The DogCast Radio blog

The vet charity for pets in need is calling on kind-hearted animal lovers to join #TeamPDSA at next year’s London Marathon.

“Running fever has well and truly gripped the nation after the TCS London Marathon took place over the weekend,” explains PDSA Fundraising Manager Faye Waters.

PDSA Vet Nurse Chloe Mackintosh with her London Marathon 2024 medal
“And with the ballot now open for 2025 entries, we’re urging animal-lovers across the country to get their running shoes on and run for pets in need next year.”

...more

In celebration of our canine companions on National Pet Day, a poll of 1,265 UK dog owners commissioned by Purina has revealed that owning a dog is not only good for your physical health, but can also be great for making new friends and striking up conversations with new people.

Nearly half (44 per cent) of those surveyed revealed that they have made at least one new friend when out on a dog walk. While 66 per cent of said that owning a dog and going out for regular walks together, encouraged them to be more social with new people.

...more

A dog who was dumped over a wall into a tangle of barbed wire has surprised her rescuers by giving birth to a healthy puppy.

The terrier - who has been named Ladybird by the RSPCA - was rescued from Levett Road, Barking, on 18 March.

RSPCA Inspector Lee Ricketts, who worked with London Fire Brigade to rescue the frightened dog, said: “We were called after a person walking along Levett Road heard a distressed dog crying on the other side of a 6ft-high (1.8m) concrete wall.

...more

Animal-lovers have just one week left to sign an urgent electric shock collar campaign asking Members of Parliament to put pressure on the UK Government to not abandon a pledge to ban the cruel devices.

In April, Defra announced that the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations 2023 would come into force on 1 February 2024, finally consigning the use of electronic shock collars on cats and dogs in England to the history books.

...more

The modern workplace is undergoing a transformation, as more companies consider innovative ways to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity. One such trend gaining traction is the concept of a dog-friendly office, where employees are allowed to bring their furry companions to work. This is on top of the benefits that remote employees get by being able to work with their canine friends from home.

...more

During summer last year, when the UK faced record-breaking high temperatures of over 40C in July, over 50% of dogs treated for ‘heatstroke’ by PDSA* were those with flat faces (brachycephalic breeds) such as Pugs, British & French Bulldogs and Shih Tzus.

With the summer season underway, a group of UK dog welfare experts is urging owners of flat-faced dog breeds to take extra care to protect these dogs in the warm weather.

...more

A beautiful dog brought into an RSPCA centre is looking for his fur-ever home after recovering from being underweight and extremely timid.

Bruce, a four-year-old shar-pei, has put on nearly 10 kg since coming to RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre in Surrey in October last year. He was emaciated and had skin lesions, but is now a much happier, healthy dog (see before and after photos, left).

...more

Yes, we're DogCast Radio, but we love cats too!

We personally have three feline friends, and they're microchipped to give them the best chance of making it back home if they ever go missing.

From 2024 it will be mandatory to microchip your cat - let's make sure all cat owners know so that their cats are protected, and so they avoid a £500 fine.

Here's some info on the subject from the PDSA:

...more

With one month left to go, PDSA and Royal Canin are calling on pet owners across the whole of the UK to take advantage of a free weight check for their four-legged friend by signing up to the new ‘Big Weigh In’ initiative.

The new PDSA Big Weigh In initiative is taking place throughout February and March 2023 and is in its final month countdown to join in! The campaign is in conjunction with veterinary practices across the UK to help the pet population shed some pounds.

...more

Two crime-fighting canines being deployed to fight the illegal wildlife trade met their new conservation colleagues at ZSL’s London Zoo headquarters today – named Buster and Bess, the duo are preparing to join the conservation charity’s team of experts protecting the Critically Endangered pangolin in Thailand.

...more