I am as curious as everyone else to know which breed of dog the Obama family is going to adopt. They have already confirmed they intend to get a rescue dog, which is a good example to set.  Like us, they have decided to time the arrival of their new dog after their spring vacation.  There is no point in booking cruises straight after getting a new pet!The first family will be back home in April so we can look forward to the patter of four tiny new feet around Easter.

I was very pleased today to read about the Animal Rescue Foundation in Chicago, which was set up by Tony LaRussa, Manager of a Baseball team over there.  The charity operates a “no-kill” policy which is especially valuable for older dogs who are homeless.  Kevin was nine years old when he was found straying in the street.  Many of our dog shelters would have put him down because older dogs are hard to rehome. Fortunately he was taken to the Mayhew Animal Home, which pledges to keep all healthy dogs alive and find them a new home.  If you are thinking of getting a dog please go to one of these shelters and give a dog a lovely home. It beats giving your money to a commercial breeder’s POS system.

I want to highlight the horrible advertising campaign by LOOT, the advertising network, called “Flog your Dog” with a photo of a bulldog. I saw this ad in the Evening Standard on 14 August and I was horrified that they could be so irresponsible. I have complained to the Advertising Standards Authority
because the ad promotes the sale of pets through the Loot’s newspaper publication and online ads. It finishes with the wording. “no animals were hurt during the making of this advert. We take animal welfare very seriously at Loot”. I find this ad. offensive and irresponsible, in the way it promotes the sale of a sentient animal as a commodity. I know it is not illegal to sell pets, but trading unwanted animals through classified ads is completely unregulated. It opens the way for puppy farms to make money out of dogs and for those involved in illegal dog fights to obtain animals that are used as bait in these sickening activities.

If you have time, please join me in complaining about these advertisements, which are putting dogs in danger. Anyone who finds they cannot keep their dog any more should take it to a registered animal shelter so that the pet can be rehomed with responsible owners who will care for him, not sold like a second hand car. I am really shocked that the people at Loot allowed this ad. to be published.