Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Battersea celebrate birthday with stamps

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is 150 years old this month. It’s incredible to think that they have been re-homing animals for all that time.

They have done some really important work over the years and have helped give better lives to thousands of our furry friends.

To celebrate their success for the last 150 years, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home have released some stamps with Royal Mail. The stamps feature photographs of some of the success stories from the home.

The stamps show happy cats and dogs and are really adorable. They will certainly put a smile on your face next time you’re posting off you bill payments.

Dogs send neighbours barking mad

It has been reported that a man in Oxfordshire has been prosecuted for failing to stop his 23 dogs from barking.

The action was taken after neighbours complained about the noise even after Roger Sutton had been issued with a noise abatement notice.

The question that immediately comes to mind for me though is why was he allowed to keep 23 dogs? It was reported that the dogs were both in his house and locked in cages in his garden. The Dorset Old Tyme bulldogs made so much noise between them that several neighbours complained.

Sutton has been ordered to pay a £2000 fine and £500 in legal costs. But what has happened to the dogs? Let’s hope they’ve been rescued and re-homed somewhere that they will have plenty of space and happiness to worry about barking.

Who will get the Cole dogs?

I don’t know about you, but when I heard news of Ashley and Cheryl Cole splitting up, my first thought was for their dogs. What is going to happen to them?

Well if Cheryl has her way, then the two Chihuahuas will be staying with her. She is besotted with Buster and Coco and can’t bear the thought of living without them.

But of course, Ashley too wants to keep hold of the pooches so there could be a battle on Cheryl’s hands.

It’s all being taken very seriously and sources have said that there are temporary arrangements in place for visitation rights to the two dogs. It will be interesting to see who wins this battle of the puppies.

Crufts revises its standards amid accusations of poor dog health

Not long to go until this year’s Crufts start to take over our televisions. I don’t know about you, but I love sitting down and watching my favourite furry friends trot around the arena, showing off their shiny coats.

But Crufts has come under attack recently over accusations that it encourages inbreeding which can lead to health problems in dogs.

Well now the British institution is fighting back by saying that it will focus more on working animals and even mongrels.

The Kennel Club has also worked with vets to revise its standards for the competition. The health of the dog is now top of the agenda with Crufts according to the Kennel Club. And I should hope so too!

Although Crufts wasn’t shown on television last year because the BBC refused to air it, it will be back on our screens this year on More4. I can’t wait!

Hoppa is hopping with happiness

Us Brits can’t get enough of our four legged friends. They are our closest companions and we love to turn to our dogs for comfort.

So it’s always upsetting to think that a dog may be suffering. They seem so innocent and helpless; they don’t deserve any pain or discomfort.

The very sight of Hoppa, a four year old dog from Israel, could bring a tear to any dog lover’s eye. He was born with no front legs and has struggled over the years.

But the good news is; Hoppa has just been fitted with a prosthetic harness which consists of wheels instead of legs that enable him to move around as quickly as he likes.

With these developments, fingers crossed other dogs in a similar situation will get help soon too.