A formerly bulging Bulldog – who was so lazy she had to be bribed with ham to exercise – has been crowned PDSA Pet Fit Club Champ after shedding over a quarter of her bodyweight.

Diet queen Daisy, from Middlesbrough, beat off competition from huge hounds, fat cats and round rabbits, who were all battling the bulge in our six-month diet and exercise programme.

Busy festive period for charity despite abandonments at lowest in five years.

The RSPCA has rescued hundreds of animals, from guinea pigs to a ferret, which were abandoned during the festive period.

Officers at Britain’s biggest animal charity were on duty throughout Christmas and the New Year when they were called upon to rescue animals that also included chinchillas, cats and dogs.

If you're looking for some resolutions to get 2015 off to a good start, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home have come up with some fantastic ones:

Ring in 2015 with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s New Year’s Resolutions

Calling all pet owners: if you haven’t yet thought of any New Year’s resolutions, the experts at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the world famous animal charity, have got a few suggestions that will benefit both you and your pet.

This weekend the DogCast Radio team will be in great company with hundreds of other dog lovers at Discover Dogs. The Kennel Club show will be at Earls Court 1, London, and to whet your appetite for it, here's a few facts:

• Discover Dogs coincides with Remembrance Sunday - there will be a two minute silence to remember not only the men and women who have fought for our country but also the many animals which have sacrificed their lives in wartime.

Renowned celebrity and royal hair stylist, Nicky Clarke, preened and pampered Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s rescue hounds into belles of the ball as he prepared them for their red carpet debut at the charity’s star-studded extravaganza, the Collars & Coats Gala Ball, on Thursday 7 November.

Dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have gone from rags to riches after following in the paw prints of some of Tinseltown’s most-loved canine movie characters.

Hounds from the world famous animal charity have been mimicking legendary movie star mutts as the Home gears up for its Hollywoof themed Collars & Coats Gala Ball on Thursday 7 November.

The animal welfare charity rescues thousands of animals a year from abusive situations - many of these animals have been subjected to horrific injuries from the use of weapons such as metal bars, knives, guns and crossbows.

For example, RSPCA figures reveal that air rifle injuries on animals had leapt up by almost 40 per cent to almost 800 attacks reported to the charity in 2012. The horrific attacks include several cats shot in the face and whose eyes had to be removed and others who did not survive after being shot.