The 2012 European Football Championship is just about to start, and the host countries, Poland and Ukraine, have been busily preparing for a surge of sports tourism. In Ukraine, that means shocking efforts to reduce the number of homeless animals across the country in an attempt to hide the country's neglected and abandoned dogs from tourists... more

The Spanish hunting dogs live their entire lives on the brink of starvation, unstimulated, in cramped dark spaces or are tied on short chains. Many exist in rural, isolated locations with little human contact or affection. The Galgos, Podencos and other hunting dogs in Spain are considered only as useful tools that can be replaced and discarded when no longer needed.

Between the hunting season the dogs live in very poor conditions and on the brink of starvation. The food consists mostly of old food from restaurants or bakeries, often moldy bread that is given once a week. Cruel superstitions and old traditions are still very common in Spain and the hunters trying to convince themselves that the dogs hunt better when they're starved... Continued

European Society of Dog and Animal Welfare

Serbia's Forgotten Paws (SFP) was created early in 2012 to improve the lives and alleviate the suffering of animals in Niš, Serbia. The small group of international volunteers is working to rehome dogs and cats to mainland Europe and the UK. With the freezing winters in Serbia, SFP is actively seeking donations to acquire land to build an animal sanctuary and to sustain the animals within its care. If you would like to donate or provide a dog or cat with its forever home, please visit www.forgotten-paws.com/#! for more information.

Ordering pet food and supplies? Please click the Zooplus banner - 5% of your order value will go to Serbia's Forgotten Paws!

New simpler DEFRA rules came into force in January 2012 for importing your pet from EU countries to the UK.

All pets need to be vaccinated against rabies but will no longer need a blood test and will only have to wait 21 days before they travel. Tick treatment for pets returning to the UK will no longer be required but tapeworm rules will apply to dogs only.

The treatment has to be administered no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK. The treatment must be recorded in the EU pet passport which your vet will provide. More...