Anna's Blog

Friday April 22 was National Beagle Day. Anna marked the day by chatting to John Curtin, one of the leaders of Camp Beagle, who have been camped outside Marshall Bio Resources since last July, protesting their ongoing supply of Beagles for 'aboratory testing'. 

Despite being redundant and unnecessary research, the treatment of the beagles is also cruel, owing to their docile nature.

Campaigning for justice for the Beagle and for true animal welfare that is 'allowed' in the name of science in an institutionalised way- a bit like 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". 

In an uncanny small world, it turns out that Chris' son, Will, is OJ's producer who had booked Anna as a guest. In this episode Anna and Chris catch up post Crufts, chatting about how Chris’s world has gone to the dogs - in a good way of course!  Having been high flying in the world of corporate advertising, he crashed out of the industry, questioning what life should be about. 

This week Anna is joined by Broadcaster OJ Borg, who chats about his passion for dogs, especially his rescue for Manchester Dog's Home Lebowski. He's a Jack Russell mix and very part of the family. 

OJ talks about why for him AdoptDontShop is so important, giving dogs a second chance. he also airs some of his bugbears, including the growth in designer crossbreeds rather than adopting.

This week Anna catches up with old friends at the first live Crufts in two years.

We talk to competitors, exhibitors, experts, sponsors, visitors about their dogs and about what makes the biggest dog show in the world quite so exciting.

This week Anna is joined by Singer-Songwriter, Chris Amoo. Famous for being the lead singer in the band British Soul group, The Real Thing, Chris has always had a passion for dogs, particularly hounds.

His love of Afghan Hounds led him to start competing at dog shows, and to even scoop the highest doggy accolade Best In Show at Crufts in 1987 with his Afghan Hounds called Viscount Grant.

This week Anna is joined by Kerry Taylor, Education Manager, at The Blue Cross talking about the charity’s 125th anniversary.

As a milestone highlighting the work the organisation has achieved across two World Wars and recently through the pandemic.

This week Anna is joined by Police Dog Handler, Dave Wardell and his daughter Tia. Aged only 12 Tia could be the youngest dog trainer in the world! Running into Christmas in 2021 , Tia decided to launch Top Kids Club a series of videos called 25 tricks to train before Christmas.

Highlighting short training sessions with her own dog, rescued French Bulldog, Harper. Tia could be a chip off the old block, but as Dave explains, she’s be a natural around dogs in their home since a toddler.