Staffordshire Bull Terriers at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home are practicing their best smiles in hopes of finding a new and loving home. Roxy and Kye are posed for the cameras ahead of International Day of Happiness on Sunday 20 March.

Four-year-old Kye was given up to Battersea due to his owner’s allergies and is hoping that his beaming smile will win over a new owner whilst beautiful Roxy is a wonderful example of her breed. Roxy absolutely adores people and can be often be seen sitting in her kennel with the widest grin in hopes of enticing someone for a tummy scratch.

Charity surveyed hundreds of dog owners to find out what makes their pets happy..

Running, eating, and sleeping are some of the activities that make our pet dogs the happiest, according to an RSPCA survey.

The animal welfare charity spoke to hundreds of pet owners to find out what makes their dog happy.

90% of dog owners revealed that their canine companion loves nothing more than exploring and investigating, 81% said that their pet enjoys going for a walk off-lead, and 82% said that their pet enjoyed going for a run.

Scottish National Party MP Dr Lisa Cameron (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) proposed the debate in Westminster Hall on ‘Welfare of young dogs bred for sale’.

Opening the debate, she told MPs: “This issue has cross-party support… and widespread public support.

“We are here fundamentally to represent our constituents, not to enable big businesses trading in puppy maltreatment. Action, and not merely words, is required.”

Today, 8th March 2016, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and chair of The EU Dog & Cat Alliance, is delighted by the European Parliament’s adoption of the Animal Health Law - an important development in the European Union’s legislative landscape, streamlining almost 40 legal acts related to animal health into a single law and regulating transmissible animal diseases.

We’ve teamed up with Vitality to bring you the biggest, waggiest walkies of the year.

Dogs and your humans, get ready for the walk of the year - registrations for the BIG Walkies events open online today.

This year the RSPCA are joining paws with Vitality - and we are asking you and your dog to join us in the fresh air to stretch your legs and raise money to help our less fortunate dog pals.

Throughout May this year there will be flagship walks followed by 42 events spread across the country in September and October.

From the Surf Dog Ricochet team:

"I Am Here For You" is a musical collaboration between the Laurel Canyon Animal Company and, Surf Dog Ricochet.

Skip Haynes and Dana Walden utilized the services of Animal Communicator, Paula Brown. They turned Paula's "reading" of Ricochet into a song which was played for Ricochet. Based on the dog's responses to the song as translated by Paula, the final adjusted song was finished utilizing the talents of vocalist Donna Delory - who was also approved by Ricochet.

This is one of the changes requested by Ricochet that most struck us. There was a line in the song that stated, "This is my song" and Ricochet told us that this was not a song, it was her soul. We made the appropriate changes.

A significant portion of the profits from "I Am Here For You" are donated to Ricochet's non-profit organization Puppy Prodigies neonatal & early learning program.

Puppy Prodigies prepares dogs such as Ricochet for their future careers as service dogs. The Laurel Canyon Animal Company is proud to have their music support Puppy Prodigies to help animals and humans.

"I Am Here For You" is the first in a new series about service dogs: Therapy dogs, War dogs, Police Dogs, etc. We hope you enjoy the music and help us support the causes the animals represent.

For more information contact Judy Fridono at pawinspired@aol.com or 707-228-0679.

https://youtu.be/MVLPd8eMrVQ

Hundreds of dog-lovers entered their pets into this year’s Ruffs competition - and five finalists were chosen for the ‘Best Transformation’ category

Hundreds of pet owners entered and thousands of votes have been cast - and now, one of the winners in the RSPCA’s alternative dog show, Ruffs 2016, has been revealed.

Ruffs celebrates the country’s dogs for their health and happiness unlike conventional dog shows which look at their appearance and breed standard.

The RSPCA is calling for legislation to tackle the illegal trade in puppies and to improve welfare for bitches used for breeding

Motherhood is one of the most beautiful and natural things in this world. And Mothering Sunday is a time to celebrate that, as well as the bond mums share with their babies.

But for some dogs, motherhood is a nightmare which never ends.