The DogCast Radio blog

As we all begin to prepare for our festive feasts, a national vet charity is urging pet owners to think twice about offering furry friends Christmas leftovers and excess treats.

With the 2021 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report revealing that 1.4 million pet owners have fed their four-legged friends more human treats since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the vet charity is warning that this festive season could be more dangerous for our pets than ever before.

Teddy, a four-year-old Shar Pei, who was thrown over a fence and left with multiple untreated rib fractures for several weeks after being assaulted by his owner, has been given the best Christmas present he could wish for - a loving new home.

Staff at the RSPCA’s Preston and District branch rehoming centre have spent 14 months rehabilitating Teddy, who was so scared of his former owner he used to shake in fear and defecate in the house.

Miss Pickles needs major surgery to help her breathe properly

The RSPCA is appealing for funds to pay for life-saving surgery for a bulldog who collapses because she can’t get enough air into her airways.

Miss Pickles is an eight-year-old British bulldog who arrived at RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford & District Branch when her owner could no longer take care of her.

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Could you make one of these mongrels’ wishes come true and give a dog a home this National Mutt Day?

We love all dogs of every shape, size, age and breed. And we have a real soft spot for our wonderful crossbreeds, mongrels and mutts.

This National Mutt Day (2 December), the RSPCA is celebrating all of the wonderful crossbreeds in its care, and is urging adoptobers to consider giving a Heinz 57 dog a new home this Christmas.

Charlie

Many people will be busy getting their homes ready for Christmas this week, with trees to decorate, baubles to buy and lights to go up. However, while Christmastime is great fun for people, it can be a dangerous time for our pets.

Leading animal welfare charity, Battersea, is advising pet owners to be careful when planning their Christmas treats, to ensure that the whole family can enjoy the festive fun.

Gentle giant Basher measures in at almost 6ft tall when he stands up on his back legs and weighs a hefty 60kg!

A gentle giant is facing his second Christmas in RSPCA kennels as potential adopters are put off by his size.

Two-year-old mastiff Basher weighs 60kg and measures in at almost 6ft tall when he stands up on his hind legs - making him taller than lots of the staff looking after him!

It was ‘touch and go’ whether poor Bella would survive

An emaciated, sick dog who barely ‘clung onto life’ is now making the most of her second chance in a loving new home.

When five-year-old mastiff Bella arrived in RSPCA care in July 2020 she was severely underweight and malnourished. She had very bad skin - due to a flea infestation - and was anemic. Staff spent six months nursing Bella back to health but it was touch and go whether she’d pull through.

Large dogs seek owners with homes and hearts big enough to squeeze them in!

Large dogs mean more food, bigger (and muddier!) paws and lots more love to give.

But due to their size and associated costs, it can be tricky to rehome bigger dogs and the RSPCA currently has several larger-than-life hounds who are looking for their paw-fect matches.

RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines: “We work really hard to match the right dog to the right home and it’s important that adopters consider what sort of dog - including the size of dog - will suit their lifestyle.

Multi award winning Dog Trainer, Rachel Rodgers has received a business boost from Retail Entrepreneur Theo Paphitis.

Last week, Rachel Rodgers owner of Nose to Trail tweeted Theo about her business during ‘Small Business Sunday’ and was one of six weekly winners to gain a retweet by Theo to his near half a million Twitter followers. The weekly initiative, set up by Theo in 2010, now has over 3,000 #SBS winners and supports small businesses in the UK.