Funky Dog Dance - El baile del perro funky

The Dog Reporter© is trying something new! I will pick a new dog video to feature on my website every week from anywhere out in the world. Thought this one was cute (hopefully he got his treat after the funky dance)

The thing about Common Sense ...

So just as I predicted after blogging about shock collars and the other inhumane ways that people try and train their dogs the Google Ad Sense picked up my key words on my blog and put up pet collar adverts which include shock collars in their websites. I have been testing the waters with Google Ad Sense (where you opt in to try and make some pocket change for your blog) and it proves that you can't really be certain to which products will pop up! Gives me some ideas to blog about funny topics though!

I was going to immediately pull the Google Ad Sense link off tonight but thought I would leave up in case you want to see what is out there. Some people think that selling shock collars is archaic but they are out there waiting for unsuspecting people to buy into these false ideas of dog training.

Some of these shock collars go for about £200 ! So the positive here is that you can learn to save quite a bit of cash by not buying any of these! I'll be happy to recommend ethical dog trainers (doesn't matter where you live I know people all around the world) that use only positive training methods (no punishment, no tricks and no force used on a dog) Or if you are just looking for a flash new dog collar I will be happy to recommend positive (and beautiful) dog collars and leads.
Holly and Lil is to name one!

So use your own sense (not Google's) and always promote and pass on the positive for the love of dog.

xx

The Dog Reporter©

Help Give Dogs a Voice

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Anything else I should add to engage with you?

The Dog Reporter©

Be shocked.

At Crufts I filmed quite a bit (yes I know I am still going on about this) in fact I am still editing! I believe I have now outdone myself (both personally and professionally) but hopefully it shows my dedication to reporting positive dog stories as well as "doin' it for the dogs."

I wanted to really show a side of Crufts that many people don't see outside the BBC coverage (which didn't happen this year anyway) and outside the wonderful and professional dog showing coverage hosted by Peter Purves and Frank Kane. I chose to focus on all the dog charities (pedigree and cross breed), the dog rescues (pedigree and cross breed), the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, microchipping and all the dog issues I find near and dear to my dog reporter's heart.

During one of my breaks in the press room at Crufts, I had the opportunity to meet up with Andrew Rosindell MP and speak to him about the anti-shock collar campaign which he is a big supporter.

I am proud of the Kennel Club and all the tireless work they do in campaigning endlessly to abolish shock collars which are cruel and inhumane. I was lucky enough to film Andrew who graciously volunteered to be "shocked" on camera to share his feelings on the issue of shock collars. It was real and it was not staged. I wouldn't recommend anyone (especially kids) to try this at home as dog shock collars can be quite dangerous. During my dog reporting I am always a bit surprised when I meet people who don't realise how much the Kennel Club campaign for dog rights including the tireless campaigning towards abolishing cruel training methods such as shock collars.

Shocking!

The Dog Reporter© gives a big thumbs up to the hardworking PR and external affairs department (Laura Vallance) in always keeping tabs on our elected officials and campaigning towards elimination of negative and dangerous training items.

It is clearly stated on the KC website that they only promote and condone positive training methods and positive training tools.
You can check out their link here and if you do have any questions about what or where they are campaigning to protect your dog rights (doesn't matter if you own a pedigree or a mongrel).

The Kennel Club have a full plate all the time no doubt. It is amazing to me how they keep up with all the dog issues at hand but they do it one paw at a time ...

If you haven't checked out my YouTube clip with Andrew you can click this link here!

Let's all promote the people that are "doin' it for the dogs" and promoting positive training methods. Dogs always want to work with us and dogs serve man kind in so many ways. Let's do them the favour and look out for them and protect them from cruel or inhumane items that are only deterring them from working with us.

For the record I personally don't condone any of these collars:
shock collars, collars with prongs or spikes, citronella training collars or any other collars that induce pain and suffering

If you want any personal recommendations on what collars to choose for your dog please contact me directly. I am always happy to recommend ethical, dog-conscience, humane dog collars out there.

The Dog Reporter©

Cute doggy pic of the week!

My friend Susanna Schick who is an avid motorcycle enthusiast took this photo and posted to her FB page. I had to ask if I could re post and tweet as I think it is so cute. She didn't get the dog's or his dad's names. They were just cruising through the paddock at Indianapolis MotoGP.

Dog Saves its blind owner from mugger

(taken from the Metro, Friday March 27, 2009)

A guide dog was hailed a hero yesterday after saving its blind owner from a mugger who tried to snatch her designer handbag. Labrador Bumble, five, leapt at the man as he tried to grab the bag from owner Jo Spears' shoulder. Ms Spears, 48, said she felt a hand on her back but was powerless. She was saved by 'best friend' Bumble, who growled until the man ran off in Swindon. PC Damian Galley said: 'This is despicable. The fact Ms Spears appeared vulnerable is shocking."

This post is dedicated to all the wonderful Guide Dogs in the world.

Here is a link to my Guide Dogs clip. They are the most wonderful and amazing dogs!

The Dog Reporter©

Another happy rescue story!

Just a quick post here. Congratulations to the Stevens-Bachle Family for adopting a lovely rescue dog named Lily!

I was so happy to hear about their fostering of Lily (a former puppy mill dog) that was rescued after years of being forced to breed. They have now officially adopted Lily into their family and it is another happy Dog Reporter© story to report.

I met the lovely Stevens-Bachle family when I was visiting DC for the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I was overwhelmed by their kindness and genorisity towards helping me out with my "Bark Obama 2009" project. I was driven around Arlington able to visit some of the dog shelters for my documentary project about rescue dogs in America.

When I was visiting in January, they were just in the beginning stage of looking at rescue dogs in shelter for a possible new family pet. They did their homework and didn't rush the process (much like President Obama's family in doing their homework for finding the first dog) and waited to find the right dog for their family lifestyle.

It sounds like Lily is enjoying her new home and I can't wait to meet her later this year!

Dog treats will be headed to DC very soon!

xx
The Dog Reporter©

Google Ads

Do you ever wonder where or how google comes up with the ads that appear on one's website or blog when you sign up to Google Ad sense?
I just had "bad breath" and "are you single?" next to dog insurance and dog toys. Hmmm is google trying to tell the Dog Reporter© something?

Well for any one reading my blog recently the dog blogs have been slow or next to nil this past week. Sorry. I am almost done with Day 3 at Crufts then one more day to go before I am done editing all my Crufts footage. I think the Dog Reporter© Crufts 2009 show went really well! For a one woman show/production company I filmed almost 9 hours of footage and I have already edited about 70 clips. I have had amazing feedback (thanks to everyone who have sent lovely compliments on my youtube clips) My aim was to show the other bits of the show (outside the ring) because Crufts really is the world's greatest dog show in the world truly making a difference for all dogs. Watching the show dogs is wonderful but there are soooo many other great dog activities and demonstrations going on. It's really doggy overload! I rushed around off my feet to cover as many dog charities and dog rescues as I could find or get to speak to. Rescue dogs have a very special place in the Dog Reporter's heart. I personally was on a mission to get to as many stories as possible.
If for whatever reason I didn't get to your rescue or charity I am sorry! It was really one dog at a time for me and there is never enough time at Crufts.

It was truly a brilliant show this year.

Here is one YouTube posting below which is posted on the Dog Reporter© channel as well as the official Crufts channel.

Hope you are enjoying all the stories and dogs so far!

The Dog Reporter©

Crufts 2009 Gundog Day Vizslas!

HSUS Sues Petland

This is big news in America today and I have to give a big Dog Reporter's thumbs up to the HSUS. The positive in this story is somebody is finally taking some serious action in addressing puppy mills. It is heartbreaking to know that dogs are factory reared for the sole purpose of selling puppies in massive chain stores and mall pet shops throughout the US.

The HSUS get a lot of flack for being very assertive at times in their marketing and PR. This is one dog issue I am very happy they have placed in the forefront.

Puppy mills (or puppy farms as they are sometimes called) are 100% wrong. Let's support the HSUS and other dog charities who are working towards outlawing these farms and factories all together worldwide.

Let's all support happy and healthy dogs and support breeders who care for the health of their dogs.

I know the Kennel Club here in Great Britain are certainly doing as much as possible to support good breeders and people who put healthy and happy puppies first. It certainly showed through at Crufts!

The Dog Reporter©

The S.O.F.A. Club

Post Crufts editing is still going on. I basically created my own TV show at Crufts "Heidi the Dog Reporter©" behind the scenes!
I have edited about 2 hours of footage so far now just 6 hours of footage to go! The filming is always the easy bit! I am sure it will all be up by next week. I am now an editing machine. Hope some of you are enjoying some of my youtube clips.

Today I want to just give a big Dog Reporter thumbs up to the SOFA club whom I met at Crufts on the Petlog stand.
I received some lovely emails and updates from Sue Cole, the teacher and leader of the SOFA club this week.

The pics I have posted were kindly forwarded to me by Sue earlier today. They show the students celebrating the launch of their new website yesterday and the picture of Bobby the SOFA mascot (a rescue greyhound).

What is the SOFA club you ask? It stands for "SPEAKING OUT FOR ANIMALS." It is a wonderful way for young people to get involved in campaigning for animals by "Giving them a voice"

These young students were at Crufts 2009 campaigning and getting additional signatures to promote mandatory microchipping/pet identification in the UK. I was highly impressed by these young students working tirelessly at obtaining signatures near the Petlog stand (Petlog is the UK's largest microchip database)

I did an interview with SOFA which will be in my next batch of editing. Stay tuned!

I am proud to announce on my blog (ta da ... drum roll please) their new website which is
SOFA

www.speaking-out-for-animals.co.uk

Please offer your support where possible - signing their petition, visiting their new site or just sharing the link on your facebook, blog, or twitter feed.


Young people are not only our future but our dog's future as well.


The Dog Reporter©

Endal the wonderful service dog - R.I.P.

Today's dog blog is dedicated to Endal, the most extraordinary service dog. I have included the Wiki link to read all about Endal and the numerous accolades this one dog collected throughout his life in assisting Allan Parton, a decorated x-Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer.

These two were always a fixture at Crufts as well as any other dog event in the UK supporting and publicising service dogs.

It wasn't too long ago that I read about Allan and Endal being honoured by the Queen and of course Endal getting his pats and strokes from her royal highness.

Everyone at the Kennel Club and in the dog world are saddened to hear about Endal's passing today. He was a wonderful and most amazing dog to meet.

My prayers go to Allan and his family.

God bless

The Dog Reporter©

MISSING IN THE UK BRACCO ITALIANO NAMED JACOB!

http://missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com



Dear followers and friends of dog,

This blog tonight is soley dedicated to Jacob - a beautiful Bracco Italiano who went missing in January.
His family are helpless right now as they dont' know what happened to him or where he is.
If you attended Crufts than you might have seen his picture posted on some flyers that were around some of the benches on gun dog day.

Please pass on this link / blog and tell any caring dog person about Jacob. He might have been taken in by someone or maybe he is in shelter or rescue. Who knows but what we do know is that he is terribly missed and needs to be back with his family as soon as possible!

If this was your lovely pet you would do everything in your power to get him home safely. Let's all pitch in and do our bit by forwarding emails, posting on facebook, twitter, blogging and talking to people we know that might have seen a dog similar to Jacob in the last two months.

The email which I received is below with more detail. There are also plenty of pictures of him on his blog.

Thanks so much.

xx
The Dog Reporter©

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello friends

As you may already know, we have been desperately trying to find our missing dog Jacob, a male Bracco Italiano who has been missing since 21st Jan.

I know you have most probably had numerous emails from either me, or our friends or the Bracco/Spinone groups who are helping in our search, but right now I am writing to you as the focus of our search has changed.

On Monday evening we had a call from a lady on a mobile (number was shown) and who told us they have Jacob. The call was short, as if she was disturbed and had to go.
We have desperately tried in vain to get to speak to the person on the mobile number again, many (many) times and left messages and pleas for this person to get back in touch with us.
I have additionally sent texts to the phone asking for them to let us know he is okay, to take him somewhere 'safe' for us to get him, and asking if it's about reward money.
So far, the phone rings and is aborted to answerphone every time one of us calls.
I am told that hoaxers do not usually show their mobile number, it kind of defeats the object of them calling up. Knowing this obviously adds to our concerns for our boy.

We have contacted the police, who seem helpless (or is that unwilling) in being able to trace the callers mobile due to their "certain criteria". This shocking lack of help just makes this all the more upsetting. If Jacob were a motorbike or car, then the 'criteria' would be helpful no doubt.
So, yet again I find I am left with no alternative than to take the matter into my own hands, and therefore I am asking you to email Jacob's details to as many people as you can, and keep an eye out for him in your local area.
He could turn up just about anywhere now.
If you know of rescues (large or small) in your area, can I ask you to please kindly send them the email to make them aware of Jacob's plight.
I have tried to cover all areas but cannot guarantee to know all the smaller rescues that you would be aware of because you live in the area....I need to contact everyone possible.

We all send those chain letter "send to 8 friends" emails round like wildfire, and I hope that we can do the same here but for more of a purpose.
Someone must know about Jacob, and through word of mouth we hope that it can feed back to us of any information of his whereabouts.
We are just utterly desperate to find him as you can imagine.
It's just heartbreaking the not knowing.

I really do appreciate your time is precious, so Thank You for reading this and passing it on to anyone and everyone you feel can help us spread the word.

Kind regards & Thanks

Shelley Haggerwood
http://missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check our blog at http://missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com/

or www.doglost.co.uk for updates on this dog

HAVE YOU SEEN JACOB ?

Our Orange & White Bracco Italiano, 3 Year Old Male
Missing from Saffron Walden, Essex area since
Wednesday 21st January 2009

Jacob is microchipped - please scan well
No longer wearing collar and tags
PLEASE CHECK OUTBUILDINGS, SHEDS, BARNS & GARAGES
NOW BELIEVED TO BE STOLEN

COULD BE EVENTUALLY PASSED TO A RESCUE CENTRE

Have you seen Jacob with someone in your area, or maybe you have information about his whereabouts ?

For Jacob’s safe return we offer a
SUBSTANTIAL REWARD
No questions asked
CALL US ON
TEL 07828 671550

Still Editing Crufts footage!

Yes, yes, yes. I filmed so much great stuff at Crufts that I will probably be editing till next week (seriously!) I filmed almost 10 hours of footage and loving so much of it.
I am starting to get lots of emails, tweets and a few calls asking where and when people can see their dog.

You can view the Kennel Club Crufts YouTube channel as well as The Dog Reporter YouTube Channel this week.

Well back to editing.

There are loads of dogs and dog charities to promote!

The Dog Reporter©

Crufts Highlights!

Well I am knackered cream and crackered sitting back in Notting Hill uploading my photos and downloading hours of film footage from Crufts 2009. I had a great time and it was a fantastic show. I met the most wonderful dog people supporting all kinds of dogs both pedigrees and crossbreeds in every capacity - show, breeders, rescue, service, working, welfare, agility, dog activities - you name it! It was all about the dog and I am now dog tired.

I may need to just continue to download and get an early night tonight as I will be back at the dog house tomorrow (what I fondly call the Kennel Club offices on Clarges Street)

I have already been asked by some dog press and of course my friends and colleagues, "what have been my favourite moments at Crufts?" It's so difficult! I loved every bit but if I were to name some of the best moments for me personally they would be the following:

Friends for Life - meeting, filming and photographing all the Friends for Life 2009 nominees. I feel like I made new friends (both human and dog) and every single one of them was deserving for the Friends for Life. When Lou and Brock were chosen by the "text in to vote" during the Best in Show ceremony I was filming in the arena down in front. It was very difficult to stop my eyes from leaking during every single story being recapped on the big screen. I am very happy for Lou and Brock but also very proud to have met all the other Friends for Life nominees - Lottie and Takara,, Steve and Farley, Evie and Gem, Neil and Anya and Caroline and Harry.

Meeting all the rescues at Crufts - I spent quite a bit of time trying to meet and film as many of the dog rescues as I could this Crufts. It was great that the Kennel Club promoted breed rescue at the Kennel Club Charitable Trust stand in Hall 3. There were four featured pedigree dog rescues in the stand every day. I hope next more they make the stand even bigger and have more! It was awesome. I met so many lovely breeders, club members and passionate doggy people determined to help re-home and communicate key points about their favourite breed. I'll be updating my website in the next week adding all the rescues websites to help spread the word.

Meeting some of the wonderful international visitors to Crufts - As some of you know I love dogs but I also love to travel. I love meeting people from all over the world and learning about their culture, their food, their way of life and especially about their dogs! I met this wonderful family that travelled all the way from Bologna Italy with their Bolognese to participate in Crufts. They managed to place in the end for their breed as well! These two ladies were so sweet and although they didn't speak a word of English (except Crufts and pronouncing the NEC as the "neck") I felt like I made some new friends in Italy (through the kind help of their son Omar who translated for me!). I interviewed them after their showing and wins but sadly my camera crew encountered a technical difficulty (i.e. someone walking over the mic cord and disconnecting the audio) and I was beyond gutted that the one interview I was so looking forward to editing together the other night was not audible. It was one of those things and I had to get over it quickly as there was much more work to do at Crufts - people to meet, dogs to interview ... I did speak to the ladies before they left the "neck" and they have invited me to visit them and their dogs in Italy to re-do the interview in person with an offer to eat a real bowl of bolognese as well!
So you see things do work out in the end if you just let go.

Lastly I was one of the lucky few to really be behind the behind scenes at Crufts (well after getting about three different color passes and creditentials to add to my Crufts lanyard collection!) to film some footage of the dogs lining up ready to enter the ring for Best in Show. It was really magical.

Best in Show 2009
I was secretly hoping that the Vizsla was going to win but alas it was the cute little Sealyham Terrier (a well deserving vulnerable breed) that won the most coveted doggy prize in the world. I am going to paraphrase a bit as I wasn't recording the entire Best in Show ceremony but it went something like this ... It was so sweet when asked by press, "How are you going to celebrate when you get home?" the lady who won Best in Show simply replied, "I am going to just love him and love him for his entire life as he has been and will always be my pet dog ..."

Sweet!

The Dog Reporter©

Love supporting rescue and shelters!

The Dog Reporter finished another great day at Crufts! I was very busy running around the NEC (or "neck" as our Italians friends call it) and tried to film as many rescues as possible. It is so great seeing so many charities and rescues supported here at Crufts.
I also spent a bit of time in the Dog Activities area watching some of the gun dog and heel work displays and demos.
There are so many things to do with dogs!

I also learned about some new products as well as some new dog charities.
The ones I want to shamelessly plug are the following:

www.fish4dogs.com some natural dog treats that are made from skins of fish (usually thrown away). I spent quite a bit of time talking with Jill who started fish4dogs with her husband and learned some really cool things about their eco-friendly and health conscience dog treat company. I am now a big supporter! I remember how much my dog Josie LOVED salmon skins and I saw first hand how much these dogs at Crufts were going crazy for fish treats. (although I do admit it smelled a bit fishy around there!)

I met so many wonderful people at Crufts and just a couple more I want to mention as they are "making a difference for dogs."

SOFA Club is a new charity comprised of some young students from Norwich. They have taken their own time to champion and support microchipping for all pets - especially dogs. These young students were at Crufts working all day getting a petition signed to help support mandatory microchipping in the UK. I will write more about this club later as well as post an interview so you can hear all about their support for microchipping.

I also interviewed another new charity to Crufts -Nowzad Dogs.
I met and interviewed Royal Marine Pen Farthing who published his wonderful story about saving dogs in Afghanistan while on duty. He even had on the stand two rescues from Afghanistan named Tali and Helmand! I managed to hold my composure while speaking to him about the dogs he helped save. It was very difficult though not blubbing like an idiot!

Lastly I interviewed Andrew Rosindell MP who is a big supporter with the Kennel Club in campaigning against dog shock collars. Dog shock collars are cruel and inhumane and if you have ever tried one on yourself (like Andrew did for my YouTube filming) than you know! They are not the way to train dogs and they should be outlawed not just in the UK but worldwide. If anyone tells you they work then let them wear it for a while and sporadically buzz them an electric shock from time to time.

Just want to say thank you to everyone who helps make Crufts a great show. My own experience of Crufts is positive and a warm place for people to learn about all things dog and also support those charities that are making a difference for dogs.

Big woof xx

The Dog Reporter©

Crazy at Crufts!

Well The Dog Reporter© has been a bit behind with some blogging. I want to say so much but there is so little time.
I am basically a self producer, freelancer and one woman show. I do all my own photography, uploading, backing up, filming, editing. I also do all my own blogging, uploading, tweeting, twitpicking and facebooking. Whew! I really need an iPhone. I feel like a maroon but I forgot to bring my phone charger up to Birgmingham and I am now out of phone juice. Bugger. So hoping to find a kind soul to loan me their blackberry charger or I will have to be at the mercy of free wifi when available for tweeting and uploading tomorrow and Sunday. Bugger again.

Day two at Crufts wrapped up hours ago but I am still up editing and downloading my filmed content. I had another great day filming some of my favourite things at Crufts - dog rescues, dog charities and international visitors. It was Toy and Utility Group day and I have to admit that I was so busy in the Toy halls that I didn't make it to see many utility dogs today :(
This is the thing at Crufts it is SO big and SO canine massive that you really need to wear comfortable shoes (preferably running shoes) to almost literally run around. It boggles the mind how big Crufts really is until you experience it yourself.

If you love dogs than you would love Crufts as it is all things dog.

I have visited some lovely dog rescues, charities, service dogs, working dogs and of course watched some of the dog showing in the breed rings.

Tomorrow is my favourite day - gun dog day (or in America sporting dog group) Some of you may know that my favourite breed is the Weimaraner and of course the weim is a gun dog so I will see lots of grey ghosts running around tomorrow.
William Wegman eat your heart out.

So how has Crufts been for me? Exciting, happy, inspiring, heartwarming, fun and of course tiring!

I am off to bed and will be dreaming about lovely dogs.

I will be editing like a mad woman all next week to get up all my clips on YouTube asap. I really take the time to look through my footage and choose the best dog shots to create my dog stories and dog YouTube content.

Looking forward to sharing some of my Crufts experiences with you next week!

The Dog Reporter©

Hoping for Success this week

Bessie Anderson Stanley wrote a poem in 1904 entitled "Success."

He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
Who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children;
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it;
Who has left the world better than he found it,
Whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
Who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had;
Whose life was an inspiration;
Whose memory a benediction.



Look for me near the rescue dogs at Crufts...

The Dog Reporter©

Learning new tricks

Just a quick bloggo for all you doggos. I had the lovely pleasure of meeting and interviewing one of the UK's most renown dog trainers and behaviourists - Carolyn Menteith.

I was filming some new "How to" videos with her gorgeous Polish Lowland Sheepdog - Digby. Digby even has his own website and fan pages online!

He is quite a handsome boy for being 11 in human years. I would have guessed he was 2 or 3 years as he is so active and sprite!
We filmed some easy training tips for "sit", "stay", "down" and Carolyn and Digby even showed me a few new tricks.
You'll have to watch my youtube clips next week after I finish editing and posting.

Carolyn is very inspirational and I had another dog affirming day even though the UK weather wasn't playing nice.

It is now chucking it down with rain in London but no matter as I will be traveling to Birmingham tomorrow to set up for Crufts "behind the scenes" filming for YouTube.

I will be filming, snapping, blogging, tweeting, barking and talking to everyone. If you are coming to Crufts look out for me in my new t-shirt and interviewing the cutest, smartest and most fit dogs in the world.

Please also VOTE for Friends for Life 2009! I am so excited to see all my new friends that I met while filming Friends for Life last month. Everyone single nominee is fantastic and I will be casting a vote for each one (it's only fair as I loved meeting each one of them!)

It's now your chance to vote for YOUR favourite. Watch the films I helped produce and also watch my "behind the scenes" filming of Friends for Life on YouTube as well.

You can also view my pictures of all the FFL nominees on my Flickr.

So I will leave you with one of my photos of Carolyn and Digby and you can see all the rest of their snaps on my Flickr.

Safe travels to everyone who is heading to Birmingham this week. Crufts will be great!

The Dog Reporter©

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Doin' it for the Dogs

Well just a couple days away from the world's largest and greatest canine celebration called Crufts.

I am very excited about this year's Crufts as I will be filming "behind the scenes" for YouTube.
Of course I will be snapping away and also trying to meet as many like minded dog lovers as myself (which there will be plenty to choose from at Crufts!)

I get many google alerts and emails from fellow dog friends around the world and I just want to mention how hard many kind and generous people are working right now at finding good homes for dogs in need of adoption. Adoption and shelter dogs are a big topic at present. I would personally like to thank my President for wanting "a mutt like me." The Obamas have opted for a rescue pedigree which is something that makes me even more proud of my President.

The recession, the depression, credit crunch, toast and punch - whatever you want to call "it", this big wake up call after years of over consumption is upon us. People are losing their homes and in turn are losing their dogs as they can't afford to keep a roof over their head. I just want to applaud all these hardworking shelter and adoption centre, foster home volunteers who are stepping up to the plate in assisting people with their dogs. Not all dogs up for adoption are abandoned or abused. So many dogs end up in adoption for financial or hardship reasons. I am happy that the Kennel Club are giving a big push to rescue dogs this year at Crufts as I have already mentioned in one of my previous blogs. Rescue dogs have always had a special place in my heart as I worked with rescue when I lived in Los Angeles before my relocation to the UK years ago. I know how hard these wonderul unpaid volunteers work as I worked along side some of the best.

I was very moved in reading about one adoption centre in the US which is closing due to the recession. It was very sad to read that this adoption centre survived two previous recessions but not this one. I am saying a little prayer for the dogs (and cats) that they will all get happy and loving homes. If anyone can offer any support (or homes) to any of these animals it would be great.

This is the little blurb about Bideawee

Founded in 1903 by Mrs. Flora D'Auby Jenkins Kibbe, Bideawee, which means "stay awhile" in Scottish, is one of the oldest humane organizations in the United States.

I guess this wonderful Scottish expression and animal shelter won't be staying a while any more. Ironically it closes down on the last day of Crufts which is another reason I want to highlight this particular shelter.

Please support adoption of dogs where possible. It doesn't matter where in the world you live, we can all do a little bit to "make a difference for dogs."

Come and meet all the lovely rescue dogs at Crufts at the Kennel Club Charitable Trust stand.

I'll be there petting all the lovely rescue dogs!

The Dog Reporter©

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