Ollie's blog
News & what's happening @ sdah.co.uk
By Ollie Paws
New law comes into force to protect farm animals from dog attacks
From 18th March 2026 a new law comes into effect. strengthening protections for sheep, cows and other farm animals saving famers thousands of pounds each year.
18/03/2026
Guide Dogs for the blind
March is Free Wills Month
A gift in your Will could lead to a future where lives are transformed. Write your Will for free this March.
01/03/2026
Stolen Lurcher puppies
The last of seven Lurcher puppies stolen from a litter over three weeks ago has still not been found.
The five-week-old puppies were taken from their mother in Shroton, near Blandford Forum, Dorset on 28 December
20/04/2025
Animal shelter struggling after guinea pig influx
A Cornish animal shelter is struggling with vet fees after rescuing 55 guinea pigs from a pet hoarder.
Maria’s Animal Shelter in Probus said it removed 61 guinea pigs and rabbits from a small Cornish home where there were over 120 animals breeding out of control
10/10/2024
Cat Microchipping
All cat owners should now have their pets microchipped as new legislation comes into force today (10 June 2024).
Owners must ensure their cat is microchipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks with their contact details stored and kept up to date in an approved pet microchipping database.
09/09/2024
Haven Renovation
We are currently undergoing a renovation and maintenance program at the Haven if you can help in any way please contact us, your help would be greatly appreciated.
07/08/2024
Our Supporters
We would like to thank everyone who has offered their kind support in the past. Regrettably due to new insurance restrictions we can no longer allow volunteers under the age of 18 years old on site. We hope our supporters are not too disappointed by this.
18/07/2024
Pets and the renters reform Bill
Landlords will be required to fully consider all requests on a case-by-case basis. Due to the diversity of landlords, tenants, and properties in the private rented sector, it would not be possible to legislate for every situation where a landlord would or would not be able to ‘reasonably’ refuse a pet.
12/02/2024
American XL Bully Ban
From 31 December 2023 it will be against the law to:
- sell an XL Bully dog
- abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray
- give away an XL Bully dog
- breed from an XL Bully dog
- have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle
From 1 February 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully in England and Wales unless you have a Certificate of Exemption for your dog. You will have until 31 January 2024 to apply for this exemption.
Visit the GOV.UK website below for the latest information
14/11/2023 updated
Need to rehome your Pet?
We have had several instances where people are placing their unwanted pets over the front gate of the centre, please contact us if you are in a desperate situation, we will try our best to help you. This practice can be dangerous for your pet, so please reach out to us first, thank you.
24/11/2023
