People tend to think Christmas is the busiest time for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, however Battersea has seen a 204 per cent increase this year in the number of intake calls during the first week of the school summer holidays compared with a normal week in May.

With the school summer holidays in full swing and UK airports experiencing their busiest time of the year, the world famous rescue centre has seen a surge in the number of abandoned pets as owners head to sunnier climes.

Four year old tiny Cricket the nervous Chihuahua has finally overcome his fears and found a loving home of his own just in time for a summer of runs with the Ashes cricket series.

Cricket was so nervous of new people and new situations when he came into Battersea that staff at the Brands Hatch centre were worried he wouldn’t come out of his shell and find his perfect match.

Springer spaniel tied to a pallet of bricks in Maidstone is on the mend

Delphine was abandoned and alone when the RSPCA rescued her. The black and white springer spaniel was discovered tied to a pallet of bricks by a blue piece of nylon string with no food, water or shelter.

RSPCA inspector Tina Nash rescued the dog and rushed her to RSPCA Leybourne animal centre in Kent, where it was discovered that she was around five to seven years old and suffering from a number of health issues, including cataracts in both eyes that have left her almost totally blind, as well as ear infections.

Dogs Trust Shrewsbury Rehoming Appeal

Staff at Dogs Trust Shrewsbury are currently on the lookout for a loving home for a double doggy duo, who really are the best of friends and do everything together at the Rehoming Centre in the hope that they find a forever home together soon.

Dogs Trust Shrewsbury Rehoming Appeal

Staff at Dogs Trust Shrewsbury have their fingers crossed that an adorable elderly doggy duo, one of whom is blind in one eye and requires the company and confidence of his caring best friend, will soon find their forever home together.

Dog owners have been urged to keep their pets cool this weekend to avoid the heartbreak of losing a much-loved companion.

With weather forecasts predicting that temperatures could hit highs of 20c over the next few days, the RSPCA has issued its regular appeal to owners to keep their dogs safe in the sun.

RSPCA chief vet James Yeates said: “A hot car can be a death trap for dogs, it is as simple as that. Leaving your dog in a car, even on an average warm, even cloudy day, can put your pet at huge risk of suffering and even death.