For many, the idea of adopting or ‘rescuing’ a dog carries with it a certain image. Some people mistakenly look at dog adoption as if it’s buying cheap, discounted or broken goods. But, according to an initiative between national dog adoption website DogsBlog.com and Butcher’s Pet Care, a UK family company that prides itself in having fed generations of family dog, with tasty recipes that are free from any artificial colours flavours or preservatives; nothing could be further from the truth.

As more and more dogs find themselves, through no fault of their own, inside the British dog shelter system, the image of the ‘rescue dog’ is in need of an update.

No longer are shelters the preserve of the ‘problem dog’, but they are packed with dogs of all types, from all manner of backgrounds. We’re now at our final top tip for new dog owners – we hope you’ve found your search for a new companion a truly great experience and are now well and truly ‘sold’ on the idea of adopting a dog but incase you’re still debating the issue we’d like to introduce some friends.

Tara Banana, an older Boxer girl was looking for a new home when she was discovered by The Townsend family.

Owner Darrell Townsend says, “ We had initially gone out to look for a companion for our 3 year old boxer Lola and was looking on the charity websites for a dog of similar breed and age when we came across DogsBlog.com and saw a video of Tara in all her glory, playing around as if she was still a pup!

My wife Vikki, our two girls (Olivia and Amy) and I, just fell in love with her. We pondered over whether Lola would be too active for 9 year old dog but Tara looked in good shape and seemed really playful, so we decided to enquire. Tara and Amy are inseparable and she always looks for her when she gets up in the morning and when she is due home from school. She has finally found a loving family and place she can call her forever home.”

Read more about her story @ www.dogadoptionmonth.co.uk

Young puppy Rebecca, now Mutley, found herself looking for a new home at a time most dogs should be enjoying their start in life.

Aged 10-11 weeks old, this Collie cross girl found herself in the care of Dorset Dog Rescue when Lee Hersley discovered her on DogsBlog.com. Lee was looking for another dog to join their family and had started looking at adoption as the perfect way to find a new dog. Owner Lee Hersley says, “We have nothing but fun together and she has settled into our family perfectly. She loves her new big sister Lucky, who has had to adjust to Mutley’s presence but has done so really well. At first Lucky was jealous but now she plays with Mutley every day and looks out for her when they are around other dogs.”

Read more about her story @ www.dogadoptionmonth.co.uk

There are an estimated 100k dogs in adoption centres around Britain. Sometimes dogs arrive in rescue centres through natural causes such as owners passing away. Very often though dogs are simply abandoned for no other reason that poor decisions on behalf of hasty owners. Please, please, please take on board all of the information about what it takes to maintain a dog in a happy home. Dogs really are a lifelong commitment and they deserve the security of a stable home environment. You CAN get a superb, lifelong companion from a rescue…but be absolutely certain you are ready for the challenge. If you are, you will enjoy a relationship like no other!

But if you’d rather hear the stories from people who have adopted themselves, visit www.dogadoptionmonth.co.uk to read stories about wonderful dogs of all ages now happy in their new homes.

National Dog Adoption Month is running this September, be part of something special – bring joy, adopt a dog. Visit www.dogsblog.com to find the dog of your dreams.

>> Worth a look: Find out more about Pet Insurance and protect your pet’s health today!

Being an expectant Mum can be stressful, but for one young Lurcher it was doubly so – she found herself in Newport Pound with no home and an uncertain future.

Hope Rescue stepped in and found her a fantastic foster home willing to take care of the heavily pregnant ‘mum to be’. She settled into her foster home easily and it was clear to her foster mum that she had most definitely been a pet as she knew all about stairs, kitchens, mealtimes, household appliances etc. Very polite and easy going, she found herself a dog bed to lie on upstairs at bedtime and settled in really well after only one day! She was given a new name, Seren, and everyone was eagerly awaiting the arrival of her puppies.

As a rescue dealing with stray and abandoned dogs, Hope thinks of new names on a daily basis, often to replace a number from the pound or to give a dog a fresh start. This time because the puppies were to be born in a Hope foster home, it was decided to launch a competition to ‘name the puppies’.

The latest news is that Seren gave birth on 18th September to 2 lovely little girls – both are very well and ‘puppy-plump’ and Seren is proving to be an excellent mother.

For a £1 donation, you can name the pups – the draw will be made when they are 14 days old.  The money raised will go towards the care of Seren, her puppies and the many other dogs Hope Rescue looks after each year.

Please add your suggestion to the Hope Rescue Forum after you have made your donation through PayPal or Just Giving

Please add ‘The Name Game’ and your forum username in the notes area for each payment.

Alternatively you can send your suggestions through the post, just email hywren@hotmail.com and a form will be sent out to you. If you would like a copy of the suggestion form for your workplace or club you attend, please email the above address and one will be sent out to you.

There is no limit to the number of suggestions you can give so let your imagination run wild!

This is Tara who arrived in rescue today, she is a 7 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross and came in as an unwanted pet. Tara was due to be put to sleep yesterday but we took her in to stop this happening. Tara has lived in a crate for the majority of her life and has been used as a breeding bitch for most of her life. She was unwanted after she jumped up against the new babies empty cot after escaping from her crate and the woman felt this meant that she wanted to attack the baby. Tara has got a wonderful temperament with people and makes a very good house dog.

Tara is currently in foster care but in URGENT need of a new foster or permenant home.

If you can help, please contact Emma by telephoning 0797 356 9371 / 020 8407 1080 or email Adrs@aol.com

Local man, Stephen Dalton, lead singer with The Lurchers, a successful 5-piece rhythm and blues band, is organising a night of entertainment in aid of homeless animals at Bath Cats and Dogs Home. Mr. Dalton has pledged that all profits will go to the animal shelter. The event takes place on Saturday 25 September at Saltford Village Hall and doors open at 7.30pm.

Tickets, priced at £12 a head, include a ploughmans. Alternatively, a table of ten can be purchased for £100. A licensed bar will provide refreshments.

The Lurchers plays a lively vintage rock and roll / roots / rhythm & blues combo of hard-hitting ’50′s style dance. The band incorporates the double bass, piano and sax, to play upbeat ‘50s rockabilly, jump blues and jive tunes, such as “Tequila”, to bring jive enthusiasts to their feet and whet the appetite of party-goers.

Stephen Dalton, singer and event organizer comments: “Saltford Hall is a large, but charming venue. Built between 1953-1961 it retains all its period features – perfect for our music. We look the part on stage and have “noms de blues” such as Pistol, The Big Sleep, Longdog, Slim Jim & Buddy. Think “Rockin’ Film Noir”. We are encouraging guests to wear ’50′s dress to really get into the spirit of the occasion and trying to ensure a good turn out and a win-win deal – great gig for us & our audience plus lots of money raised for the animals. Rest assured, The Lurchers will do their bit to help the hundreds of homeless animals at Bath Cats and Dogs Home and will put on a great show. We’re getting a serious PA system in for the night and will be giving it our all. Please come along and support us.”

Sarah Thorn, fundraising manager, comments: “I really hope people will get into the spirit of the event and don their winklepickers and brothel creeper shoes! We are really grateful to supporters such as Stephen and the Lurchers, who use their great talents and initiative to raise crucial funds for the hundreds of dogs, cats and small animals we are seeking to re-home. Music events always prove really popular and we are expecting a sell-out event, so we are urging enthusiasts to buy their tickets early. We are encouraging people to organise tables of ten and at £10 a head it’s a great opportunity for friends and family to have a fun night out.”
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For tickets and more information, please call Stephen Dalton on: 01454 318383 or call he Fundraising Team on: 01225 787334 or visit www.bcdh.org.uk for online sales

ope Rescue’s ‘Barking Mad’ Dog show takes place on August Bank Holiday Monday, 30th August, at Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Nelson, Nr Caerphilly, in conjunction with Caerphilly CBC.

This year, Carl Edwards, ITV Wales Tonight Presenter, has very kindly agreed to be the celebrity judge. There will be something for all the family: trade stalls, face painting, refreshments, fun show  classes, dog agility and many other attractions. The Best in Show prize will be a photographic session on the day with prestigious photographer Sarah Stone.

“The Barking Mad’ dog show will be great fun day out for the whole family, young and old, whether on 2 legs or 4! We rely on generous donations from the public to continue our work and really hope that people will come along to show their support ” says Fundraising Coordinator, Susie James.

Susie goes on to thank the army of volunteers who has stepped up to help “we are planning a bigger and better show this year and our army of volunteers has, once again, been fantastic”.

For further information, call 07974 212704 or go to our website www.hoperescue.org.uk

This week a petition to overhaul the British dog laws went live, receiving hundreds of hits from across the globe within the first 24 hours. David and Heidi Anderson of Kent Animal Rescue, Chancepixies, have drafted a detailed legislation proposal that they believe will eradicate Britain’s stray dog problem within 10 years. Their ‘Fit for Breeding’ legislation will regulate all breeders, from champion kennels to suburban kitchen floors, and enforce a long-term level of care and responsibility. “There is legislation already in place to control farm animals and fishing and to prevent you dumping your fridge or your car, so why not dogs?” says Heidi, “Dogs, unlike children, do not grow up and become responsible for themselves. If you choose to bring puppies into the world, you must retain some responsibility throughout that dog’s life.” The legislation would comprise of three key elements; responsibility beyond the point of sale, identification measures and health and character tests.

Currently anyone who owns a dog can breed from it without taking any responsibility for their actions. The Andersons are also breeders of champion Dobermanns and believe that all breeders should be rescuers, “if you won’t rescue, don’t breed.” Heidi says it is not a case of rescue versus breeder, it all comes down to responsible breeding, “it would be good to get people to realise that there is a big difference between responsible breeders and irresponsible breeders. A responsible breeder should always take back a puppy, for whatever reason, throughout that dog’s life and always be there for help and support if needed. If every breeder was responsible there would be no dogs in rescue. The dogs in rescue can only be from irresponsible breeders and puppy farms.”

They believe the public backs a real change to the present situation and they are prepared to fight until it is achieved, “This change in legislation is needed to introduce a sensible solution. Thousands of people are admitted to hospital each year with dog-related injuries, millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money is being spent every year on stray dogs and thousands of dogs are sitting alone, unwanted and abandoned.” Heidi explains that they believe the issue of weapon dogs can also be addressed through their proposed legislation, “it will uncover the falsification of pedigrees that allows banned breeds to be re-introduced into the UK and the use of dogs for fighting and as weapons for the intimidation of the public, this can all change if the breeding of dogs is controlled.”

The Andersons are hoping to collect 10,000 signatures before they send the proposal to Prime Minister, David Cameron.
Readers can find the petition at this link http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/control-uk-dog-breeding-now/

DogsBlog.com, the UK’s leading dog adoption site has launched the 2010 National Dog Adoption Month to promote one very simple, very important message: ‘Dogs in rescue shelters are not damaged goods. They are normal, happy, fun filled dogs who simply need a new home with a new family’.

With dogs being given up on the rise once again this year, National Dog Adoption Month aims to prove to all would-be dog owners that the dog of their dreams is in an adoption shelter somewhere. All they need to do is look.

As the campaign aims to completely dispel the myth that ‘rescue’ dogs need pity or sympathy or that dogs in shelters are somehow there due to problems in their makeup, physical or emotional. The national dog adoption website www.dogsblog.com shows, clearly, that adoption centres are full, literally to bursting point, with all manner of different dogs of different backgrounds of various personality types. National Dog Adoption Month aims to prove to all would-be dog owners that the dog of their dreams is in an adoption shelter somewhere. All they need to do is look.

Sky News presenter Charlotte Hawkins agrees commenting, “Many shelters are reaching capacity, so desperately need the space to be able to take in the ever increasing number of dogs that need help. It takes a few small changes in your life to give a dog a home, but the rewards will be more than worth it, as I know from my rescue dog Bailey. So if you think you can offer a second chance to a rescue dog then please, please get behind National Dog Adoption Month.”

Throughout the month there will be a number of dog adoption success stories, local fund raisers/open days held by rescue shelters and various events designed to promote the benefit of adopting a dog.

For more information on National Dog Adoption Month and to find out how you can help spread the word, visit www.dogadoptionmonth.co.uk

Rescue dog Gracie from Bath Cats & Dogs Home is showing her support for the England Team in its forthcoming FIFA World Championship bid by putting her best paw forward in an England dog vest and hoping fans will want to take her – and her friends – home to watch the football in comfort.

The American Bulldog was neglected, unhappy and in poor condition before being rescued by the animal charity at the beginning of May. A sweet-natured girl, still a little nervous following her previous life, Gracie is seeking a loving new home where any children are 8+. The animal centre provides essential shelter, veterinary care and re-homing services to thousands of dogs, cats and small animals every year and it is hoping that with the World Cup only a few weeks away, animal lovers will want to give one of its animals a home – and find a new friend for company.

Rachel Phelps-Allen, spokesperson, comments: “We are hoping that when football fans are watching the England team in the comfort of their own homes they will spare a thought for the hundreds of unwanted animals in our care and will perhaps think about adopting an animal to keep them company on their sofa. According to a survey by the Mental Health Foundation, loneliness is more prevalent among the young than those past retirement age, a survey suggests, amid profound changes in the way we live and interact. Nearly 60% of those aged between 18 to 34 questioned spoke of feeling lonely often or sometimes, compared to 35% of those aged over 55*. An animal can make you feel wanted and we have hundreds of wonderful animals to choose from! What better way of killing two birds with one stone? Everyone here at Bath Cats and Dogs Home, including all our 160 dogs, 80 cats and many small animals is keeping their fingers and toes crossed for the England team’s forthcoming matches in South Africa.”

Bath Cats and Dogs Home, the animal rescue charity based on the outskirts of Bath, re-homes 3,000 dogs, cats and small animals every year, is a totally independent, self-funding charity, which receives no Government or Lottery funding and relies solely on donations, fundraising and legacies to meet its huge £1.2 million annual operating costs. This equates to a huge £3,000 a day just to keep the Home running, whilst caring for its hundreds of unwanted, needy dogs, cats and small animals of which Gracie is just one.

For more information on the dogs, cats and small animals seeking loving new homes, please either visit our website at www.bcdh.org.uk or call: 01225 787321.

SOS Animals receive no government funding and so they’re putting on a sponsored walk taking in 8 miles around Hampstead Heath between 11am-3pm on Saturday 24th July to help raise valuable funds for their rescue.

Tania Coates from SOS Animals says, “We have no government funding at all and we are run entirely by a small group of volunteers. We are raising money for food, water, vetinary care, sandfly collars, just about everything you could think of that a shelter needs to continue to provide the love and care these poor abused and abandoned dogs need.

If you would like to take part in our walk (which is being led by an experienced ramblers association leader) please respond to this email and we will send you a sponsorship form. All we ask is that you raise £15 minimum sponsorship.

You may bring your 4 legged friends on the walk and we will have some of the dogs looking for homes with us wearing their ‘I need a home’ bibs.

It will be a fun day out, there will be plenty of rest stops on the way and a nice pub lunch ) the walk will be fine for all abilities so don’t be scared if your not particularly fit.

If you don’t wish to participate but would like to donate please make a pledge by emailing tania@sos-animals.org.uk no matter how small every penny really does count.”

Susie James and her rescue dog Basil will be walking the 177 mile Offa’s Dyke path to raise much needed funds for Hope Rescue. This epic walk will start in Prestatyn on 29^th May 2010 and will end 2 weeks later in Chepstow. Susie and Basil are appealing for both human and canine volunteers to join them for a day along the scenic route, or alternatively take the less challenging option and sponsor them.

Hope Rescue is a South Wales based dog rescue charity that helps hundreds of stray dogs in Local Authority pounds every year. The rescue is entirely self-funded  and run by volunteers with no paid staff and this challenge will raise vital funds towards their running costs.

Susie says “Basil was rescued from a stray dog pound by Hope Rescue. Without their help he would have been destroyed after completing his 7 days in the pound. This is our way of saying thank you for saving his life, and we need all those dog lovers out there to support us and raise as much money as possible for this wonderful charity”

Full details of how to join the walk or sponsor Susie and Basil can be found on the Hope Rescue website www.hoperescue.org.uk, by contacting Susie on 07974 212704 or emailing enquiries@hoperescue.org.uk.