We understand it can sometimes be a frustrating process when you are trying to rehome a rescue dog and find that your application for a specific dog is not successful. We want to explain why we put rehoming criteria in place following our assessments of the dogs. Each dog that comes into our care is an individual, with different levels of socialisation and varying trauma and so have their own unique needs. For this reason, we do not have a one size fits all rehoming criteria. Rehoming criteria for each dog are set with the dogs needs in mind and rehoming matches are made considering the type ..read more

Dogs and children communicate very differently, but they can be great friends and help children develop kindness and a sense of responsibility. Just remember our six golden rules for keeping your children safe and your dogs happy. 1. Stay with your children around dogs Never leave your child alone in the same room as a dog, even your own. 2. Interact with dogs at the right times Teach your child not to approach dogs when they’re: Eating or having a treat Have a toy or something else they really like Sleeping Unwell, injured or tired Blind or deaf 3. Be gentle Teach your child to be ..read more

Understanding dog behaviour As a dog owner, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your dog’s behaviour and be on the lookout for any changes, as these can be a sign that something’s wrong. Use this guide to help you recognise important body language signals and get to know how your dog is feeling.  A happy dog A dog who is happy will be relaxed. 1. Dog has a relaxed body posture and smooth hair, the mouth is open and relaxed, ears are in a natural position, the tail is wagging and the eyes are a normal shape. 2. Dog is inviting play with bottom raised, smooth hair and a high waggin ..read more

Leaving your pets in safe hands Planning for a holiday can be an exciting time but don’t forget to include arrangements for your pets. Whether you plan to take them with you or not, it can take time to sort out their care so it’s best to start getting things ready well in advance. If you’re considering taking your dog with you on holiday, there’s a lot to plan and consider before you book. Preparation is key to a stress-free holiday – for you and your dog. Cats, rabbits and small animals who aren’t familiar with travelling and visiting new places shouldn’t be taken on holiday because the expe ..read more

Foxes are adaptable animals that live in many different environments across the world from the Arctic tundra to the deserts of North Africa. Foxes are truly omnivorous, without specialised food requirements, so it is not surprising that they live in many of our towns and cities. They are most numerous in areas of low-density suburban housing, such as those built in the UK in the 1930s, when land was cheap and houses had large, enclosed gardens. Overgrown areas and spaces under garden sheds provide shelter and food is abundant. Older housing in industrial towns and many modern developments hav ..read more

This guide focuses on the four species most commonly found in homes or gardens: the house mouse, wood mouse, yellow-necked mouse and brown rat. Rodents are the most diverse order of mammals on earth and can be found on every continent. There are 17 species of rodent found in Britain, ranging from the tiny harvest mouse to the bulky beaver. Other than mice and rats, there are 6 species of vole (the bank, Skomer, water, field, Guernsey and Orkney vole), 2 species of squirrel (the red and grey squirrel) and a single species of beaver (the Eurasian beaver). Only 2 species of rat live within Brita ..read more

RSPCA Sussex North and Brighton Branch offers some financial assistance for pets in crisis whose owners cannot afford their vet bills. We assess requests on a case by case basis and we have limited funds. As a charity we need to make our resources go as far as possible and the help we give is means tested. We do not have our own vets so any financial help we are able to give would be paid directly to the vet administering the treatment. Please fill in the following form (Vet Assist Form) to capture some basic information and we will get back to you as soon as possible. For our full welfare a ..read more

Neutering is important in many species to prevent unwanted pregnancy and to protect against certain medical conditions as well as some behavioural issues. This is also the case in ferrets, but the situation is more complicated than in other species such as cats and dogs. A vet should always be consulted to go over options for ferret spaying and neutering. The post Ferret Pig Spaying and Neutering guidelines appeared first on RSPCA Sussex North & Brighton ..read more

Rabbits: Rabbit Neutering is vital to counteract the overpopulation of unwanted rabbits and to safeguard health and welfare in individual rabbits. Female rabbits, in particular, have major health risks associated with not being neutered. Males can be castrated from approximately 10 weeks of age, once their testicles are descended. Females are usually spayed from four months. Guinea pigs: Neutering is vital to counteract the overpopulation of unwanted Guinea pigs. Neutering allows guinea pigs, which are social animals, to be kept in friendly pairs or groups. It is expected that all Male guinea ..read more

Guidelines for dogs in our care. This is based on the RSPCA policy to prevent unnecessary breeding, but also taking into account the latest studies on the effects of neutering and spaying on health and behaviour. Six months in bitches who are likely to be over 20kg when full grown Four months in bitches under 20kg when full grown Seven months in male dogs. For owned animals (animals already in the care of an owner) It is important to discuss with your vet and a qualified behaviourist, when the most appropriate time for neutering would be for each individual. There is also evidence to suggest t ..read more