Animal charity Battersea Dogs & Cats Home says it has seen a 40 per cent increase in the number of ‘handbag’ dogs coming through its doors this year, with many suffering from behavioural issues after being mollycoddled by their owners.

Yorkshire Terriers were the most popular small breed needing Battersea’s attention, with over 90 already coming into the Home so far this year, compared to 54 the year before – a 67 per cent increase. Chihuahuas are also an increasingly popular breed at Battersea, with a 36 per cent increase coming into Battersea since last year.

Campaign has not even started yet and it is already a success!!

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has revealed the top 10 calorie-laden food offenders for dogs and cats, as it warns owners to ditch the biscuits, sausages and cheese from their pet’s diet.
The animal charity is calling on owners to address their pet’s diets and prevent an obesity crisis among the nation’s dogs and cats. It warns that half a tin of tuna is equivalent to a human dining out on a large cod n’ chips, while a 3cm cube of cheese equals a cup of molten fondue cheese. Even a well-meaning chipolata translates into a gut-busting 12oz steak on a human’s plate. 
It is an issue Battersea’s vets face on a regular basis, and one viewers will witness in Monday’s episode of Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs on ITV1. In the programme, Paul helps overweight Alaskan Malamute Honey with her weight maintenance programme, as

Animal charity Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has seen a 40 per cent rise in the number of Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies being dumped and abandoned at its doors, and the charity is concerned these working breeds are becoming the next must-have ‘status’ dogs in inner city areas.

Huskies and Malamutes are known for running over long distances, and the Home believes people are taking on these dogs with little understanding of their needs or welfare. Already this year Battersea has taken in over 60 Huskies and Malamutes which have either strayed from their homes or been given up by their owners. These include Honey a Malamute who arrived at Battersea earlier this year and severely overweight because her owners could no longer cope and current resident Colleen, a Siberian Husky who arrived at the

An elderly pooch from east London struck up quite a friendship with comedian and presenter Paul O’ Grady during the filming of a new ITV1 series on Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Eight year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross Marcel arrived at the world famous rescue Battersea as a stray in November 2011. His roguish antics and cheeky charm won him a legion of fans at the Home and he even had his own Facebook page updating his followers on his daily goings about the Home. In the new ITV1 series viewers will see Marcel entertaining presenter Paul O’ Grady and accompanying him on a visit to the Royal