Your Dog June 2022

The first ever National Dog Survey (NDS) by canine charity Dogs Trust was completed by nearly 350,000 people, and has revealed some fascinating insights to the changing face of dog ownership, and the challenges that lie ahead. A staggering 3.2 million extra dogs joined families during lockdown, and Dogs Trust launched the NDS to help the charity develop its understanding of dogs and their owners, establish their needs, and help them in the future. To find out more about what the survey has revealed, and read our interview with one of the new breed of dog owners, turn to page 10. The stoicism of dogs is no secret, but their ability to bounce back from illness and accident is remarkable, and often has us all reflecting on how much we…

TOY STORY TURNS INTO A TONGUE TWISTER Images: Vets Now. Vets are urging owners to discard broken, worn, or faulty toys after a lovable cross-breed became too attached to his favourite ball and nearly lost his tongue. Because Labrador X German Shepherd Harley constantly carried his rubber ball around, owner Lindsay Knight, from Lincolnshire, wasn’t concerned when it was still in his mouth hours later. But on discovering that the ball was stuck, and no amount of gentle tugging or manipulation would free it, Lindsay’s husband, Adam, took Harley straight to the Vets Now emergency clinic in Lincoln. “There was no sign of him struggling to get it off or being distressed so I didn’t realise there was a problem at first,” said Lindsay, who explained that Harley’s beloved green…

CALLING ALL PUPPY-LOVING VOLUNTEERS… Dogs for Good is appealing for members of the public to volunteer as puppy socialisers, as part of its new Do Something Good campaign. The UK charity, which supports those with a wide range of disabilities and conditions via highly trained assistance and community dogs, is keen to hear from people with time on their hands who are willing to make an 18-month commitment and attend local monthly puppy classes. Volunteer roles entail caring for a pup in your home until they are 12 to 18 months old and teaching them to be polite, well-behaved, and confident in many different environments. ● For more information and to register an interest, visit www.dogsforgood.org/something VETS UNITE FOR UKRAINE British veterinary professionals around the UK are collaborating to supply…

● IRELAND/UKRAINE: Ukrainian grandmother Violetta has been reunited with her 13-year-old Labrador Tasha, after a harrowing 3,000-kilometre, 12-day journey from war-torn Odessa across nine countries to County Clare. The 86-year-old refugee thought she’d never see her beloved dog again when she became stranded with her son and his wife at the Moldova/Romania border without a passport, and had to leave Tasha behind. But Irish woman Debbie Deegan helped coordinate the mammoth task of finding and transporting Tasha to Ballyvaughan, where the family have since settled. ● AMERICA: A Chihuahua-cross with a rare nerve condition that makes him look like he’s always smiling, is searching for his forever home. Staff at Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento, California, hope Jasper, who suffers from constant twitching and kidney problems, will be adopted…

WHAT’S ON IN JUNE? ● June 4 and 5: 9.30am – 5.30pm: Dogstival, Broadlands Park, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9ZD. Head on down to the ultimate canine Platinum Jubilee celebration for two days of fun and entertainment, including giant doggy Barkingham Palace street parties, huge canine thrones, a Jubilee Tea Pawty, stand-up canine comedy, live music, street performers, a vintage funfair, and shopping opportunities galore. Your dog can partake of a poocharoni doggy pizza, a glass of pawsecco, and baked goodies from the Pop+Bark Pupuccino Bar, while you sample the fine food and drink on offer. Plus, there’s barkour (Dogstival’s twist on parkour), agility, hoopers, flyball, a dog diving splash pool, gundog scurries, demonstrations, and educational talks. ● Cost: Day tickets: adults: £15; children (aged six to 16): £9; weekend…

Nearly 350,000 people have completed the biggest-ever national census of dog owners. The results are startling, and have highlighted a dramatic shift in the make-up of the country’s dog owners and the financial challenges they face. Concerned about the rise in people potentially giving up their pets post-lockdown, the nation’s largest canine welfare charity, Dogs Trust, launched the National Dog Survey to gain a clearer understanding of the country’s 12.5 million dog population, and enable them to offer struggling owners and their dogs the best possible support. According to the findings, a quarter of the nation’s dogs (23 per cent) now belong to the generation labelled‘pandemic pups’ — those aged under six months as of March 1, 2020. And nearly half (48 per cent) of these dogs were acquired by…