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RSPCA: Vote now for the nation’s top rescue dog

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Thursday, 04, Sep 2008 12:00

Rescued and rehomed dogs - of all ages, shapes and sizes, and from every corner of England and Wales - are preparing to compete for the public’s vote in the annual RSPCA Dog of the Year competition and win a place in the grand final.

Dog of the Year is the largest national show exclusively for pedigree and crossbred rescue dogs from all backgrounds – not just RSPCA centres - each with a heart-warming story to tell of how they triumphed over adversity.

From September 8th, everyone is invited to vote online for their favourite four-legged heat winner in six geographical regions, simply by logging onto www.rspca.org.uk/doty. Voting runs until the end of September – so don’t miss your chance to help select this year’s finalists.

All over the country, characterful canines from 56 qualifying heats have all successfully qualified as heat winners.

You can view photos of all the heat winners – on the website from September 8th. You can read their often-fascinating stories about how they came to be rescued and rehomed with their current owners, and decide which six dogs you think most deserve to go through to the final. You can vote for one dog in each region.

The six dogs with the most votes will battle it out in a grand final which will run exclusively in the Sunday Express newspaper during November. Readers will be able to vote for the dog they want to be crowned RSPCA Dog of the Year.

The overall winner will be announced by the Sunday Express in November and will receive a whole host of prizes including:

  • An engraved cut-glass trophy

  • RSPCA pet insurance cover for a year*

  • a photo session with glossy magazine Dogs Today and the chance to star on the front cover

  • Their pet portrait by animal artist Michelle Murray

    *subject to terms and conditions

    RSPCA chief executive Mark Watts said: “Over seventeen thousand dogs were rehomed by the RSPCA last year alone. This annual RSPCA competition is a well-deserved chance for dogs who were once unwanted to steal the limelight and show just what fun-loving pets rescue dogs can make.”

    For media enquiries on the competition and a photograph and information on last year’s winner (a big, loveable, blind Bullmastiff called Oliver with a thing for the camera) please call David Green in the RSPCA press office on 0300 123 0207 or 0300 123 0244/0288.

    RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS

    Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099

    Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 0870 0555500 and ask for pager number 828825

    Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk

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