Rakker&Bruno

Dark days are over for 2 dogs

Two dogs who have suffered traumatic pasts are looking forward to happier futures after being nursed back to health and happiness by RSPCA staff.

Digger

Staffordshire bull terrier Digger was abandoned when he was just five months old. He was found by RSPCA inspectors alone in a house without food or water in January. He was scared, starving and had been living in his own faeces.

The picture on the right shows Digger when he came into RSPCA care. The picture below shows how he is today.

Digger has spent the last few months being looked after by a foster carer who has taught the youngster to trust and love humans again.

 
He is now a completely different dog and staff at our Felledge Animal Centre near Durham are hoping to find a new, permanent home for him soon.

Centre manager, Maggie Eden, said:

He was quivering when he was first found but he’s much happier and very friendly now. He’s put on some much-needed weight too so he’s much healthier.

Daisy

Jack Russell/Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed, Daisy, was rescued by RSPCA inspectors last June as part of a cruelty case.

Nine-year-old Daisy had been living in a house with several other dogs and had spent some time in kennels which had affected her ability to socialise with other dogs.

She was nervous, shy and scared and needed lots of TLC to help her recover from her ordeal. Her behaviour sadly meant that she was at the centre for nearly 10 months, making her one of the longest stay residents.

But staff at Felledge Animal Centre worked hard to help Daisy overcome her fears. She is now ready to be rehomed and has already been reserved by a family willing to give Daisy the second chance that she deserves.

Centre deputy manager Rebecca Williams said:

We’ve been working very hard with Daisy and she has come on in leaps and bounds.

She’s very sweet, affectionate and loves cuddles. She’s an active girl and really enjoys going out on walks. We have taught her to sit, stay and walk on a lead. She’s such a lovely little dog, we can't wait to see her go to a new home.

Can you help?

Daisy and Digger are just two of the dogs living at Felledge Animal Centre and many are still waiting for their forever homes. If you think you could open your heart and home to one of them, please call 0300 123 0708.

Think first...
Please remember that pet ownership takes time, money, commitment and patience - owning a pet is likely to change your life completely. Our pets pages can help you to understand the care that dogs need.

If you find an animal you want to offer a home to at an RSPCA centre, the centre's staff will need to make sure the animal is suitable for your circumstances. This process will include a home visit.

Help needed for silent sufferers of domestic abuse

Hundreds of families desperately need their pets to be fostered so that they can escape domestic violence.

Many people feel trapped in their situation because moving into temporary accommodation often means they have to leave their animals behind.

This is where our pet fostering service, PetRetreat, comes in. Through its network of fosterers, the service looks after cats and dogs belonging to victims of domestic abuse until such a time as they can be reunited.

We urgently need more PetRetreat fosterers

But this invaluable service is now at crisis point. We are currently inundated with a record number of pleas for help from families who are fleeing domestic abuse and asking for someone to care for their pets.

And so we are launching a nationwide appeal for pet fosterers.
 

'We just don't have enough foster homes'

PetRetreat manager Carolyn Southwell said:

We really need more people to come forward to foster these animals so we can provide urgent help to people in this harrowing situation.

We get so many calls and we just don't have enough foster homes.

We simply cannot continue to help if we don't find more fosterers to care for these very special cats and dogs.

We have seen annual increases in the demand for our PetRetreat service.

• We receive nearly 100 calls a week from victims of domestic abuse who need someone to foster their pets so they can leave the situation.
   
• But there are currently only 80 RSPCA PetRetreat fosterers throughout England and Wales.

Supporting people and pets 

PetRetreat fosterer Tamsyn King (pictured right with her dogs) has been fostering animals through PetRetreat for three years.

As a former victim of domestic abuse herself, she wanted to do something to help others in that situation.

She said:

PetRetreat brought back memories of my own situation when I was living through domestic abuse.

I endured longer than I would have done because of my pets. I simply couldn't leave them behind with a violent man.

Being a fosterer is my way of supporting people going through the same trauma.

But also helping the pets who have to suffer in silence.

Alesha Dixon urges more people to become PetRetreat fosterers 

Strictly Come Dancing judge and long-term RSPCA supporter Alesha Dixon is backing the appeal.

Alesha recently revealed her mother was a victim of domestic abuse and she grew up seeing the devastating effect this can have on a family.

She is drawing on her own experiences to help other families in need by supporting our appeal. She said:

When I was younger, it was so hard for me to see my mum go through such a harrowing situation and I felt very helpless.

PetRetreat provides a much-needed escape route for people who may feel trapped in an abusive relationship by making sure the four-legged members of their family are properly looked after.

But the service relies on fosterers, so anyone who thinks they could open their hearts and homes to help foster cats and dogs should get in touch.

Women's Aid also supporting appeal

Domestic abuse charity, Women's Aid, has lent its support to our appeal for fosterers.

PetRetreat was established in collaboration with Women's Aid back in 2002 to help the other silent sufferers - pets.

Spokeswoman Teresa Parker said:

It is vital that there are services available to foster pets in these situations, so that abused women and children feel able to leave an abusive home safe in the knowledge that their pets are safe and being looked after while they are using emergency refuge accommodation.

Reportpoint Fast drivers on beach openend

The Animal protection of Den Haag has opened an online reportpoint where you can report people that drive to fast on the beach. On the Haagse Beaches there have been remarkably much accidents between dogs and cars the last two years. In most cases the dogs don't survive these accidents. The Haagse Animal protection hopes that visitors to the beach will report cars that drive faster then 15 kilometer per hour, Across the beach.

According to the Haagse Animal protection animals and childeren are the most vurnerable zijn dieren, Because they are relaxingly playing there and because oif that aren't aware of any dangers. The department feels that drivers should take their responsibilities and should adapt their speed when driving on the beach.

Reporting
Drivers should get an disallowment to drive on the beach. with every report its researched wether the disallowment of the offender can be placed by the city officials. With an accident with an dog the police is also notified. You can report people through an form at the site.