Canine Christmas Tips

Seasonal Advice

Christmas and the New Year is a time of joy and cheer for us and our families and is also often a time of stress, rushing about and pulling your hair out!

Here are some handy tips for you to help maintain your sanity and keep you and your dog happy and safe over the festive season.

Your Christmas Tree & Decorations:

Once a year we fill our rooms up with trees, dangling objects, lights and even hang food around in odd places. We know what is going on, but our dogs probably just think we have gone a bit nuts in the nicest of ways!

·         Electrics: Make sure you keep your tree lights and any other electrical decorations safely out of your dog’s reach-especially if your dog is inclined to investigate or chew through exposed electrical cord. Electrocution can easily be caused.

·         Trees: If you have a real tree, the needles which fall daily can become stuck in your dog’s paws and are also dangerous if eaten, vacuum daily and keep your dog (and other animals) away from them. Don't let your dog drink the tree water. Some dogs like to mark out against them (why else did human bring a tree indoors but to save going out in the cold?) so bear that in mind too!

·         Tree Decor: From a dogs point of view – the Christmas tree with its dangling goodies is pretty tempting and begging to be investigated, trees can easily topple over especially once weighed down with decorations and lights etc so try to secure the tree down so it does not fall over so easily if bumped into by your dog (or wagging tail). Trees do tend to look better by the window rather than being worn round the house by your enthusiastic dog!

Dogs can easily be caught up in tinsel and find hanging decorations particularly appealing and ripe for pulling off. Life will be a lot easier and safer if you limit your dog’s access to the area if you need to and don’t leave tree and dog unattended!

·         Plants: Many Christmas plants including Mistletoe, Holly, Pot Pourrie and Poinsettias are toxic, keep them out of your dog’s reach and seek immediate veterinary advice if you think your pet has ingested.

·         Decorations: Those which are edible (or not when they are ten years old) to humans, e.g. hanging chocolate tree decorations may be sniffed out by your dog with his amazing nose detection capabilities, so keep these away. Chocolate is just pure poison to your dog’s system, tinsel, tin foil, cling film etc can also be dangerous if swallowed and cause serious internal problems. Fairy lights look lovely; problems can arise when dogs get tangled up in any loose wires left lying around.

·         Spray snow - the type in the cans, is attractive on the insides of your windows, check your dog isn't interested in licking/scratching it off, chemicals=poisons.

·         Blu-tack and similar adhesives may cause drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhoea if eaten by your dog. Silica gel found in packaging can have the same affect-contact your vet for advice.

·         Plastic bags and balloons are also a hazard-keep them away from your dog.

·         Candles: If you like to use candles-do place where your dog, e.g. your dog’s waggy tail, will not accidentally knock over.

Christmas Presents:

·         Your goodies: Many dogs will be intrigued by the sudden appearance of wrapped boxes and who could blame them, so if you don’t want yours unwrapped by Santa’s little helper, keep them boxes hidden!

·         Wrappings, trimmings etc can be very dangerous if chewed or swallowed, so keep safely away when not in use & bin after.

·         Doggie presents: Make sure your dog’s own Christmas present(s) are ’dog proof’ – suitable for your dog, robust enough and safe for use.

Christmas Day can in some households seem like a day gone mad from a dog's view, then there is the excitement of the present opening, the paper, the noise, all those socks too!

If you have more than one dog and are giving out a present to each dog bear in mind how each dog is going to react with their new possession around the other dogs, sharing might be right out the window to begin with. Give your dog space and maintain control - it's not like you’re too busy right? You are after all supermom and superdad - dogs need your help too.

Festive Food, more food, did I mention there's more food and treats:

Some of the foods we love to fill up on over Christmas are actually toxic for our dogs. It can be a tough job to keep a watch on your dog even with the extra set of eyes you have developed in the back of your head, but you'll need to be one step ahead.

Cooked foods left on top of the oven are very tempting to your dog and many a time the whole lot has been reached and knocked back in one or two gulps; bones, trimmings, stuffing the lot-this can lead to an expensive out-of-hours veterinary visit or if you are lucky it will pass through and you will need one hell of a shovel or plastic bag out in the garden on Boxing Day, plus you've missed your lunch so watch out.

·         Diet - We often get carried away with extra festive treats and unusual foods this time of year, it’s nice to include our dogs and treat them too – but don’t forget that a sudden intake of unusual foods, or too much of anything is likely to cause diarrhoea and/or vomiting, so watch out for how much and what exactly your dog is being offered - keep an eye on any guests sneaking in the treats too, or Fido will end up with an upset tummy and it could be a messy and uncomfortable Christmas!

·         Chocolate is a definite NO! It contains a chemical called Theobromine which is actually poisonous to dogs and even just a small amount can be lethal for some. Chocolate poisoning can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures and death. If you want to treat your dog – buy treats designed for dogs, our rescue dogs loves to chew on a carrot or apple, keep them safe and keep them healthy. If you suspect chocolate poisoning – contact a vet immediately.

·         Sweetcorn isn’t digested and corn on the cob is very dangerous, cobs can easily cause an obstruction which will require surgery to remove if it doesn’t kill your dog. If you have corn on the cob-dispose of the cobs where your dog can’t reach and never ever feed to your dog.

·         Bones - you may have more cooked meats around and your dog is sure to have spotted exactly where all his goodies are! Bones can be dangerous, cooked ones becoming brittle and easily breaking into sharp pieces which can choke a dog, don’t give anything you wouldn’t usually.

·         Coffee – alcohol – sweets - yummy for us but NO NO NO for our canine friends. Give your dog a nice Christmas and keep well away.

·         Grapes, raisins and sultanas should not be fed to your dog; these are now known to be toxic to dogs and can cause poisoning. Cases of kidney failure have been documented. Other foods such as liquorice, avocados, onions and some nuts can also cause problems.

A poisons leaflet produced by the British Veterinary Association is available online.

Fun, parties & visitors over the holidays:

Some dogs will enjoy extra people around, for some it can be very stressful-just because you are enjoying 'festive fun' it, doesn't mean your dog must too.

·         If you’re hosting a party/get together: Some dogs will become overexcited or frightened when around unusual noises such as children toys, balloons popping, party bangers, flashing lights etc and intoxicated visitors can also cause a dog to feel uneasy - being grabbed, cuddled and told you’re a good boy over and over by auntie who has hit the sherry early is not a dog's idea of a fun day out, so plan in advance to help keep your best friend relaxed. If your dog is known not to cope well with these types of situations, or you haven't owned your dog long enough to find out, don't take chances, be ready with your dog's 'retreat area':

Make sure your dog(s) has a retreat somewhere familiar where he can go and relax away from all the noise and excitement if he needs too or you need to put him somewhere safe, for example a room upstairs or a dog crate somewhere familiar and quiet. This is especially important if you are likely to become putting it bluntly - drunk and not much use to your dog. Provide some favourite chews, or a stuffed Kong to help keep him occupied, where he likes to be, leave the radio/TV on to help block out some noise, make sure he has the remote control handy too but don’t let him on the karaoke! Exercise in advance to help him settle down whilst you get on enjoying yourself!

·         Try plugging in a DAP diffuser two weeks before your busiest week and keep it plugged in over the Xmas to help relax your dog if needed.

·         Extra guests: Many households will receive extra guests, relatives and often young children, so bear in mind that if your dog isn’t used to the extra attention, noise etc, have a quiet retreat as mentioned above. If your dog is happy mixing (not the cocktails hopefully) - keep an eye out for him becoming too excited and step in if that is the case.

·         Ground Rules: When your family and friends arrive, try laying down some house rules - ask your guests not to overfeed your dog or leave food and alcohol on the floor to help keep party food and drinks out of reach to your dog. But remember, when the booze is flowing, rules are out the window so be prepared in advance, you don't want to end up trying to pull a trapped object out of your dog's throat after he's just found himself a plateful under the chair.

·         Children: Letting off steam at Christmas is all part of the fun, they are off school, enjoying themselves, excited and often charging about. Parents are knackered, stressed out and tired. It's at times like this when dogs can be let down unintentionally and placed in awkward situations.

Please do not leave children and dogs alone attended-always make sure children and dogs are supervised by a competent adult at all times. If it is too much for your dog - just remove your dog from the situation, be vigilant and prevent accidents.

·         Exercise: Try your best to keep your dog’s normal routine as much as possible – getting away from the washing up with the excuse of walking the dog does come in handy!

·         Fireworks are often used over the holiday season, especially on New Year’s Eve, read up on our fireworks & dogs advice.

·         Extra people in and out increases the risk of your dog being let out of your home by mistake; always make sure doors are closed and that you know where your dog is - safely inside. Each year dogs go missing during the holiday period - is your dog wearing a collar and Id tag, is your dog identi-chipped?

·         Pain killers and human drugs for hangovers etc often get left lying around and these packets can be of interest to your dog, if you think your dog has swallowed-contact you vet.

·         Travelling: If you are visiting and taking your dog with you – don’t forget to pack his bag too! Check in advance that your dog is welcome, exercise beforehand to help him settle down when you get there, take a bit of his bedding, water bowl, own food, toy etc.

Record your vet’s number somewhere safe, just in case, be careful and give your dog a big hug from us this Xmas!

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to you all and your dogs!

Written by Amanda Dunckley

Copyright © 2011 Endangered Dogs Defence and Rescue Ltd

Insurance Fraud - Pet Scams

A rather disturbing article in The Telegraph states pet insurance fraud has increased sharply over the past year, with some people reaching new depths to get paid out at the expense of an innocent animal:

Owners killing their pets to get insurance payouts

Pet insurance fraud has almost quadrupled in the space of a year, with some owners even killing their animals to get payouts.

First it was spurious claims for whiplash and other injuries, then it was "crash for cash". Now a new type of fraud is affecting the insurance industry - pet scams
Dishonest claims on animal policies almost quadrupled last year, making it the fasting growing area of insurance crime.

Figures from the Association of British Insurers show there was £1,929,900 worth of pet insurance fraud detected last year – up from just £420,000 in 2009.

However, the true scale, is thought to be far higher and pushing up the average £220 premium. A total of 2.3 million cats and dogs were insured last year and virtually every type of animal can be covered.

The Association of British Insurers is arranging a shared database of information about insured animals to detect fraud.


To read the full story by Jasper Copping in The Telegraph click here

Remember Hedgehogs on Bonfire Night:

Fireworks Petition

This is an e petition to HM Government - if it collects 100,000 or more signatures it could be discussed in the House of Commons, to sign the petition please click here

Ban the general sale of fireworks

Responsible department: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Please ban the sale of fireworks to the general public. This is due to the health and safety issues and anti social behaviour. There can be licensed, organised and properly staffed displays. These will then be advertised so that people will know exactly when and where the displays are taking place. Many animals suffer each year by the noise trauma and injuries caused either directly by the fireworks or fleeing from the noise. Also each year humans suffer injuries from fireworks in the home and from the anti social behaviour from yobs. Sadly in this day and age there is also the risk of someone making a 'dirty' firework. Once the fireworks are in shops for sale it can cause many months of misery and risk. Please ban the general sale of fireworks immediately thank you.

Fireworks & Dogs Advice:

Safety Tips I Dogs & Fireworks Survival I Long-term Action I Fireworks & the Law

Every year many dogs (and other animals) will be affected as a direct result of fireworks. Fireworks legislation exists but for many the fireworks are still extremely loud and the mayhem seems to start earlier and earlier each year, depending on where you live, with Nov. 5th as the 'main event' there are also other celebrations involving fireworks such as Diwali, Chinese New Year and increased popularity in some areas around Christmas and New Year.

For many of us, there isn’t just one evening of Fireworks, sounding like World War III to cope with, but a whole run up of weeks leading to it which doesn’t end with the loudest blitz on Bonfire Night.

Here we have collated some information regarding the safety of your dog, coping suggestions to help get you through it, long term treatment and current legislation.  

Safety tips for you and your dog(s):

Around this time there will be a steep increase in the number of stray dogs picked up and handed in, dogs which have become scared and bolted when out and off leash or having escaped from the home, here follows a few tips to help you and your dog: Please check the following today: Collar & ID Tag: Your dog needs to be wearing an ID tag or a collar with Identification clearly inscribed on it (this is a legal requirement) - check it can be read - can you actually see what it says? The information on it needs to be up to date and securely attached to your dog’s collar. Make sure your dog’s collar is in good condition and fits properly. Microchip: Is you dog micro-chipped? If not now would be a good time to get that done. It’s a simple painless procedure that your vet can do and is relatively cheap – it will make all the difference if you lose your dog. If your dog is already chipped check that you have the number to call should the worst happen. Also make sure your contact details are up to date. Bonfire night is coming and for many dogs it’s terrifying. You may think your dog is bombproof but maybe, this time something will surprise him and he may bolt. If the details on his tag are wrong, or if in the panic he loses his collar, your chances of being reunited with your pet are greatly reduced.

Keep your dog inside the house with you during the worst times, check your garden fencing – is it secure? Does the gate(s) lock?

Don’t leave your dog out in the garden unattended or leave your dog tied up outside the shop or alone anywhere, e.g., in a vehicle, yobs throw bangers & fireworks at animals and find it amusing to wind them up, keep your dog safe.

Keep your dog leashed when out. If you use a flexi leash be extra careful, as your dog suddenly running full throttle to the end of it will cause a jolt which can pull the lead right out of your grasp-you end up with a dog running in a panic with the equipment bouncing along behind, the sudden bang of a rocket etc. can cause the most laid back of dogs to bolt; before they know it they are lost.

Dogs that are known to have a problem with fireworks and are affected are best not left alone at home. As dogs are pack animals, stay with your pet and keep inside when the fireworks are being let off. A dog under stress can sometimes become unpredictable and panic, so double check how safe the inside of your home is, e.g., ornaments, glass doors, open fires.

Never take your dog or any animal to a Firework display, it may be fun for you to watch but keep your dog away and safe.

Getting through it – some survival tips:

Preparation is the key, if your dog has a problem remember your dog feels the need to escape from the source of the fear, your dog may become destructive and/or aggressive, panic, go off its food, have diarrhoea, vomit etc., - your job is to minimize the effects as much as you can, keep your dog safe and seek long term professional help so that fireworks are less of a problem in the future. If you’re worried about your dog’s reactions to fireworks it makes sense to go and visit your veterinary clinic for advice and help.

Exercise your dog earlier; try to have him tired out ready for the evening.

Is the house secure-windows closed, cat flap locked (keep the cat safely inside as well), doors secured etc. and both escape proof and safe should your dog panic?

Draw the curtains/blinds to keep out visual reminders-flashing lights etc.).

Have some familiar calming music on or turn up the TV (not too loud) to help block out some of the noise.

Make sure your dog has access to an area where he feels safe - a 'den' which is away from windows with his bedding and toys inside. Place some of your clothing in here so there is a familiar comforting scent, don’t move his bed suddenly, if you are going to set up a safe area in a specific part of the house, do it a few weeks in advance to give him time to adjust and familiarise himself.  To make your dog’s den a place where good things happen - you can feed him in there, hide treats in there, favourite chews etc. so that your dog should want to go into his den-don’t ever force him in.

Offer a stuffed Kong (introduce in advance) toys and/or favourite chew toy to distract; giving him something to do can help relieve stress as it may take his mind off the noise and smell of fireworks in the night air.

Make sure there is plenty of fresh drinking water available and feed your pet a couple of hours before the fireworks in the evening to help relax him (if your dog is likely to vomit and/or have diarrhoea be prepared for this).

You could also try using adaptil dog appeasing pheromone-just search DAP as it’s sold widely online & in pet shops. You can use a DAP diffuser which you leave plugged in all day a couple of weeks in advance (next to your dog’s den or bed is ideal) also available is DAP spray and a DAP dog collar (worn in addition to your dog’s normal collar). The canine appeasing hormone is released into the atmosphere and is odourless, it doesn’t affect humans or other animals and helps relieve general anxiety in dogs.

Natural Remedies can also be useful for behavioural problems in dogs, try Dr Bach Rescue Remedy. Another homeopathic remedy which can also help is called HomeoPet Anxiety TFLN it is designed to promote a sense of calm. Scullcap and Valerian tablets are a herbal combination which some dog owners use to bring relief to their dogs when anxious and nervous. Further details at Dorwest Herbs.

An ‘anxiety wrap’ is a relatively new idea and now available to buy. It is worn by a dog (looks like a dog coat) to help relieve stress during times of fireworks & thunderstorms, you can find out more here: http://www.petsperfect.co.uk/products/Anxiety-Wrap.html

If your dog is affected by the noise – do NOT ever punish him. If you go out and find your dog has been destructive whilst you were gone – don’t punish him, stay calm, tidy up any mess and have a cup of tea! It is a completely pointless to punish him, damaging & extremely unkind to your dog, the bond between you both is affected and likely to make him even more stressed out.

Our first reaction to a nervous anxious dog is often to stoke, cuddle and soothe, but hold back as your dog will interpret this as praise – a reward. You and your family members need to remain confident, relaxed and cheery try distracting him and when calmed give a cuddle then so you are not reinforcing any unwanted behaviour.

Try to yourself remain relaxed and upbeat – conveying the message that there is nothing to worry about.

If you are worried at all – get help and further advice now, the more in advance of the fireworks season the better. Desensitisation programmes take months not weeks so think ahead and visit your veterinary clinic for advice and seek out the assistance of a behavioural councillor who will be able to help your dog.

Don’t forget to keep your cats, other animals and birds safe too.

Long-term Action:

If your dog needs help then once the firework session is out the way it’s time to plan ahead as any good behavioural re-modification programme will take months time, effort & patience. 
There is no ‘quick fix’ to fireworks phobia, treatment programmes involving desensitisation and counter conditions techniques are available.

We recommend you seek help from a professional canine behaviourist-for advice please contact us and visit your veterinary surgeon.

The Fireworks Act:

The Fireworks Act was introduced in August 2004, it makes it an offence to:

* Be under the age of 18 and in possession of fireworks in a public place.

* Let off fireworks louder than 120 decibels.

* Let off fireworks between 11pm and 7am.

The 11pm to 7am curfew is extended on the 5th of November, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali.

It is against the law to throw or set off fireworks in the street.

Fireworks must not be sold to anyone who is under 18 years of age.

For a full copy of the legislation (The Fireworks Act 2003) visit: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/22/contents

Further information on fireworks and the law can be found here.

The Animal Welfare Act:

Under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animals.

The penalty on conviction is either imprisonment up to 51 weeks or a fine of up to £20,000 or both. Enforcement of this section of the Act rests with Trading Standards, the Police or the RSPCA as appropriate.

Written by Amanda Dunckley

Updated 2011
Copyright © Endangered Dogs Defence & Rescue 2011

Online Survey-Canine Socialisation

I completed this survey for one of the organisations I volunteer for, the results should be interesting:

Do you have time to participate in a short 11-question Nation-wide survey?

My name is Alexandra Yates and I am currently in my final year of studies at Liverpool John Moores University reading Animal Behaviour.

I am interested in your perception and experience as a Rescue Centre worker concerning the decline in canine socialisation in the UK over the last decade. This is a huge problem facing the nation and by working together, we can try and get to the bottom of this problem and attempt to change it!

Thank you again! If you have any concerns/queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

PLEASE click on following link to reach Survey:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22DLVEY6P4D

Our Day Out at the No Voice No Choice-Event Aug.2011

I had a great day out at the 'No Voice No Choice' event held at Ruxbury Farm, the Company of Animals (COA) in Surrey on 6th August.

The Saturday event was a celebration of responsible dog ownership, a fabulous family & k9 day out and was organised by campaign group DDA Watch in association with the COA, it also marked twenty years since the introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act and with it breed specific legislation in the UK.

The COA kindly donated the use of a huge field which was plenty big enough to fit in over fifty stalls/stands, a dog show arena, display dog & obedience training ring, agility ring area, k9 hurdles with additional walking spaces and car parking, what a great venue!

It was an early start to get there with plenty of time to set up and get organised. I was one of many volunteers who had all come together to help the day run as smoothly as possible, the event had been planned some time ago and as always the run up for all the fantastic people who offered up their time and energy, had been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride!

Setting up early morning, gazebo after gazebo (not a lover of the marked poles and instructions which just look too complicated at 8am) was achieved with everyone’s help, which was handy as there was indeed lots to do. I think we all wore our footwear out with the amount of walking covered in just one afternoon and went home with sore throats from much talking but high spirits!

The field soon packed out with stalls promoting canine and animal rescue and welfare, campaign groups, educational material and trade stands with lots of beautiful items to purchase.

There was a dog show which ran all afternoon and was well received, everyone receiving a certificate and rosette from the celebrity judges.

The agility ring was great fun too, with agility displays from the experts as well as a chance for many to ‘have a go’ with their dog. The canine hurdles team set up and offered a huge amount of organised fun, in fact many people mentioned that they really enjoyed this as it was so exciting to see their dog running full pelt down and over the hurdles!

Colin Goff ran a competent handler course in the ring and the display ring offered talks and dog obedience from Dima Dogs display team (pictured left) for all to enjoy.

There was even clicker training with chickens from the COA, bouncy castles & face painting for the young ones, plus food and a beer tent for the adults too! On offer also was a slide show and talk and the deaf dogs’ network mingled around on the day. In fact, there was so much on offer, you would be hard pushed to fit it all in in one day!

I was co-manning the EDDR stall on the day, (pictured here early morning & still looking tidy) which had come together well at the last minute, we were sited next to the COA trade stall which was run by the ever so cool PC the dog who was pretty much in charge there for the day and wandered over for treats under the table during his breaks.

We had a ‘Bargain Basement’ table too next to us which after many attic raids & a lot of collecting through the previous weeks was heaving with bargains with all proceeds given to the ‘extraordinary eight’, currently in kennels and in need of much support whilst looking for new homes of their own.

Looking good for the camera is our Charlie the rescue in front of the EDDR information board with myself and Nikki from Epsom canine rescue who also had a stall. Read EDDR's blog here for more on this.

I just about managed to find time to walk round to visit each stall, putting names to email addresses, swapping contacts and information, each time I looked over at the ‘vet world’ tent it was full with dogs having free health checks and free micro chipping, the dog show classes looked a lot of fun too.

It was great to meet up with many friends this year, including rescue workers, dog trainers and Roger Mugford (Pictured here with a fist for unfair dog law-I'm on a thumbs up for a great day out!), Pamela Rose the barrister and Tina Hay the solicitor all involved with canine legal situations, as luck would have it the beer tent was placed next to the PA tent, which was next to us, this was a bonus!

Around about 2ish I headed for a snack having had my eye on it for a few hours but never quite made it, on route I was handed ‘Ozzie’ a Whippet x Staffie rescue dog looking for a home, we ended up wandering round for two hours meeting lots of people and other dogs.

Ozzie agreed to have his photos taken (pictured to the right with young Hope who is having a fab day out) to help gain attention to the fact he did need a home of his own.

To help gain further attention for Ozzie, we volunteered to enter the ‘competent handler’ obedience task ring organised by instructor Colin Goff, lined up with four other dogs, the rather tired but excited Ozzie and I were joined by 9yr old George who thankfully helped us through, watched by a small crowd thanks to an announcement on the PA from the guys there doing here an excellent job and not missing a trick!

and in front of spectators, all to help a dog who needs a home! We passed the ‘gold’ Ozzie, George and I were all very proud of ourselves and we had our certificates to prove it!

Ozzie coped amazingly well, it was a long day for him, pictured here with barrister Pamela and myself, he met lots of lovely people and dogs taking a busy crowded & noisy environment in his stride; this fabulous dog needs a home – details are here.

I met some lovely registered and exempted dogs the ‘pit bulls types’ marked out by their compulsory muzzle and leash, having previously owned several exempted dogs, it brought back memories of years of life under the law. All were welcomed and made to feel comfortable and at ease which is always good for the owner of any exempted dog. They had their own class in the dog show and a registered dog actually won best in show which was judged by singer/ songwriter Maria Daines with the help of several young volunteers!

The grand raffle went well at the end when it was drawn, everyone had been busy over the previous weeks selling as many tickets as possible, our rescue dog Charlie pulled one of the tickets from the box, lucky for someone!
Pictured here is DDA watch with the 'fairy dogmother' drawing a ticket having wandered round the show all day entertaining and raising much needed funds to help dogs in need.

Sadly I didn’t get to see the clicker training with Chickens – but next time! 

At the end of day, the sun goes down and unfortunately all the displays and tents etc. have to come back down, it never does all fit back in the car does it!

Part of the M25 had been closed causing traffic chaos to some, the sun had shone all day but thankfully it wasn’t uncomfortably hot and the venue offered plenty of moving around room for all.

DDA Watch pulled off a great event and much needed funds were raised for the dogs currently in their care – if you can spare a pound to support these dogs, some of who were born in police custody and have only ever known a kennel, please make a donation today, if you are thinking about adopting a dog, maybe you could offer a permanent or foster home?

Photographs are copyright Amanda Dunckley 2011