IT S OUR BIRTHDAY 125 YEARS YOUNG!

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1 IT S OUR BIRTHDAY 125 YEARS YOUNG! WAG: THE MAG FOR DOG LOVERS SPRING 2016

2 MEET THE TEAM NEWS Photo: Clive Tagg Job title: Canine Carer. Lizzie is just one of 417 canine carers working at our 21 rehoming centres. Everyday duties include feeding, exercising, training and socialising the dogs in our care, as well as getting to know each dog on their kennel block well enough so that they can find the very best owner for each individual dog. The kindness and knowledge of our canine carers are just two of the things that makes Dogs Trust great. How long have you worked at Dogs Trust? Two years as a canine carer; before that I volunteered as a dog walker. I ve always been passionate about dogs, which is why I volunteered. What do you like most about it? I love bonding with the dogs in my care; taking puppies home for a sleepover is always good fun but tiring! I also enjoy coming up with new ways to publicise some of our dogs to the public, as photography and PR are a part of my role. Editorial address: Dogs Trust, Clarissa Baldwin House, 17 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7RQ What do you find most challenging? I get a bit sad when a dog I ve cared for and gotten to know well eventually leaves the centre I know they re going to a good home to start their new life but you can t help but feel a tiny bit upset. Personal highlight? I was delighted when Cher, a Doberman who was scared of men, eventually found a great home, after a long wait. I d been caring for her for a long time and we d built up a strong bond. She was transferred to Snetterton, so she could meet a wider audience of potential owners, and I was so pleased to be able to visit her while she was there. She recognised me instantly. Cher was eventually rehomed to a great new owner from Birmingham! Dogs Trust West London, Harvil Road, Harefield, Uxbridge, UB9 6JW, tel Open on: weekdays 12-4pm, weekends 11am - 4pm, Tues pm. Closed on Wed. Editor: Deana Selby Readers Dogs: wag@dogstrust.org.uk High-res Jpegs only please! Front cover: Jessica Dance (knitted models) and David Sykes (photography) Designed by: Anthony Oram anthonyoram.com Print by: Eclipse Colour Print, managed by Red Mist A dog is for life, not just for Christmas INTERACT MORE WAGS PER HOUR Wagulous news! Your Wag will now be available online and updated regularly with even more news, videos and lots of photos so for some extra juicy bits visit dogstrust.org.uk/wagmagazine and wherever you see this sign dogstrust.org.uk Wag extra meaty chunks Dogstrust.org.uk/wagmagazine YouTube: youtube.com/dogstrust Facebook: facebook.com/dogstrust Phone: wag@dogstrust.org.uk Reg charity nos (England and Wales) SC (Scotland) (Ireland) WHY DID MY OWNERS WANT SNOUT TO DO WITH ME? The rehoming team at our Basildon centre were dismayed to find that a nine week old puppy, who had been put in a cardboard box and left in a nearby park, had probably been abandoned due to some unusual scarring on her snout. The team gave the shivering pup plenty of TLC, and decided to call her Winnie on account of her bearlike appearance. Thankfully, the vet team diagnosed her prominent snout markings as the result of a bad fungal infection, and she was given medical treatment to cure her ailment. Although she recovered well, Winnie is likely to have some permanent scarring on her face. Says Maria Wickes, manager of Dogs Trust Basildon, It s appalling that someone could abandon a family pet in this way, especially one so small and helpless. Winnie is perfect in my eyes, and all the staff here hope she can sniff out a loving owner very soon! STOP PRESS we ve just heard that Winnie has bagged a great new home! See her in her new home on dogstrust.org.uk/wagmagazine Photos: Maxine Clarke CAN YOU DIG IT? To commemorate 125 years of caring for abandoned and unwanted dogs, Dogs Trust will be creating a wonderful garden at the Hampton Court Flower Show from the 5th-10th July. We hope this horticultural spectacular will encourage people to consider rehoming a rescue dog from one of our 21 rehoming centres and enable us to reach many new potential dog owners and secure future supporters. We would love to see you there! Tickets are available at 02 Spring Spring

3 Dennis, the cross eyed Collie rehomed from our Kenilworth centre, peering at his cake during his one year at home celebration thrown by his lovely family, Liz and Nathan. Dennis, who has strabismus, was in our care for a month, before finding love with Liz: There is never a dull moment when Dennis is about, he is always up to mischief and we absolutely wouldn t have him any other way! Love Is All A-Hound Us Are you getting married this summer? You can support our dogs on your big day using our unique and stylish wedding favours. We have four designs to choose from, and along with our Dogs Trust lapel pin they make a fantastic keepsake for your guests. wagmagazine for details. Sam the star of our new TV advert. You may have seen our knitted woollen gent on your TV screens, as he s been helping us spread the message that there is That Special Someone which we are hoping will help encourage lots more lovely people to think about getting a rescue dog! You can see our advert, plus behind the scenes action here: Dog derriere coat hooks Now there s no excuse for a messy hallway! Pocket Square by Turnbull and Asser. Be the dapperest dog lover on the block by wearing one of four ready to wear designs depicting famous cartoon dogs ( 65), or go bespoke with a 100% silk scarf featuring your very own dog for 295 the Doggy Warhol is pictured here. 295 each, with 10% donated to Dogs Trust. DOGGYDUB You will soon be able to dub your own voice onto video clips of our dogs go to to see how to share talking (or singing!) dogs with pals on social media. Is it really Monday morning again? Bartolo, the much missed dog of Maria Elena Candilio. Maria kindly organised a charity polo match in Richmond, in memory of her beloved Bull Terrier, Bartolo, donating a fantastic 900 to help the dogs in our care. Stanley the Sussex Bulldog at our Salisbury centre. Not only can he stuff a toy pumpkin into his chops, he brings joy to all of his canine carers lives. They would LOVE to see him settled in a new home, so to learn more about this funloving big fella please watch him in action here or call the centre on China mugs Teatowels By ceramicist Fenella Smith, available at John Lewis and dogstrustgifts.com Not only will your tea taste better* but 25% of profits from the Dogs Trust range will be donated to help our dogs. *not scientifically proven! Lady and Godiva, joint winners of our Westminster Dog of the Year competition. The miniature Schnauzers, owned by Andrea Jenkyns, MP for Morley and Outwood, scooped the coveted title thanks to their unique singing talents. 04 Spring Spring

4 NEWS DOGS TRUST RESCUES SMUGGLED DESIGNER PUPS Dogs Trust has taken in 18 pedigree puppies - potentially the tip of the iceberg - as part of our ongoing investigation into the illegal import and sale of puppies into Great Britain from eastern Europe. NEWS The pup group, comprising en-vogue breeds such as Chow Chows, Pugs, English and French Bulldogs, had been smuggled into Dover via Hungary, with fake passports, and were all under 15 weeks old - thereby rendering any vaccinations they might have had ineffective. We believe they had been bred abroad and smuggled into the country to be sold online, just in time to be someone s - potentially disease-carrying - Christmas present. Mason Makes a Big Splash The tiny pups had travelled hundreds of miles, and some of them were at an age when they were too young to be separated from their mothers. Until now, any smuggled pups uncovered at Dover port by customs officials were at risk of either being sent back whence they came, or being put to sleep. To alleviate this terrible situation, we have undertaken the full cost of putting these puppies through quarantine, will pay for all of their veterinary fees, and will eventually find them loving homes them once they have completed their quarantine period. At time of going to press, we are fully prepared to help any further smuggled pups in this way, through our partnerships with quarantine establishments and the customs authorities at the port of Dover. Do you remember Mason, who splashed all over the cover of Wag summer 2015 issue? Photos: Steven Dunham Photo: Clive Tagg LESLEY S BUSMAN S HOLIDAY Most people like to leave their work way behind them while they re on holiday but not Lesley O Donoghue, our super dedicated assistant manager from Dogs Trust Manchester. Last August she flew to Cyprus for a friend s wedding, but while her fellow guests spent their post-nuptial spare time chilling out by the pool, Lesley spent her hols cleaning out kennels Says Paula Boyden, veterinary director: This puppy smuggling scandal cannot be left to animal charities alone to fight - the British government must lead on a multi-organisation plan to stop this evil trade. and helping to socialise the stray dogs at the volunteer-run Noah s Ark Dog Shelter. Says Lesley, At the wedding venue there was a quote on the wall that said Do what you love and you ll never work a day in your life and that just about sums up how I feel about my work! Handsome Mason was cared for at our West London centre for over two years, waiting for Mr/Ms Right to come along. The super bouncy Springer had been handed over by his previous owners when they felt they could no longer handle his high exercise requirement, combined with his flair for escapology. To help satisfy Mason s high energy drive, assistant manager Emma Taylor would take him for regular swims at the Dipping Dogs hydrotherapy pool. Mason s mastery of doggy paddle led to him being snapped by underwater photographer Lucy Ray for the front cover of your summer Wag. It was this stunning shot which caught the eye of Carolyn and Ian, who have supported Dogs Trust for over 30 years. Immediately, they visited our website to watch footage of Mason cheerfully splashing about during the photoshoot, before making the 240 mile round trip from their home in Nottinghamshire to Dogs Trust in Harefield, West London, to meet him. As Carolyn explains, It was love at first sight. When we first read in Wag about Mason s need to live far away from any roads we immediately knew we could offer the right home; we live so far from a road that we have to pump water from a well! Plus, we have about 130 acres of woodland around our house and several ponds, which our other Springers have always loved cooling off in. Mason is my mother s maiden name, so it was clearly meant to be! Several months later, and Mason has clearly landed on his paws: Mason is making full use of the ponds, and has made firm friends with our other rescue springer, Toby, whom he clearly adores. He also loves to play tug of war with our grandpuppy, Benji. He is super affectionate, we love dog cuddles and always watch TV with a springer on our knees. We have a very happy ending; Mason is here for ever. We re so glad we spotted Mason in our Wag! 06 Spring Spring

5 NEWS ARCHIE, GREAT BRITISH BARK OFF: EASTER SPECIAL JE T AIME! Archie, a former stray, has been enjoying la vie en rose at our West London rehoming centre, helped by a volunteer who originally comes from France - and he loves her accent so much that French has become his first language. Now Archie will only fully obey commands if staff copy her distinctive gallic accent. For the last ten months, Marie-Hélène Léoni, originally from Savoie in the French Alps, has spent most weekends with Archie, allowing him to socialise and adjust to a home environment. She has been taking Archie for walks near her home in Maida Vale, London, and even started singing French children s songs to him. And when he returns to the rehoming centre after weekends away with Marie-Hélène he ll only react to commands in a similar accent. This has forced our staff to adopt French accents when interacting with the four-year-old canine. Miss Leoni, 57, said: Archie was very worried when I first met him, but working alongside the canine carers at the centre, I could see his potential. 6 APRIL RED LETTER DAY FOR DOGS! April 6 marks a very special day for canine welfare in England, Scotland and Wales it s the date by which all dog owners are legally required to microchip their dog and register them with a government compliant microchip database. From this date, all puppies must be microchipped and registered with a microchip database by the time they are eight weeks old. In 2015, around 8,000 stray dogs 08 Spring Photos: Solent News So I started taking him home for weekends, and we d go for long walking holidays together in Derbyshire. I d sing him classic French children s songs, and call him French pet names such as Poupounette, which translate as lovely doggie and mon petit chou, meaning my little darling, and after that he started trusting me more and more. And because Archie was responding so well to what I was saying, staff at the centre started to speak to him in a French accent. Lizzie Smith, Archie s canine carer, adds: Archie had clearly had some bad experiences before he was rescued. But following the groundwork carried out by the Dogs Trust team at Harefield, Marie-Hélène s patience, love and devotion has helped return his confidence and made such a difference to his life. Marie-Helene said: After my dog died I still wanted one in my life, and when I discovered what Dogs Trust was doing, in terms of rescuing and finding new homes for dogs, I wanted to help. were able to be reunited with their owners as a result of having a microchip and is the most common method for strays and their owners to find each other. Dogs Trust has been offering subsidised microchips for all dogs for the past ten years and so far we ve managed to chip an incredible 900,000 dogs in the UK. To take advantage of our FREE chipping offer, and to make sure you are on the right side of the law, visit chipmydog.org.uk You loved our Christmas doggy treats in the last issue, devised by super volunteers Eileen and Nyla, so they ve created some easy easter treats for you to bake for the canine in your life. Please remember that chocolate is highly toxic for dogs, so while you re scoffing your easter eggs you can give Rover these cheesy treats instead. Vet note! Do remember to check with your vet first about whether your dog has an intolerance to dairy products. Although the cheese is used in small amounts some dogs can be sensitive to it. Thanks to ravenous Rolo Millar, ex-kenilworth boy and bon viveur! Photos: Josephine Slade Tweet us a pic of your dog enjoying their easter on Twitter and Instagram! INGREDIENTS 180g strong stoneground wholemeal flour 150g porridge oats 80g mature cheddar, grated 1 egg, beaten with a little water METHOD Set oven to 180c / gas mark 4 To make a smoother biscuit whiz the porridge oats together with the grated cheese in a food processor. Line a baking tray with greased baking parchment. Mix dry ingredients together. Add beaten egg and water. Mix to form a firm dough, adding more water as necessary. Roll out on a floured board to a thickness of between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. Check biscuits after 20 minutes and turn over for a further ten minutes for a crunchier biscuit. Cool on a wire tray and store in an airtight tin for two weeks. They can also be frozen.

6 FEATURE CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF LOVE AND CARE ounded in 1871 by Lady Gertrude Stock in order to protect dogs from torture and ill usage of every kind, the National Canine Defence League s inaugural meeting took place at the very first Crufts, in Islington, London. The charity s earliest campaigns were firmly focussed on fighting restrictive laws which sought to have all dogs muzzled. Fast forward 125 years, and Dogs Trust (we dropped the National Canine Defence League in 2003) is now the UK s largest dog welfare charity, with a network of 20 rehoming centres in the UK and one in Dublin. We cared for 17,347 dogs in 2015, and we re expecting to care for many more in the coming year. The majority of our rehoming centres are bright, modern and designed with the comfort and welfare of the canine residents in mind if you ve not visited a centre you are in for a treat! We are also lucky enough to be able to advise other welfare groups around the world on improving kennel design. In 1998 we redefined our mission: working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction. From that date, everything the charity has done has been in pursuit of achieving this goal marked a year of massive change for the charity. We had a complete rethink about our approach to tackling the stray dog problem in the UK, as we knew we had to be more than just a sticking plaster on a gaping wound. As a result, despite the UK dog population increasing by 34% (6.7 million in 1999 to an estimated 9 million in 2014*), the number of stray dogs being destroyed by local authorities has decreased by over 33%**. So what does the future hold? With your help, we ll be able to save even more dogs lives than ever. We have plans for brand new rehoming centres to be created in the UK in the coming years. We will continue to work closely with DEFRA to put an end to puppy smuggling. Our new Dogs Trust Dog Schools will be popping up all over the UK, in order to help dog owners have a better understanding of their pets. In the years to come, many more dogs lives will be saved. We are confident that with your help we will one day see the day when no healthy dog is destroyed. Did you know that 2016 marks the 125 th year of Dogs Trust? We re celebrating our 125 th year of love and care for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Over the past 16 years we have been busily building new rehoming centres so we can look after even more dogs. Thanks to your help, we ve been able to rebuild eight of our older rehoming centres, and build nine brand new centres. We also knew that to effect change we would need to change people s attitude towards dog welfare, so we introduced an extensive range of neutering, microchipping and youth education campaigns. *source: Pet Food Manufacturers Association 2013 **Dogs Trust analysis Knitted models by Jessica Dance Photography David Sykes Our Impact Stray dogs collected by local authorities 133, ,363 Put to sleep by local authorities 21,360 5,142 Dogs Trust rehoming centres Dogs cared for by Dogs Trust 11,252 17,347 Healthy dogs destroyed 0 0 DID YOU KNOW In 1899 the League successfully campaigned against a compulsory muzzling of dogs bill In 1912 the NCDL opened its first home in Fulham, London. In 1926 we ran our first animal ambulance. In 1967 our non-destruction policy was introduced by then-ceo, Col RoosemaleCocq. Since then we have never put a healthy dog to sleep. In 1978 A dog is for life not just for Christmas slogan created by then press officer (and later CEO) Clarissa Baldwin. In 2015, more than 8,000 stray dogs in the UK were reunited with their owners, thanks to having a microchip. Compulsory microchipping is about to become law this spring, thanks to the campaign of Dogs Trust and the Microchipping Alliance. 10 Spring Spring

7 TRAINING TARGET PRACTICE! With Dogs Trust Dog Schools set to pop up all over the UK this year, what better time to introduce our new training section! Dog School is open to anyone, not just rescue dogs, and not even just new dog owners. Sign up for a five week course where we ll show you how to train and communicate with your dog, under the expert guidance of Dogs Trust approved trainers, using only kind, positive training methods. Courses cost around 50 for five sessions, and are now available in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend, Canterbury, Basildon, Manchester and Liverpool. Here s our training and behaviour advisor, Daniel Thompson, with the beautiful Mavis (rehomed from Dogs Trust Shoreham three years ago), to show you how easy it is to get your dog s attention by teaching them to target. Photos: Clive Tagg So, why teach your dog to target against your hand? 1 It s useful for any time you want your dog s full attention, perhaps when you want to groom him. 2 You can use a target command to grab your dog s attention when you want to get him away from a potentially difficult situation, for example, if you want to avoid a confrontation with another dog, or you want to distract him from chasing joggers. 3 Handy for when you want to check his body for lumps, bumps or ticks, or keep him still while at the vets. TOP TIPS If your dog is short and/or you find it difficult to bend you can use a wooden spoon instead of your hand. Always end a training session on a high note; it lets your dog know he can do it, gives him a rush of happy hormones, and will make him super keen when you start your next training! Have your high value treats (ie yummy titbits your dog doesn t have every day) in a bowl ready for when you begin. If your dog gets something wrong NEVER tell him off; just keep quiet and try again. Ticking off your dog because he can t grasp something is a sure-fire way to make him hate training. READY? THEN OFF WE GO 1 Before your start any training, your dog needs to be in a familiar environment, so you know he is starting off feeling happy and relaxed. 2 Decide on a marker word that you and your dog will come to understand as that is correct, for example, win, fab, brill a short word that lets your dog know the thing he did is what you wanted. Teach your dog this is the special word that will earn him a treat by saying the word, fab, then giving a treat straight away, every time. Your dog will soon learn fab = treat! You could use a hand signal instead of a word, which is handy if you are training a deaf dog. Daniel is shown using the thumbs up as the marker for Mavis. 3 You ll need tiny portions of high value food eg cooked chicken, liver etc (as long as you know your dog is not allergic to them.) Rub a piece of treat in your hand and then drop it back in the bowl so that your hand smells of the tasty food. When your dog sniffs and touches your hand with his nose you mark it by saying your special word, and then give him the treat. Repeat this for a while, remembering to mark the behaviour with your word and give the treat instantly. 4 Do not give him a treat if he mouths, paws or barks at you, as this may mean your dog is becoming confused or frustrated. You may need to proceed at a slower pace, and give your dog more encouragement by using treats to build up a positive association with the targeting. It may also be more productive to take a break from the training for a while. 5 When your dog is touching consistently his nose to your hand, put a command to the action, so use a word like Touch or Nose or Target. This teaches him that Touch is what you want him to do. 6 You now want your dog to hold his nose to your hand for a little longer - mark and reward when he keeps his nose on your palm for two seconds, then gradually increase the length of time. 7 When your dog can reliably wait for five seconds with his nose on your hand, introduce a low-level distraction for instance hold a bit of kibble or a toy (but not their favourite one) in your other hand. Hold your hand out and ask for the target, and if he touches your hand with the distraction present, mark and reward with a titbit. This may be quite difficult for him, so don t be surprised if it takes a while. With all dog training the rule is Be patient! 8 You could now introduce a stroke to your dog s side while he is targeting to your hand. Your aim is to get your dog to stay on target while you stroke his body. Start by stroking very lightly with the back of your hand and reward when the dog continues to focus on the target. Gradually increase the time you are stroking and the length of stroke. If he comes off the target then start back at an easier point where contact with your hand is not as long. 9 Once your dog is doing this happily you can then start introducing a brush. Make sure your dog isn t worried by the object to begin with and when you introduce the brush, start the same way you introduced the back of your hand with very light, short strokes. Gradually increase the length of time and stroke you are doing with the dog, and at any point the dog comes off the target start back at an easier step. 10 Once you re happy he can target indoors you can try and introduce targeting outside, in the park, with even bigger distractions. Be aware that you may need to repeat some of the early steps while your dog adjusts to all the distractions of the great outdoors! Good luck with your training and make sure you keep it FUN for both of you! 12 Spring Spring

8 FEATURE FALLING MADLY IN LOVE WITH A RESCUE DOG When Sali Hughes pedigree dog died, she got a rescue puppy. And the experience has changed her outlook forever. There is a common misconception about rescue dogs, a belief that somehow they are broken, that you re getting something inferior but in fact the opposite is true. Dogs adopted through reputable charities such as Dogs Trust are cared for properly, neutered and microchipped as standard, and given a full health check by a vet. Instead of taking your money and running, reputable animal shelters sit you down for a full and frank talking to, ensuring you truly understand what is involved in caring for a dog, and at Dogs Trust you even get a follow up call from a veterinary nurse after the rehoming, to check your dog is settling in well. Last summer we came home from Dogs Trust Evesham with Sylvie, a young dog with a sketchy history. What we do know for sure is that she is healthy, clever, quick to learn, funny, loving, extremely cuddly and, until we met her, in danger of spending the rest of her life without a family while countless new pups are needlessly churned out for sale. Sylvie, like most rescue dogs, is not a designer breed. Far from it. Part Corgi, (massive bat ears, short legs), part Dachshund (unfeasibly long body) and with a peculiar bone structure that suggests a hint of Lurcher and possible maternal liaison with Basil Brush. So she s a misshape, and that is more than OK, because she is not a pair of shoes; she is a living, feeling, loving member of my family - I didn t get to choose how the rest of them looked either. By adopting from a rescue centre, we are opting out of a cruel game, reminding ourselves what a pet is actually for, and engaging in what has been for me one of the most mutually enriching experiences of my life. We adore our new dog. The sense of reward I get from having rescued Sylvie has convinced me that my pedigreebuying days are over. I can see valid arguments for humane breeding, and as a former pedigree owner myself, I know that many good and decent people breed and buy dogs out of a love and desire to maintain and protect their breeds. But pets from responsible breeders, who put animal welfare before profit margins, cost money. So she s a misshape, and that is more than OK, because she is not a pair of shoes; she is a living, feeling, loving member of my family. Rehome a rescue dog (This is an edited version of an article which first appeared in in August 2015). he summer issue of Wag exposed a highly lucrative racket, whereby puppies bred in Hungary are smuggled to Britain and sold at a fraction of the going rate. The puppies are bred in awful, packed conditions, then taken from their mothers way too early (while they re still tiny and cute) causing trauma and grave damage to the puppies mental and physical health. The EU demands puppies be at least 15 weeks old before exportation, but the breeders fake birth dates and documents to get around these regulations, not only placing the dogs themselves in great danger, but also putting people at risk, because the pups are actually too young to be effectively immunised against rabies. The story made me feel sick. My beloved old dog, Margot was put to sleep in my arms shortly after last Christmas, having lived a long and healthy life. She had been somewhat ahead of her time. The runt of a litter of French Bulldogs, she was born to only one of a handful of registered breeders in the UK, well before her breed was plastered over kids pencil cases and hipster T shirts. But, by the time she was five, Frenchies were so trendy and in demand that unscrupulous breeders had begin to put bitches to work in puppy farms, forcing them to produce litter after litter under horrible and unsafe conditions. I was so horrified by what had become of my beloved breed as it soared in popularity that, when I was finally ready to find a new pet I decided that instead of becoming part of the problem, I was going to adopt a dog with fewer fans. Hundreds of thousands of dogs end up in rescue centres each year, many of them designer breeds and pedigrees (it s true that, after buying adorable farmed puppies, many owners realise they grow into dogs and give them up.) Generation Pup Great news! The University of Bristol, together with Dogs Trust, is calling on all puppy-owning Wag readers - and anyone you know who may be getting a pup - to take part in a groundbreaking study into dog development. Open to all types of dogs, rescue and nonrescue, the study will follow a group of up to 5,000 dogs over their full life span. We hope the study will give us a clearer insight into the effects of environment and upbringing on a dog as he grows through puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood and eventually old age. Funded by Dogs Trust, the study will also give participating pup owners a clearer understanding of their pup s physical and behavioural development. Please note, all puppies must be under 16 weeks old when they enrol. To be a part of the UK s first ever puppy life study admin-puppies@bristol.ac.uk 14 Spring Spring

9 FEATURE Andreana, Hope Project user Photos by Olivia Hemingway n 20 years the Dogs Trust Hope Project has transformed the lives of thousands of homeless dog owners, growing from just one monthly clinic held at the Royal Veterinary College, to running vital services at over 100 locations around the UK. The project provides free preventative and emergency veterinary care to dogs belonging to people who are homeless or experiencing housing crisis. Our unique service is as relevant and as valuable to the people it serves as ever. It is estimated there are currently 2,744 people sleeping rough in the UK, many of whom are accompanied by a pet dog. One such person is Andreana, owner of ten year old German Shepherd dog, Khan. Andreana, 39, credits Khan with giving her the impetus to give up drugs, saying she felt a responsibility to take care of him, and in turn he gave her a reason to take care of herself and get clean. Andreana left her abusive boyfriend in the winter of 2010, taking Khan with her. Unfortunately she also developed epilepsy at this time, to add to her problems. She explains, If I didn t go, I knew I would die and there would be no one to look after my dog. We stayed at friends for a while, but eventually we ended up sleeping rough during one of the coldest winters for years. I really believe I would be dead by now if it weren t for my dog. He held me up. I couldn t have gone on without him. In fact, she was once offered a place in a hostel in west London on the condition that she didn t take Khan an offer which she instantly rejected. After nine months, Andreana was found by an outreach team while she was sleeping rough in Hackney, London. They helped her and Khan to get a place in a hostel together, St Mungos, and it was here that she encountered the Hope Project and finally started to get her life back on track. It was brilliant, I loved the Hope Project as it helped me get treatment for Khan whenever he needed it. The St Mungo s hostel also accepted my beloved dog and from there I went through the system and eventually got rehoused. I am clean now and living in my own studio flat with a council tenancy, I have a garden for Khan and I am so happy he has somewhere nice to live for his retirement. When the Hope Project launched in 1995 there was not a single dog-friendly hostel in the UK, and just one veterinary clinic run by the Hope Project to support dogs and their owners. Now, our Hope Project offers an invaluable service in 107 towns and cities, working with local vets and homelessness organisations, and last year funded over 1,700 veterinary treatments to help dogs remain with their devoted owners. We would like to give our warmest thanks to all of the generous vets who enable us to help dogs through the Hope Project. If you d like to see more portraits of people and dogs who have been helped the by the Hope Project go to dogstrust.org.uk/wagmagazine I BELIEVE I WOULD BE DEAD NOW IF IT WASN T FOR MY DOG He used to whine sometimes, and I couldn t figure out why at first, but then I realised that he somehow knew I was going to have an epileptic fit. Because he was warning me I could put myself somewhere safe so I wouldn t injure myself. During her time living on the streets, Andreana would always ensure Khan had enough food, and felt angry when others suggested she should give him up. I would have given him up if it was the best thing for him, but I strongly felt the best thing for both of us was to stay together. 16 Spring Spring

10 Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. Put on the kettle, open the hobnobs, it s time for READERS DOGS NEWS Can you help boost our Barkive? The Dogs Trust archive is regrettably slim, thanks to an office fire in the 1970s. If you, or a friend, have anything you could add then we would LOVE to hear from you! You might have a National Canine Defence League medal, awarded to human or dogs for bravery, or perhaps an old postcard or poster, or an old NCDL Newsletter? Whatever it is, please send a photograph of your item, plus a short explanatory note, to archive@dogstrust.org.uk The NCDL s Edith Cole Home for Dogs, Birkenhead, c 1915 Campaigning flyer from 1898 Photos: Thanks to Ernest Bell Library ALFIE 2 - WEST LONDON BENJI - MANCHESTER Benji has written a beautiful letter thanking his canine carer, Laura, and all the staff at our Manchester centre for taking such good care of him during his brief sojourn, and telling them all about his great life with new daddies Colin and Richard, and his new Bichon brother from another mother, Jack. Benji writes, I heard Richard and Colin say the other day that they want to make sure that I have the best life ever. Well, if this is the start of it then it looks like I m really going to enjoy myself. I just hope my tail doesn t wag that much that it falls off. To see Benji enjoying his fabulous new life, go here CORRIE - WEST CALDER Love is in the air for Corrie, formerly Larrie, when he not only attended the beautiful outdoor wedding of his owners Carolyn and Alan Elliott, but also joined them on their honeymoon, hillwalking in the Highlands. 18 Spring Alfie 2 is the second Alfie we have from the Dogs Trust, and has as much character as fur! My son, Charlie, wanted a dog like Gnasher, and we got one...he is hilarious, mischievous and super friendly, and enjoys burrowing in mud like a truffle-hunting pig. My son has given him the nickname Pigapatomous and in honour of Star Wars, Darth Fluff. CAMMY - MANCHESTER Four-year-old Labradoodle, Cammy, found herself homeless when a change in circumstances meant her family, who had loved her since she was a puppy, could no longer look after her. She had only been at our Manchester centre for a few days when she caught the eye of Sarah and Matthew Midgley. A year later, and she s about to jet off with them to start a new life in Wisconsin, USA. Sarah says: She is a wonderful dog. Now we ve got the opportunity to move to America she is, of course, coming with us! RONNIE AND SCOOBY - LEEDS Helen and Ian tell us that after losing their 16 year old dog, Elkie, their home was empty without a dog. They fell in love with Ronnie, an 11 week old pup, who had been found wandering the streets of Leeds. A year later they returned to the centre to find Ronnie a friend, where they met eight month old Scooby. The dogs hit it off from the start and they re inseparable! MEG S LIFETIME OF LOVE Meg was left broken-hearted and alone after her owner suddenly passed away. Thankfully, she had been registered on our Canine Care Card scheme and came to Dogs Trust Merseyside as soon as possible, where she found a loving new home with Mrs Kinsey and never had to worry about being lonely again. Our Canine Care Card is a free service that guarantees Dogs Trust will care for and rehome your companion should the worst happen. Meg s story has a very happy ending - why not ensure the same for your four legged friend by registering them today? Applying for your Canine Care Card is easy and once you are registered, we will send you a handy wallet-sized card to carry with you as you would a donor card. Yes I d like to apply for my free Canine Care Card Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms (please circle) Full name: Address: All information will be treated as strictly confidential Postcode: Supporter number (if known): Telephone: Please return this coupon to: RTJA-SRXG-AZUL, Canine Care Card, Clarissa Baldwin House, 17 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7RQ Source: Photo: Gavin Dickson

11 FUNDRAISING WOOFTASTIC BREAKS WITH HOSEASONS! BABY WE WERE BORN TO RUN! ARE YOU A RUNNER? Join team Dogs Trust in these forthcoming runs: April Virgin London marathon May NEW! Morrisons Great Manchester Run Superhero Run, Regents Park London, 5k and 10k Edinburgh marathon festival (5k, 10k, half /full marathon) Sep Morrison s Great North Run NEW! Tough Mudder challenges, London, Scotland, Midlands throughout the year Each year supporters across the country take the decision to raise funds for the thousands of dogs in our care. From coffee mornings to cake sales, sponsored walks to marathons there are just so many ways to get involved! Amy Griffith and Katie Thomson competed in the very muddy Total Warrior Challenge in Yorkshire, which included crawling through muddy streams and leaping over flames! Amy wanted to support Dogs Trust after rehoming Jinny, She s such a wonderful dog from our Leeds rehoming centre back in Meanwhile, Stephen Sherratt, who regularly volunteers at our Shrewsbury centre, took part in a sponsored bike ride from Geneva to Caux in Switzerland, and then from Port Vale FC to Dogs Trust Shrewsbury, raising a fantastic 2,794. T A S M P S A M I L L I O N! If your dog could choose a holiday full of fresh air and wagulous walks in the great outdoors where would he pick? Wanderwood is a fantastic range of woodlandbased lodge breaks that will fit the holiday criteria of any Rover/Rovella! Wanderwood is pulling on your coat and exploring outside with your four legged friend; it s holding hands under a canopy of trees; it s birdwatching, bug hunting and fresh air breathing. All lodges are pet friendly and for the dog owners there is WiFi, hot tubs, complimentary binoculars and umbrellas. Finally, don t forget that while you are on holiday enjoying yourself a donation of up to 10% of the cost of your accommodation will be made to Dogs Trust. You can search and book online at wagmagazine or call on Check for a full list of all our sponsored sporting events. We would also like to send huge thanks to John and Christine Bradley from Bournemouth, who have raised over 15,000 from their many supermarket and street collections over several years. If you re feeling inspired to raise pounds for our hounds please telling us what you d like to do no idea is too weird or wonderful! We will send you our pack full of top tips and ideas to help you. fundraiseforus@dogstrust.org.uk All of our volunteers are brilliant, but Jenny Thomas is special she s been raising money for the dogs for an astonishing 38 years! With your help, she s raised over 101,000 for the dogs wow! Please keep sending all of your stamps, postcards and foreign currency to: 15 Wentworth Avenue, London N3 1YA. Visit for details. 20 Spring Spring

12 TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! We would love to hear what you think of Wag! Please take a few minutes to complete our simple survey below or online here wagmagazine You could even win a lovely box of chocolates for your efforts! Please return the form to Dogs Trust, Clarrisa Baldwin House, 17 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7RQ This year, Buddy and everyone at Dogs Trust is barking from the rooftops about our 125th anniversary celebration! Buddy, rehomed from our Basildon centre, is one of many thousands of dogs helped by the raffle. You can help dogs like Buddy by buying or selling tickets for 1 each, prizes include champagne and cash prizes of up to 7,500. Call our hotline on to order your raffle books today Buddy is keeping his paws crossed for you! M E E T B U D D Y your official Spring Rafflle host! Photo: Les Lamb fundraising Photos: Kevin Jackson Which articles do you most enjoy reading? Which articles do you really not enjoy reading? Which articles do you never read? Are there any articles or ideas you d like to see? If you re a dog owner, have you ever used any training tips you ve read? Have you ever visited our website to find out more about one of our campaigns? Have you ever bought anything product, holiday, raffle ticket, canine care card etc - you have spotted in Wag? Have you ever visited a Dogs Trust centre? If you could change one thing about Wag what would it be? Name Address THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER! Help us give dogs like Sky a new lease of life. The Latin phrase, omne trium perfectum proposes that everything which comes in threes is perfect. And in the case of beautiful Sky, our three-legged Husky, we d be inclined to agree. Sky was brought to our Leeds Rehoming Centre in an emergency. She d been hit by a car, resulting in serious injuries to her paw. We rushed her to the vet who sadly informed us that the damaged paw was beyond repair. We agreed that amputation was the best thing we could do for Sky. Sky needed help and support both straight after her surgery and once she was mobile again. After all, things would be a little different now that she had three legs. When she was ready, we introduced her to a slowly increasing exercise programme, which not only helped her heal but also gave her the practice she needed to adjust her balance and gait. Clever Sky made rapid progress and soon returned to her normal strength. Sky is just one of the many dogs who arrive at our rehoming centres needing urgent medical attention. Every dog will receive treatment of some kind from check-ups and routine procedures to lifesaving operations. With so many stray and abandoned dogs to look after we spend a whopping 3 million on veterinary bills each year. If you would like to help support our veterinary work please fill in the donation form on the right and return it to us. Every donation is vital and your thoughtful generosity could change the life of a dog like Sky. 23 Spring

13 EVENTS KEY Behavioural seminar, book through Meet us at the Dogs Trust rehoming centre Meet our dogs on the Dogmobile News Flash! Dogs Trust is running a brand new series of talks and workshops by animal behaviour experts, based at some of our rehoming centres. NB Tickets are only available in advance. To find out more info or book tickets visit where you will need to create an account using your address and enter Dogs Trust into the search box. February March April May June July 27 Talking Dogs Scentwork by Pam MacKinnon at Dogs Trust Canterbury 28 Talking Dogs Scentwork by Pam MacKinnon at Dogs Trust Basildon 28 Dogs Trust West Calder s volunteer recruitment day, 2-3pm, call Dogmobile at Asda, Sturry Road, Canterbury CT1 1DG 5-6 Prof Daniel Mills weekend behavioural seminar at Dogs Trust Manchester, (Day 1 looks at needs of younger dogs, day two focusses on older dogs.) 15 Dogs Trust Loughborough s Charity Dinner at Chef and Spice. Tickets are 15 in advance, call Prof Daniel Mills and Lynn Hewison s weekend behavioural seminar at Dogs Trust West Calder 26 Tellington Touch workshop with Val Borland at Dogs Trust West Calder 4 Tellington Touch evening for volunteers, at Dogs Trust West Calder 6-7 Dogmobile at Waitrose, Eastern Ave, Southend SS2 4DQ 9-10 Dogmobile at All About Dogs Show, Newbury Showground, Berks RG18 9QZ A Weekend about Dogs by Helen Zulch and Lynn Hewison of Lincoln University, Dogs Trust Canterbury Sarah Fisher, Tellington Touch workshop at Dogs Trust Manchester 17 The Science of Canine Emotionality and its Practical Application for Owners and Canine Professionals, by Robert Falconer-Taylor, at Dogs Trust Glasgow 14 Nick Thompson, holistic vet, discussing vaccinations and feeding, at Dogs Trust Manchester 15 Fun Agility talk and have-a-go session with Garry Lee, at Dogs Trust West Calder Dogmobile at Hertfordshire County Show, The Showground, Redbourn, Herts AL3 7PT 5 Dogs Trust West London (Harefield) Fun Day, 10.30am-4pm 5 Dogs Trust Snetterton s Fun Day, 11.30am-4pm 5 Dogs Trust Glasgow s Fun Day, Chatelherault Country park, Ferniegair (near Hamilton), ML3 7UE pm 19 Dogs Trust Bridgend s Fun Day, Margam Park, 10.30am-4pm 19 Dogs Trust West Calder s volunteers and friends tea party 19 Dogs Trust Basildon s fun day, Barleylands Farm Showground, Billericay CM11 2UD 11am-4pm 19 Dogs Trust Evesham s fun day, Ragley Hall Estates B49 5NJ 11am-4pm 3 Dogs Trust Shrewsbury s fun day, 12-4pm 3 Dogs Trust Manchester s Fun Day, Heaton Park, 11am-4pm 3 Dogs Trust Salisbury s Fun Day, 11am-4pm 3 Dogs Trust Shoreham s Fun Day, pm 10 Dogs Trust Kenilworth s Fun Day, Hatton Country World, Warwick 11am-4pm Dogmobile at Great Yorkshire Show, Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, HG2 8NZ 15 Posture linked to behaviour TTouch talk by Sarah Fisher, Dogs Trust Basildon 16 TTouch Workshop by Sarah Fisher at Dogs Trust Basildon 17 Dogs Trust Darlington s Fun Day at South Park, Darlington, DL1 5JS (free entry) 12-4pm 17 Dogs Trust Ilfracombe s Fun Day, Mullacott Equestrian Centre, Mullacott, Ilfracombe, EX34 8NA, 11am-4pm 31 Dogs Trust Loughborough Fun Day, Turnpost Farm, East Road, Leicester LE12 6ST 11am-4pm We would love to meet you and your dogs! Come and see us at all of these places this spring Yes, I would like to help dogs like Sky receive all the veterinary care they need! Your details: Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms (please circle) First name: Surname: Address: Postcode: Supporter number (if known): Payment details: Yes, I want to help support Dogs Trust with their vet work by donating Other I enclose a cheque (payable to Dogs Trust) for the sum of OR Please debit the sum of Card no: Valid from: / Expiry date: / Issue no: from my card Cardholder s name (as printed on the card): Signature: Date: Boost your donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every 1 you donate. Gift Aid is reclaimed by Dogs Trust from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Please complete your address overleaf as this is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer. In order to Gift Aid your donation you must tick the box below: I want to Gift Aid my donation above and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to Dogs Trust. Today s date: / / I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax/and or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. Please notify the charity if you: Want to cancel this declaration Change your name or home address No longer pay sufficient tax on your Income and/or Capital Gains If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code. Source: PLEASE RETURN TO: FREEPOST RTJE-SXGL-BEEJ WAG RESPONSE, DOGS TRUST, MOULTON HOUSE, 10 POND WOOD CLOSE, MOULTON PARK INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, NORTHAMPTON, NN3 6DF