to receive my results of my course. I know have a Diploma in Canine Psychology, I got an A with 86% and have the letters Dip.dog.psy after my name.

Our Christmas was a great one too as the pictures show, grandchildren play with a new toy after we had our Christmas family breakfast. Then playing some silly games together and even Mica got presents from Santa.

Merry Christmas

We from Doggy-b-good wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
from Domino, Rusty and Mica

Give A Dog A Special Gift For Christmas

Dog Trust

You can Sponsoring a dog for just £1 a week by loging on to the Dogtrust website and give a dog a special gift.
Our hearts are full of love and we want to share it with you.
Our difficult pasts can make it hard for us to find a home, but Dogs Trust promise to look after us for the rest of our lives if we need them to.
Your £1 a week will help Dogs Trust keep their promise to never put down a healthy dog, and in return you'll receive photos and news from your sponsored dog three times a year. You can even sponsor a dog as a gift!

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/sponsor_a_dog/

The Blue Cross

If you're considering taking on a pet, adopting an animal is a great way to find an animal companion. The animals in the Blue Cross animal adoption centres have a lot to give a responsible owner, and they deserve a warm and loving home. Please bear in mind that the animals you see here are only available for adoption subject to the centre's own screening processes.

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/CustomPages/AnimalsForAdoption.asp

PDSA

Become a PDSA Best Friend online today. PDSA 'Best Friends' is a special club for animal lovers. You can become a PDSA Best Friends and help support PDSA's work with a monthly donation that goes straight to helping sick and injured animals.

http://www.pdsa.org.uk/

There are many other animal charities that need your help to support their hard work they do. Please take some time and vist the link below where you will find different animal charities.

http://www.dogs.co.uk/dog-charities.html

Christmas Abandoned Dogs Warning

Don't Let This Happen To A Dog

In Derbyshire there has been a sharp rise in abandoned dogs found.

The number of dogs that the wardens have picked up has doubled since last year. It’s very sad as it is believed that many are older dogs that are being abandoned at Christmas time to make way for new puppies.

Please don’t buy puppies as presents and particularly at Christmas, dog’s are for life not for Christmas, you can’t exchange them or take them back. Puppies don’t come trained, and having a dog is a very big commitment and need proper train and looking after. You have to remember they need insurance and vet bill cost a lot of money.

RSPCA's PetRetreat service

This is the time of the year when most of us enjoy being with our families and friends. We enjoy good food and drink, open presents and have fun. But there is another side out side of our homes, and that’s families of domestic abuse. That is bad enough but there is one other factor that is not often though about, if there is an animal involved too, that where you can come in.

Pet foster carers are needed to provide temporary homes for pets belonging to families fleeing domestic abuse.

The RSPCA PetRetreat service relies on foster carers to give pets loving homes for around four to six months or even longer.

Fostering a pet can be a pleasant and rewarding experience, and is essential for the RSPCA's PetRetreat service to continue helping families and animals.

The following are typical characteristics of a PetRetreat fosterer.

A love of animals
Ideally with experience of owning a pet.

Patience
Animals may be frightened or anxious going into a new home and need time to settle and adjust.

Understanding and empathetic
About what the animal may have seen or been through, and aware that the animal may have been abused.

Dedication
Prepared to look after a pet for around six months - or possibly longer.

Extraordinary
It takes a special person to be a PetRetreat fosterer.

Give an animal a Happy Christmas

Deaf Dog’s Can Learn

Deaf Dog’s Can Learn

Sign language taught to deaf dog

Zoe a deaf Dalmatians is gaining confidence as she masters sign languish. Zoe an 18-month-old Dalmatian, is being cared for at the RSPCA's Little Valley Animal Shelter in Exeter. The Staff at the shelter were worried Zoe, who is almost completely deaf, may not be adopted. Staff say Zoe has taken to the new training so well and has learned seven sign commands which includes “sit”, “stay”, and “lie down”. An animal behaviour assistant at the shelter, said: "When Zoe came to the shelter she was timid and lacked confidence is soon become apparent she was deaf. Zoe could not be train with voice commands in the usual way, so the staff came up with the idea of sign language. The RAPCA is hoping Zoe’s new found confidence will help find a suitable home.

Please remember taking on a dog is a very big commitment, so taking on a deaf dog is twice the work but very rewarding, as is having any dog. Please make sure you are very committed.

BBC Cuts Crufts Coverage

The decision for the BBC to cut the televise coverage of Crusfts concern the RSPCA. The RSPCA believes it reflects deep scientific and public concern about the unacceptably high levels of disability, deformity and diseases affecting pedigree dogs.

In the wake of the BBC documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed the RSPCA decided not to attend Crufts 2009. This decion is to send out a clear message that urgent action must be taken to improve the health and welfare of pedigree dogs.
There are several other leading animal welfare charities and show sponsors that have since decided also not to atened Crusfts.

Hundreds of thousands of dogs are suffering and have disease because they’re primarily bred for how they look rather than their health, welfare and nature as the main focus. Dog shows using current breed standards as the main judging criteria are flawed and don’t do our pedigree dogs no favours. It allows and supports both the breeding of deformed and disabled dogs and the inbreeding of closely related animals. This is morally unforgivable and has to stop.”

The RSPCA wants to see changes within dog shows so that health, the emphasis of dog shows shifted away from arbitrary appearance, so that health, wellbeing and temperament are considered first and foremost. The association wants to help ensure that pedigree dogs have the best possible chance of being fit, healthy and happy with their lives they will lead as pets.

Virus Kills Five Dogs In Cornwall

Dog owner are being advised to get their pet dogs vaccinated to avoid an out break of the deadly virus. Five dog have know died in Cornwall, any dogs that display symptoms of severe sickness and diarrhoea, who will not eat or drink need to be taken to the vet immediately. As dog owners we need to make sure we vaccinate our dogs to stop out breaks of canine viruses. If you are not sure about vaccinations then contact your nearest vet.

FUR TRADE IT MUST STOP

O my god I had to watch this video that was sent to me about the fur trade, as I always want to face the horrible seen to do with the fur trade. The shock and horror I felt watching the video is nothing to the pain and curtly animals go though for humans to wear fur, it‘s and disgrace and it’s disgusting. We have our own skin why should we kill and take the skin of animals to wear just to look good. Maybe these fur traders who do this, should have their head bashed on the ground, and while still conscious take part of their skin taken off and see how they like it.

The following video is of excruciating violence. Its painful silences affect us all deeply. If we don't protect animals from this type of brutality, we become accomplices.

http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=fur_farm&Player=wm&speed=med

Please sign and forward to all your contacts -

Our Mica

Mica is now 7 months old and she is doing great with her training. She is a loving dog and loves being around me and the family. She knows 8 verbal words and 6 hand signals, not bad for a 7th month old puppy. She has two certificates for her obedience classes. She won 5th places in a fun show for waggies tail and done a charity walk for Brest Cancer. Here are some special photos of my special girl. You can also see how she has progress since she came home with us on my other web site dominobrettsworldlive.com and click on our dogs, then Mica.

RSPCA Rescues 100 St Bernard Dogs From Kennels

The RSPCA has rescued 100 dogs from Wardana Boarding Kennels & Cattery in Northamptonshire. RSPCA inspectors removed the dogs from a kennels near Northampton following a tip-off to the police on Saturday evening. Two of the dog were in such bad condition they died. The dogS which include puppies had been locked in their cages with out food for several days.

A spokesman for the charity said 99 dogs have been sent to rescue centres in Nottinghamshire and Cambridgeshire and are being given treatment. They will eventually be re-homed.

There where four other dogs boarding at the kennels and have been returned to their owners, theRE was no concern over their welfare. Investigations into the dogs conditions are being carried out.

Many of the dogs were covered in their own excrement. The kennels belonged to a well know dog breeder, Mary-Ellen Collis. The police and RSPCA have been unable to trace her.
For someone like this breeder who in the pass has look after her dogs it is very strange. What is your comment on this story?