Neil Parish, MP for Mid Devon has met with Uffculme resident and guide dog owner, Tilly Trotter, to discuss the recent incident that resulted in her guide dog, Gwyn, having to retire.
Tilly, who is registered blind, relied on Gwyn, a three year old German Shepherd Dog, to guide her.
Tilly and Gwyn were walking in Uffculme when a pet dog attacked Gwyn and as a result of the physical and psychological injuries sustained Gwyn is no longer able to work as a guide dog.
As a result Tilly has lost her independence and is not able to go out safely unless someone is...
The RSPCA is braced for a busy festive period after dealing with a bumper number of calls about cruelty over Christmas last year (2012).
Last year staff answered 833 calls about neglect and cruelty on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day – 53 per cent more than the same period in 2011.
Calls to help collect injured and abandoned animals were also up by about a third (32%) from 584 in 2011 to 769 last year.
Chief Inspector Dermot Murphy said: “We are ready for a busy time. Last year the number of calls about animals which needed our help was significantly...
Two police dogs with more than 18 years service between them will retire from the Force next month. German shepherd ‘Asbo’ and sprocker spaniel ‘Springo’ have both enjoyed long careers under the watchful eye of police dog handler, PC Ian Tolchard, based at Camborne. Asbo, a nine-year-old general purpose police dog, joined the Force in 2005 and has been highly successful in his role, finding missing people and locating criminals. One highlight was locating a confused, elderly patient and who had absconded from the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske. Without being found there are doubts the...
Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity has celebrated 35 years of its iconic “A Dog is for Life, Not just for Christmas” campaign.
Coined in 1978 by the charity’s CEO, Clarissa Baldwin OBE, the campaign highlights the issue of dogs given as Christmas presents being abandoned or neglected.
To celebrate the milestone, Neil Parish MP for Tiverton and Honiton hosted a Westminster event to promote awareness of the charity’s campaign among MPs. MPs were given the opportunity to take a festive Dogs Trust sleigh ride surrounded by stuffed dog toys. Attendees also learned...
Four police dogs and their handlers are the latest highly trained officers to join Devon and Cornwall's canine unit.
The officers and their faithful companions have taken part in a passing out parade to mark the end of their training.
The group began their dog training in September and successfully passed an intensive two-day assessment with flying colours. The examination was carried out by PC Nick Dalrymple from Avon and Somerset Police.
Paul Glennon, Canine Development Officer and Course Instructor, said: “Following the assessment the assessor commented that this...
Anita the Akita formerly known as Bullet - a very unsuitable name for a beautiful girl who was found wandering the streets of Bradford. She was picked up as a stray and placed in the dog pound and given seven days for her owner to find her.
It was discovered she was micro chipped and the owner was contacted. He claimed that he had sold her on but nevertheless he would come and collect her, presumably to sell her on again.
He didn’t show up and Anita’s time was up. Seven days had gone by and she was scheduled to be put to sleep.
Britain’s biggest animal welfare charity welcomed this week’s proposals in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill to increase the maximum sentence for those irresponsible owners who fail to control their dogs in a way that puts the public and other animals in danger. However, the charity is calling on the Defra minister in the House of Lords, Lord de Mauley, to provide the responsible majority with a reasonable defence if their animals are involved in a genuinely accidental incident. The RSPCA is encouraging all dog owners and members of the public to contact Lord de Mauley and...
Exeter Axhayes Cats Protection Adoption Centre has loads of lovely loving cats and kittens all needing loving homes
The centre is one of the oldest Cats Protection adoption centres which opened back in 1988.
It currently re-homes approximately 700-800 cats a year.
A spokeswoman said: "We help neuter approximately 600 cats and kittens a year. Our centre is one of the largest adoption centres in the UK with about 200 cats and kittens in our care. "Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity. Our vision is a world where every cat is treated...
On Saturday 16 November a local animal welfare and re-homing charity, ARC Animal Rescue Centre, will be holding a micro-chipping day at Chineway Road, Ottery St Mary.
Microchips will soon become a legal requirement for ALL dogs and we are planning to offer micro-chipping to all the dogs in the area, especially, but not exclusively, targeted at dogs that have been previously re-homed through ARC. On the day we hope to chip between 50 and 100 animals. This will give owners peace of mind and reassurance that if their pet is lost, stolen or strayed they can be contacted and the animal...
Firework phobia could be a thing of the past for pet dogs according to the RSPCA, which is bracing itself for another busy bonfire night season.
The charity regularly receives more than three-quarters of all calls about fireworks in October and November, when Guy Fawkes and Diwali celebrations are in full swing.
Last year there were 326 fireworks related calls in those two months alone. That is 75% of the 436 received across the whole year.
It is a stressful time of year for pets and their owners, with an estimated 45% of dogs in the UK showing signs of fear when...
