This lucky chap came in as a stray, he spent ten days in kennels, wasn't claimed but was handed over to us and then we found him a super home.  For many of the other strays out there life isn't so kind.   The policy regarding abandoned and straying dogs changed this month.  The police are no longer responsible for taking them in.   So what happens to the dogs that are lost, thrown out, abandoned or knocked down by a car?   It's now down to each Borough Council to take care of them.  How does that happen?  And where do the dogs go?

Of course I'm the cleverest!

Who could doubt that this is one intelligent young dog?   Anyone who handles cross bred dogs will know that they often have superb reasoning powers, co-ordination, street savvy and in these criterias they beat their strictly bred pedigree chums paws down. 

Researchers at Minnesota Univeristy have recently carried out research showing that caring for a cat can cut the risk of strokes and heart attacks by more than a third. 

The recent savage attack on a kennels worker in Wiltshire highlights just one of the difficulties faced by sanctuaries who take in stray dogs.

We're worried by the higher than ever numbers of strays being brought in at the present time.   There's a dog thrown out every five minutes in the U.K. and what happens to them afterwards seems to be 'out of sight - out of mind'.   Rarely a day goes by without a stray being brought in to St.Bernard's by either the Dog Wardens or the Police.  They are often in shocking condition, sometimes so thin it's amazing they are still alive.   Some of the dogs are aggressive because they're frightened.  Occasionally it's because they're untrained and have become dominant and resentful of authority.   

The Welsh Assembly and Defra have insisted on prosecuting the case against Shambo even though he does not have T.B.    The Hindu community have said they would go to any lengths to cure him if the disease did develop which is by no means certain.   They have already isolated him and he has been kept in the temple.

The farming community want Shambo killed.   They say it will put their livelihood at risk if he is allowed to live and that other animals testing positive for T.B. might then not have to be killed.   Of course, they also want all badgers to be killed.

Recent research has shown that cats have been hanging around with humans for the past 130,000 years - a lot longer than dogs, who sidled up alongside us a mere 15,000 years ago.

Scientists have found new DNA evidence that shows that all our cats originated from five female ancestors who lived in the Middle East.   The species - called F.s.libyca - still lives on in the region today.

The cat population spread around the world because when the people moved they took their cats with them, just as we do today.

It's a tradition at Appleby Horse Fair for the ponies to be ridden bareback into the River Eden and their heads forced underneath the water, which is fast flowing and deep in places.  This year this pointless spectacle had a tragic end when one of the horses fell as it was repeatedly 'dunked' and despite the frantic efforts of spectators, the horse drowned.   According to a report in the Daily Mail, although the horse had lost it's footing the rider continued dunking the poor animal's head.  A spectator said that it is considered a 'macho' thing for young men to do!   One of the fair organisers said that the rider had been told not to take that particular horse into the water.  He ran off when the tragedy happened and Cumbria Police have launched an investigation.   Please tell us what you think.

Summertime and it's also flea time.  These pesky blood suckers thrive in the warmer weather.  If you've a light coloured dog you might see a flea hopping around on your dog.  If you dog is black or brown you'll only know Mr. & Mrs. Flea have set up home by the almost constant itching and scratching.   Was that one flea?   No way!  For every flea you catch sight of there'll be up to 100 family and friends - on your pet, the floor, sofas and out in the backyard.   A single flea can soon fill your house with 250,000 little descendants.   Although this is a gruesome thought and getting rid of them is a priority, it's not you they want to feed from, although they will if they are desperate.   Dog fleas don't especially like humans or cats, it's the juicy canine blood they really love.