RSPCA

The number of designer crossbreeds coming into RSPCA centres is on the rise.

The RSPCA has had an influx of fashionable dog breeds and ‘designer’ crossbreeds arriving at its national centres.

The worrying trend reflects an increasing demand for specific breeds which the charity is seeing within the puppy market and which is the focus of its latest campaign.

Sadly, these popular breeds and crossbreeds can later be abandoned or are not cared for properly.

Starved dog given a Dickens name because he loved food glorious food

A starving dog dubbed Oliver Twist because he yowled for more food is looking for a new home.

The emaciated boxer cross was rescued by the RSPCA after he was tied to tree in a graveyard in Leyton, East London.

He was taken to the charity’s Harmsworth Animal Hospital, where staff discovered he weighed 17.8kg about half the ideal weight of a dog his size.

Vicky Coleman, dispensary supervisor at Harmsworth, said: “I have never seen a dog so skinny, it was absolutely horrendous.”

Tens of thousands of people have signed RSPCA petition calling on Westminster government to introduce mandatory licensing for anyone selling puppies

Just three months ago, the RSPCA launched a national campaign to tackle the puppy trade in England.

The main aim of the Scrap the Puppy Trade campaign is to encourage the government to introduce laws in England to combat puppy dealers selling sick and dying puppies.

The RSPCA launched its campaign in October along with a petition which has since been signed by 50,000 people.

And millions of pets could be ‘giving’ presents too

Pet owners could splurge up to a whooping £250 million* on Christmas presents for their pets this year…...and millions of pets may be ‘buying’ gifts for other people too, an RSPCA survey has revealed.

Almost nine out of ten (90%) of pet owners polled by the RSPCA will be treating their pet to a pressie and 43 per cent admitted that they will be buying gifts for other people from their pets.

The festive survey of more than 200 pet owners discovered:

Animals and vulnerable residents rescued after being trapped by flood waters

The RSPCA has released footage taken by some of the charity’s flood rescue teams which have rescued animals and people across Cumbria and Northumberland in the aftermath of Storm Desmond.

The footage includes the rescue of a dog called Ronnie who was trapped in the upstairs of a flooded school in Carlisle, before he and his owners were evacuated through a window after RSPCA officers had waded through the building’s dark and flooded corridors to reach them.

Four teams of officers rescue cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens and humans
Four flood rescue teams of specially trained RSPCA officers have been out rescuing animals and people during Storm Desmond.

Cats, dogs, rabbits and even chickens have all been rescued, mainly from residential properties across the north of England, where their owners were forced to evacuate the rising flood waters.

As well as helping animals, the RSPCA’s flood teams have also been assisting other emergency services and have so far rescued 36 people.

‘Xylitol’ is a sweetener found in many everyday food stuffs and is toxic to animals

The RSPCA is warning about the hazards to pets from an ingredient called Xylitol.

New statistics show that The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) received 102 enquiries about xylitol last year. More than in 2013 (91) and 2012 (98).

Around 35 per cent of these cases involved chewing gum including sugar free gum. Others involve medicines including nicotine gums and throat lozenges also containing xylitol.

“All each puppy wants is to be cuddled, loved and feel safe... the reality is very different”

“As a Special Operations Unit Inspector investigating the puppy trade comes as quite a challenge. The activity of selling puppies in itself is not illegal yet the volume of suffering puppies can be staggering.

The first thing that becomes very apparent with some of the cases I’ve investigated is that these poor puppies are nothing but a commodity to the dealers.

A blind dog who was tied to a pallet of bricks and left to die is searching for a very special new home.

Delphine the springer spaniel captured the hearts of the nation after being dumped in a remote lane in Maidstone, Kent in May.

The terrified dog had ear infections and cataracts in both eyes which left her almost blind. Thanks to donations from the public Delphine had specialist veterinary treatment and although her sight could not be restored she is recovering well from her ordeal and now needs a new home.

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.