Latest news with #dogwelfare
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Dog owners warned about grass seed injuries
Animal Welfare charity The Irish Blue Cross is alerting dog owners to the "serious seasonal hazard" of grass seeds. Found in meadows and woodland areas during the summer months, the seemingly harmless, tiny pointy seeds, can cause painful and potentially dangerous injuries to dogs. Advertisement Dr Sophie Olah, head of veterinary services at The Irish Blue Cross, explained: 'Grass seeds can easily attach to dogs' fur during walks, especially in long grass. Once embedded, the seeds can pierce the skin, causing intense discomfort. "Any dog can be affected by grass seeds when walking through long grass, so it's important to check your dog's feet, ears, and coat after walking in areas with long grass.' Dr Ciara Sweeney, veterinary surgeon at The Irish Blue Cross, added: 'Early detection can prevent a minor irritation from becoming a serious veterinary issue. The Irish Blue Cross is alerting dog owners to the serious seasonal hazard of grass seeds. "If your dog has a grass seed stuck in their paw, they could lick vigorously at their paw, you might spot a swelling between their toes, or they may limp. If one has gotten into their ear or eyes, they may shake their head, paw at their ear or eye, or you might notice redness, swelling or discharge from their eye. Advertisement "They can often sneeze violently to try and dislodge a seed if one has entered their nose, and if a seed enters under their skin, they may chew or lick at the sore spot.' The Irish Blue Cross advises dog owners who spot a grass seed in their dog's fur, that has not yet pierced the skin, to remove it immediately to prevent injury. For owners who suspect their dog has a grass seed injury, the charity advises they immediately contact their vet. For more information or to support the charity's vital veterinary work, visit
The Sun
29-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Moment vile woman caught kicking dog and screaming abuse in its face on neighbour's doorbell camera
WATCH the shocking moment a woman swears and screams at her dog before kicking and dragging him by his lead. Vile Lauren Leigh Barker was caught on camera physically and verbally abusing her pooch, Rocco. 6 6 6 Barker repeatedly raises her voice and becomes increasingly aggressive with the distressed pup, shouting at him to move. She pushes him towards the door and he collides with the frame before she eventually muscles him in and shuts them both in. They disappear from view, but her shocking abuse continues behind the closed door and Rocco can be heard barking at his owner. In the footage, Barker, of Clevedon, North Somerset, bellows: "In there. Rocco don't wind me up. "Get in. Get the f*** in. I said move. Move, move. Stay." She can be seen kicking Rocco through to the next room and the doorbell camera visibly shakes as she slams the door. Barker, who owns another dog called Iddy, was banned from keeping animals for five years after the footage was shared with the RSPCA. This decision cannot be appealed for at least two years. After reviewing the footage, a vet said: "Rocco has been caused to suffer due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal behaving in an aggressive, intimidating and physically abusive manner. "Suffering will have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of fear, distress and possibly pain for a period of at least several minutes, possibly longer." 6 6 6 Appearing at North Somerset Magistrates Court earlier this month, she was deemed to have caused unnecessary suffering to Rocco during an incident in September 2023. She was also found to have failed to meet her dogs ' needs to be protected from pain and suffering due to the infliction of physical violence and abusive behaviour for an incident in October 2023. She was sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for 18 months, and must complete 30 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR). Barker intends to appeal the conviction and continues to plead her innocence, arguing that she was acting in self-defence against "aggressive" Rocco. Whilst at a rescue centre, RSPCA teams carried out behaviour assessments on the pup and found he was suitable for rehoming. He was deemed to be very tolerant of vets, allowing them to perform a range of checks without needing to restrain him. RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters said: 'We're extremely grateful when people report animal welfare concerns to us and share any evidence they have that can help our investigations."
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Moment woman is caught on doorbell camera repeatedly abusing her dog and dragging him by the lead is shown in court as she is banned from keeping any animals for five years
This is the shocking moment a woman was caught on a doorbell camera repeatedly abusing her dog and dragging him by the lead. Lauren Leigh Barker could be seen screaming and swearing at little Rocco as she forced him through a door and physically pushing him around. The poor pup was repeatedly kicked before she slammed the door - bellowing at him to 'move', after which he can be heard making pitiful noises. Others show her dragging Rocco around on a lead, shouting at him and repeatedly slamming doors. Baker, of Clevedon, North Somerset, was found to have failed to meet her two dogs' need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease due to the infliction of physical violence, abusive and intimidatory behaviour for an incident in October 2023. She was also found to have caused unnecessary suffering to Rocco through aggressive and intimidatory behaviour for an incident in September 2023. The vet who viewed the footage said in their report: 'In my opinion Rocco has been caused to suffer due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal behaving in an aggressive, intimidating and physically abusive manner towards this dog. 'Suffering will have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of fear, distress and possibly pain for a period of at least several minutes, possibly longer.' Baker, who had a second dog called Iddy, was disqualified from keeping animals, which she cannot appeal for two years, after being prosecuted by the RSPCA. She was also sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for 18 months, and 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days and ordered to pay £500 costs when she was sentenced at North Somerset Magistrates Court on May 6. Baker maintains she is not guilty and that Rocco was an aggressive dog so she was acting in self-defence and plans to appeal her conviction. Behavioural assessments were carried out on Rocco while he was being cared for by a team at an RSPCA rescue centre. He was found to behave favourably in a range of situations, including being tolerant of vets who were able to carry out checks without any issues or the need for additional restraint, making him suitable for rehoming. RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters, who investigated for the charity, said: 'We're extremely grateful when people report animal welfare concerns to us and share any evidence they have that can help our investigations.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pet food back founder asking for help from others to 'save her life'
The 'beloved' founder and ambassador of a popular dog wellbeing and welfare group says she need the community to help save her life after a life of giving back. Nicky Crowe, from Bournemouth, was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in February 2025, despite living a health lifestyle and being a non-smoker her whole life, and only has a few years left to live without private treatment. She added: 'It's strange to be in that role that I'm asking for support and health because I know how to do that for others.' (Image: Sophie Bella Photography) Treatment for Nicky's rare form of cancer is not available on the NHS and without it she only has a 10% chance of living beyond three years. A fundraiser has been set up to help pay for Nicky's £80,000 cancer treatment which would raise her survival chances to between 50 to 70 per cent. Nicky founded Dorset Dogs CIC, a non-profit organisation that aims to raise awareness of the importance of pets and dogs to the well-being of humans by services such as pet food banks, dog meetups and playdate, and has helped thousands of pet owners over the years. She wanted to set up pet food banks to help 'desperate' owners feed their pets during the cost-of-living crisis and, thanks to her hard work, there are now 13 pet food banks located across Dorset and Hampshire, with a new potential location in Wareham as the fourteenth. She is supported by her dog, Merlin, an eight-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: 'He's so comforting. 'He is also therapy for me and he makes me push through the hardest of symptoms of cancer and gets me out walking or caring for him which helps me to care for myself.' The non-profit started with humble beginnings before expanding to 30,000 plus members it has today. 'My passion has always been dogs and helping dogs," said Nicky. "They've helped me through my whole life. They are a constant presence, always there, loving. They don't judge you" Nicky said she has to 'find a way to survive' for Merlin and to continue supporting with her non-profit work. Along with her work with animals, Nicky is trying to change the stigma around cancer and emphasised that one of two people will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime. Lindsay Nightingale, Christchurch, a volunteer with Dorset Dogs: 'Without Nicky's constant, thankless work supporting food banks and getting volunteers there would be a lot more sadder stories in the press now about rescue centres getting full of animals. 'She's absolutely inspirational. She's helped so many people and now she's in desperate need of help.' Nicky's fundraiser can be found here:
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
At-risk Newbury dog rehoming centre to become foster hub
A dog rehoming centre has avoided a planned closure under a major restructuring at the UK's biggest dog welfare Trust, which employs 1,765 staff across the UK and cares for more than 11,000 dogs every year, announced its proposals in March, putting an estimated 300 jobs at rehoming centre in Newbury, Berkshire, would have been shut as part of the plans but will now be turned into a dedicated foster charity said there would also be "at least 290 redeployment opportunities" nationwide, minimising redundancies. The announcement came after a 45-day collective consultation with staff about the proposed Trust confirmed 307 roles would be at risk of redundancy now, adding: "However, to achieve the new strategic ambitions, there will be at least 290 redeployment opportunities, which will minimise redundancies."Rehoming centres at Bridgend in Wales and Ilfracombe, Devon, would also become fostering charity said it would also stop puppy and adolescent dog school classes, instead providing support through an "integrated digital and in-person behaviour service".The service means it could help 57,000 dogs a year by 2026, it new strategy would also enable Dogs Trust to help 27% more dogs by 2027, said the charity, by reducing the time dogs spend in its care and expanding its foster care and homestay Sharp, Dogs Trust CEO, said it had listened "carefully" to staff and volunteers and was "ready to move to the next stage".He said: "Dogs Trust needs to evolve its operations to meet the challenges of the current environment and to increase our impact. "These changes will enable Dogs Trust to help even more dogs in the UK and around the world, while ensuring our financial sustainability in the long term." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
