We’re chatting to Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today Magazine, Patron of the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance and Founder of Bark Angel, and Wayne May, Pet Detective & Police Liaison for Doglost and the Stolen and Missing Pet Alliance. While dog theft remains a significant issue - 1,808 dogs were stolen in 2024 - the implementation of the Pet Abduction Act in May 2024 has clearly played a positive impact, resulting in a 21% decrease in thefts. Despite this reduction three fifths of dogs owners are still concerned their dog could be stolen!

The Act made pet abduction a criminal offense in England and Northern Ireland. While some progress is being made with the number of thefts falling to 1,808 in the last year - down on 2021's record high of 2,760 stolen dogs - fewer than a fifth (19%) of stolen dogs were reunited with their owners in 2024 when French Bulldogs were the most frequently stolen breed, while Rottweilers saw the highest year-on-year increase in thefts (up 180% from five to 14) with thefts of Border Collies rising by 160% (from five to 13) and of Chihuahuas nearly doubling (up 160% from 14 to 26).

This further highlights the continued risks pet owners and their furry friends face, although XL Bully thefts dropped by 49%, coinciding with the breed ban in England and Wales. Since the Dog Theft report began in 2014, 23,430 dogs have been stolen with 5,005 (approximately 21%) successfully returned to their owners and the most thefts taking place in London.

Three-fifths (61%) of dog owners are concerned about their pet being stolen, with a third feeling “extremely” or “very” worried so, to mitigate the risk, 49% of dog owners never leave their pets unattended outside shops or schools, while 44% avoid leaving them in cars with one in six (17%) using tracking devices, 22% installing motion security cameras or a fifth opting for professional dog-sitting services when away.

For more informtation about the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance click here or here for Doglost.

Follow Anna on:
https://annawebb.co.uk

We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!

Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

https://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/

Music by Mike Hanson

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits

Art work by https://jaijo.com

This week Anna pops back briefly from this year's Crufts in Birmingham to update Mike who couldn't make it up there himself (again!)

It's all sold out but for next year or more information click here

Follow Anna on:
https://annawebb.co.uk

We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!

Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

https://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/

Music by Mike Hanson

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits

Art work by https://jaijo.com

This week Anna chats about one of her favourite subjects - Bone Broth!

She's joined by Dan Gulliver and Danny Smith from Axels Elixir , talking about their journey to bringing their brand to market.

Aware of Bone Broth’s enormous health benefits from a young age, Dan was determined to bring up his Mastiff called Axel on the best natural whole food diet which would include Bone Broth.

We chat about how Dan made so much broth that he ended up giving it away to friends and family for their dogs. Receiving positive unprompted feedback that these dogs were benefiting from shiner coats, bright eyes, more energy and less stiffness, Dan began to develop an idea - Axels Elixir

Two years on from their launch, the brand prides itself on its sourcing organic ethically sourced bones and some health boosting herbs and apple cider vinegar into a broth recipe that’s Axels Elixir.

The range mirrors nature and the protein sources inspired by a dog’s ancestral diet

Using sustainable packaging where the broth is portioned into bone-shaped frozen portions, makes it very convenient to store and serve.

Launching a dedicated cat variety soon, the future is purrfect.

For more information and to order yours go here.

Follow Anna on:
https://annawebb.co.uk

We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!

Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

https://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/

Music by Mike Hanson

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits

Art work by https://jaijo.com

We’re joined by the Cinema Journalist, Toby Rose who is the founder of the FIDO Awards, which celebrates the roles of dogs in film. The FIDOS 2025, staged today on February 23rd will unleash the winners of the best canine capers in cinemas at a special ceremony held at British Film Institute in London.

At its heart, the FIDOS (For Incredible Dogs On Screen) are more than an awards ceremony; they celebrate the powerful bond between dogs and humans, dedicated to making the world a more dog-friendly space, one paw at a time. As the sister ceremony of the famous Palm Dog Awards, held annually at the Cannes Film Festival, the FIDOS recognize the best onscreen dog performances over the past year.

Nestling firmly between the BAFTAs and the Oscars, the event will, as always, be hosted by the founder of Palm Dog and FIDOS, Toby Rose. Rose says, “This year has been especially blessed with stand-out dog performances in films, as varied as Jean Claude in The Fall Guy, Pimpao the Jack Russell in I’m Still Here, and the Alsatian in Babygirl. The winners of FIDOS 2025 will be selected from the longest-ever longlist of contenders,” he continues.

“What we know already is that dogrisma will triumph in the battle for a FIDO and ultimately the grand prize: BFI Best in World.”

The FIDOS are awarded in five categories: Blockbuster Bowser, Comedy Canine, Rom Com Rover, Historical Hound, and Mutt Moment. Nominated films with four legged stars include Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, Babygirl, I’m Still Here and Deadpool & Wolverine. From the winners in these sections, an outstanding performance will be chosen and declared BFI Best in World. Also awarded is FiDogManitarian, in honour of those who celebrate the bond between canines and the human race.

The top dogs are chosen by a jury of top film journalists including Anna Smith from the Girls On Film podcast; Tim Robey of The Daily Telegraph; Rita Di Santo of FIPRESCI; Damon Wise of Deadline and author and programmer Kaleem Aftab.

Follow all the updates on Instagram

Follow Anna on:
https://annawebb.co.uk

We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!

Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

https://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/

Music by Mike Hanson

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits

Art work by https://jaijo.com

As it was Valentine's just the other day we thought we'd share again this episode from 2021.

Follow Anna on:
https://annawebb.co.uk

We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!

Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

https://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/

Music by Mike Hanson

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits

Art work by https://jaijo.com

We’re joined by Esther Logue from Paleo Ridge talking about the company’s latest additions Paleo Puppy and Paleo Senior - both of which are industry firsts by containing Reishi Mushroom tincture along with a host of health boosting ingredients, not least the brand’s ethical and sustainably reared meats. We chat about why feeding a natural whole food unprocessed diet is peace of mind in a bowl as a way of boosting cellular function. Fulfilling a demand for a puppy choice, Paleo Puppy also contains added superfoods like wheatgrass and butternut squash, simply to add additional antioxidants that can help a puppy’s rapid growth and cellular development. The Paleo Senior is adapted with older dogs in mind with slightly less bone content and a slightly higher inclusion of Paleo Ridge’s superfood boost called Berry Good. Discussing medicinal mushrooms as a burgeoning area drawing on Traditional Chinese Medicine and the on going discovery of foods as being medicine. We touch on the microbiome, its role as triggering immune system function and why feeding whole foods naturally support the trillions of bacteria needed for a robust and diverse microbial colony.

Order your Paleo Puppy or Senior here.

For more about Anna go to annawebb.co.uk

Music and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

Cover art by Jaijo

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff Pawtraits

To advertise on or sponsor A Dog's Life email: info@theloniouspunkproductions.com

We’re joined by Catriona Lowry from The Hilltop Sanctuary in Ireland. Catriona gave up a career in fashion to dedicate her life to helping animals. Not just dogs, but pigs, donkeys, chickens and a lot of horses. In a country where there appears to be an abject negligence to the health and welfare on many animals, it was a Fortune Teller that predicted Catriona’s journey. Setting up the Hilltop Sanctuary has changed Catriona’s life, and made her realise the importance of helping creatures with no voice. Whilst a baptism of fire for her, this episode certainly highlights that some animals can indeed benefit from the luck of the Irish. We chat about her ongoing campaigns to fund this not for profit organisation, highlighting some terrible cases, but always with a smile on her face and a touch of lipstick. Tirelessly campaigning for Animal Welfare in Ireland, Catriona supports Dog Advocacy Ireland and is vehemently against the cruel puppy farming trade that earns the Irish Government over 2 Million Euros in tax money annually!

Twitter: @LowryCatriona

thereluctantrescuer.com

We recommend a raw diet for you pet and believe the best place to start is Paleo Ridge

For more about Anna go to annawebb.co.uk

Music and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

Cover art by Jaijo

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff Pawtraits

To advertise on or sponsor A Dog's Life email: info@theloniouspunkproductions.com

We’re joined by award winning Animal Physiotherapist, Donna Wills (RVN, PgCert A Physical, MIRVAP(VP), discussing her book, The Best Goodbye, which is a true story of love and farewell. Written as a life tribute to her dog, Logan, a rescued Border Collie, Donna talks about why it was so emotional to write but cathartic at the same time. It is a book about Logan and Donna’s special journey together, like a journey that all dog owners experience, but for Donna Logan was her ‘heart’ dog. Having been her constant companion through relationships, her marriage, and the birth of her children, it is a roller coaster and an emotional read as it will resonate with everyone who has loved and lost a dog. Understanding this Donna has dedicated the book to everyone who has lost a pet. Whilst talking about her own experience which pulls at the heart strings, Donna highlights top tips for making the inevitable as pain free as possible, with points to remember like caring for yourself as you grieve. Whilst sad and resonating outwards, it is also a celebration to remember the good times, the experiences, and ‘mountains' climbed together that will never leave as they are memories fixed into your heart.

Donna's website where you can buy her book and her Instagram

For more about Anna go to annawebb.co.uk

We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!

Music and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

Cover art by Jaijo

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff Pawtraits

To advertise on or sponsor A Dog's Life email: info@theloniouspunkproductions.com