RSPCA

Dog Welfare Indicators Wales brings together a collection of indicators that provide a unique insight into the welfare of the nation’s favourite pet.

Highlights from the report include:

• 84% of the public in Wales support proposals to legislate on
dangerous dogs and irresponsible owners.
• 82% of the public in Wales support an annual compulsory dog
registration scheme.
• More than 10,000 dogs were dealt with by local authorities in Wales,
costing over two million pounds to local tax payers.
• In 2011 the RSPCA achieved 99 convictions for causing unnecessary

Dog law delays are unacceptable claim RSPCA

Public pressure is key to lobbying Government department

The continued persecution of dogs based on their physical appearance is unacceptable and the law needs to change, the RSPCA says.

Britain’s biggest animal welfare charity claims the Government is dragging its heels over promises to reform dog control legislation – despite nearly nine out of 10 people arguing that the current law doesn’t protect the public effectively.*

Are you aware of the RSPCA's Born to Suffer campaign (which aims to improve the health and welfare of pedigree dogs)? Since they launched the campaign at the end of December last year, more than 16,000 people have signed the petition calling for pedigree dog breed standards to be reviewed and put health and welfare above looks.

Their plan is to present the final petition numbers to the Kennel Club as a demonstration of the scale of public support for a review of the breed standards. You can find out more about the campaign here:

It's that time of year again when the temperature rises. Some may like it hot - but that doesn't include most dogs, certainly the temperatures parked cars can reach is a danger for dogs so the RSPCA have a really important message:
 
Following the sudden rise in temperature over the last couple of days the RSPCA is urging owners not to leave pets in cars, conservatories or caravans whilst they are enjoying the sunshine.
 

Defra recently revealed Government plans to tackle irresponsible dog ownership - you can read Defra's statement and how to respond in this previous blogpost. There has been disappointment within the dog world that the proposals didn't really tackle the issue of how to deal with dangerous dogs. The RSPCA is currently running a campaign called 42 Teeth - "All dogs have 42 teeth, but only some have irresponsible owners."

Here's the response from the RSPCE to Defra's announcement today:

New Government dog measures lack bite, says RSPCA

Coalition breaks promise to “target irresponsible owners”
Monday 23 April 2012

The Government has wasted the best opportunity to tackle irresponsible dog ownership in more than 20 years, claimed the RSPCA today.

The country’s biggest animal welfare charity has accused Defra of ignoring the advice of the country’s dog law enforcement agencies, and instead launching yet another unnecessary consultation.

If you're in the Shropshire, UK, area the following may well be of interest to you:

At the RSPCA Gonsal Farm, Dorrington, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
SY5 7ET.

 
17 July 2011
Car Boot Sale. Gonsal Show Field. Gates open at 0830.
Micro - chipping service available for dogs and cats £15,( includes administration fee).
Centre open to public at 11am

04 Sept 2011

Making provision for your dog in the event that you can't look after him - short or long term may be unpleasant but it's an issue you should consider. You can hear excellent advice on the subject from Dawn Antoniak Mitchell from the BonaFide Dog Academy in Episode 53 of DogCast Radio. Here's some more information on the subject:
 

The RSPCA has issued a warning about putting coats on dogs. You can see an article in the Telegraph newspaper about it here. The charity suggests that putting a coat on a dog could cause it to overheat, and amount to cruelty. This caught my eye as I had recently sat in a training class, next to an older Labrador. When it was time to go back out into the bitter cold, the owner produced a warm and waterproof coat, which the dog did not object to having put on at all.