Dog-lover and A Place in the Sun presenter Jasmine Harman will be taking part in the Dogs Trust Arctic Dog Sledding Challenge 2010 on 12 March to raise money for the charity.

Justine says: “As terrified as I am, and as much as I hate the cold, I think it’s worth it to help rescue and rehome unwanted and abandoned dogs!” If you want to support Justine, check out her JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/JasmineHarman “Thanks so much, I hope I can count on your support, however big or small. Every penny counts!” she says.

Photograph copyright David Poole (freezelondon.com)

Vets are advising pet owners take extra care with their animals during the cold snap after a spate of weather-related incidents in surgeries across the country.

In one case in Woking, Surrey, a young Spaniel drowned after falling into a frozen lake. The owners of the dog were unable to reach her after she fell through the ice. Vet Steve Brawley from Companion Care in Woking said: “Spaniels simply love water and don’t realise the danger. It can happen so easily.”

In another incident, vets at Companion Care in Scarborough saved the life of a miniature Dachshund suffering from hyperthermia. She had been playing in the snow and, because she was so small and close to the ground, had become extremely cold. Other incidents have included cuts due to playing in the ice and from sharp objects hidden by snow.

Vets advise owners check their pets over for cuts after they have been in the ice and snow. In some cases the cold masks the pain so injuries can be less obvious.

Animal welfare groups have joined forces to help animals in Haiti. No-one can help but be shocked by the degree of devastation and suffering caused by the earthquake – now said to have killed 150,000 in the Port-au-Prince area alone.

The World Society for the Protection on Animals (WSPA) and its teams are working out of a mobile clinic in the most affected areas to treat injured animals, vaccinate against disease and distribute feed.
WSPA is calling for donations to help the animals of Haiti, and the thousands of other animals that will be affected by disasters to come. To donate, visit https://donate.wspa.org.uk/form.asp?id=1282
To follow the WSPA’s Haiti blog visit www.animalsindisasters.typepad.com

Dogs for the Disabled are looking for 50 volunteers within one hours’ drive of Banbury, Oxfordshire to help socialise pups.

The charity trains assistance dogs to help people with disabilities lead a fuller, more independent life. Puppy socialisers provide homes and basic training for the charity’s young pups, ensuring each pup is a happy, confident and relaxed dog when he starts formal training at around a year old.

Chris Allen from the charity says: “Taking a puppy into your home for a year isn’t a decision to be taken lightly, but these volunteers provide a vital service for the charity to continue its work. You can’t put a price on the difference an assistance dog can make.”
Criteria:

· Puppy socialisers don’t need previous dog handling know-how, although it can be an advantage.

· Your circumstances must be stable.

· If you work it’s for no more than four hours per day (including travel time).

· You’ll need a fully-fenced garden.

· All costs for the puppy are paid by the charity and include food and vets bills.

· Visit www.dogsforthedisabled.org for more info.

THE SEARCH is on to find Britain’s top vet for the 2010 Petplan Veterinary Awards.  The awards reward people that go above and beyond the call of duty and you can nominate under four categories: Vet of the Year; Vet Nurse of the Year; Receptionist of the Year or Practice of the Year. Cast your vote at www.petplan.co.uk/vetawards

A super-intelligent Border Collie has stunned scientists with her word recognition skills. It’s reported that Betsy from Australia can understand over 340 words, when the average for a dog is said to be about 15.

Betsy and her owner appeared on Horizon on 6 January in a programme called The Secret Life of The Dog, at 9pm. It reported on scientific investigations into canine intelligence, the unique relationship humans have with dogs and how our pals can help identify human diseases.’

To watch a video of Betsy in action visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8441974.stm

A LUCKY dog in Baghdad has survived when the building he was on blew up.

Reports say the dog was tied to roof railings when the rest of the house collapsed after a car suicide bomb went off. It was thought that the dog’s owners had all died in the incident and he was left a stray.
It’s reported, however, that the owner and his son – who were presumed dead by their neighbours – turned up later, shocked to find their dog still on the roof and fighting fit!