Dog Desk Radio Podcast

For National Dog Bite Prevention Week, our director Michelle Robertson, who studies street-born dog behaviour on the streets and within shelter environments speaks about bite risk.

In this episode, she addresses what happens to dogs after relocation into homes.

Some street-born dogs, newly arrived from overseas, have gone on to bite, in some cases leading to euthanasia. These incidents are not freely discussed & examined in a structured way.

Michelle explores why these bites may occur, what we currently understand, and what remains unknown.

She also introduces a fact-finding initiative designed to collect structured, anonymous input from adopters. The aim is to build a clearer picture of how dogs adjust within home environments after relocation.

This is not about judgement or individual cases. It is about understanding patterns and closing a critical gap in knowledge.

If you have adopted a street-born dog from overseas, you can contribute to this work via the link provided here

dogdeskanimalaction.co.uk/p/street-dog-to-home-why-this-work

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This week’s animal welfare bulletin brings together reports from multiple countries, revealing a consistent pattern across systems.

In Turkey, large-scale dog removals continue without transparent data, while an illegal horse slaughter operation uncovered in Çatalca raises serious questions about oversight and enforcement.

In the United Kingdom, dog control policies and enforcement powers remain under scrutiny, alongside ongoing welfare cases and arrests linked to dangerous dogs.

Globally, responses continue to be driven by crisis.From culling pressure following disease concerns in Pakistan, to reactive shelter expansion in India, disease-related intake suspensions in the United States, and large-scale welfare seizures in Romania.

Across each case, the same themes emerge.

Enforcement without prevention. Capacity without transparency.And systems responding only after harm has already occurred.

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Vultures: Europe’s Most Misunderstood Environmental Heroes

In conversation with Jose Tavares from the Vulture Conservation Foundation, we unpack the bad press vultures face, why they’re actually good news for ecosystems, and why protecting these vital scavengers is essential for Europe’s environmental health.

Championing Canine Welfare: A Conversation with Carol Fowler of The Dog Breeding Reform Group

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Carol Fowler, founder of The Dog Breeding Reform Group (DBRG), a leading UK charity campaigning for healthier, more ethical dog breeding practices. Carol shares her personal journey from dog owner to lifelong advocate, explains the critical issues facing pedigree breeding, and discusses DBRG’s work to improve dog welfare, promote informed puppy buying, and influence legislative reform. Discover how DBRG empowers prospective owners, challenges harmful breeding norms, and strives to give every dog a healthier start in life

When a Collar Becomes a Threat: A Conversation on Preventing Dog Strangulation Injuries

Dog collar strangulation is a silent risk that continues to injure and kill dogs worldwide. In this discussion with Lynette Smith of the RyderSafe Foundation, we examine why traditional collars can be dangerous, the scenarios where risks are highest, and how simple changes in practice and equipment can save lives.

Join filmmakers Richard Pierce and Anton Leech as they expose the disturbing lifecycle of captive-bred lions born on farms, raised for tourist interactions, shot in canned hunts, and ultimately exported as bones for international markets.

This conversation examines:

* How lion farming operates as a commercial supply chain rather than conservation.

* The role of canned hunting in providing a lucrative end-point for farmed lions.

* The export and sale of lion bones to meet global demand, particularly for traditional medicine and luxury products.

* The welfare crisis faced by captive lions from birth to slaughter.

* The misleading narratives used to justify farming and canned hunts as conservation tools.

* The environmental and ethical consequences of commodifying lions as products rather than protecting them as wildlife.

Richard and Anton share insights from their investigation, revealing an industry that breeds lions not for preservation, but profit fuelled by tourism, trophy hunters, and the international bone market.

This conversation is essential for anyone concerned with wildlife exploitation, policy reform, ethical tourism, and the urgent need to dismantle lion farming and the trade it feeds.

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Diving for Change - How One Man is Cleaning Newfoundland’s Seabeds

In this eye-opening interview, Shawn Bath from the Clean Harbor Initiative takes us beneath the surface of Newfoundland’s coastal waters to reveal the scale of submerged pollution threatening marine life and local ecosystems. Shawn explains how he has devoted himself to diving off the coast to remove discarded fishing gear, plastics, and industrial waste often single-handedly and how community support is growing for his mission. This compelling conversation highlights the challenges of ocean conservation, the impact of grassroots action, and the power of one determined individual to make a difference.

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In this inspiring conversation with Josie Sharrad of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), we explore the extraordinary journey of Bear a once unwanted dog who became a highly skilled detection expert, locating injured and displaced koalas so they can receive lifesaving medical care.

Josie shares how Bear’s training transformed his future, the critical role he plays in koala conservation, and the broader challenges threatening koalas across Australia. This is a powerful reminder that every life has potential and that unlikely heroes can emerge when given a second chance.

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In this compelling interview, Shirley Lack from the Wombat Protection Society talks to us about the challenges facing wombats across Australia from habitat loss and disease to outdated legislation that once left these gentle animals unprotected.

Shirley explains how her organisation mobilised public support, challenged misinformation, and worked tirelessly to overturn a damaging law, securing long-awaited legal protections for wombats. This is an inspiring story of grassroots advocacy, community action, and what determined animal defenders can achieve.

A Conversation with Professor Claudio Sillero on Saving the Ethiopian Wolf

Join us for an in-depth discussion with Professor Claudio Sillero, a leading expert on the world’s rarest canid the Ethiopian wolf. In this compelling conversation, we explore the unique ecology and behaviour of this iconic species, the escalating threats posed by habitat loss, disease transmission from domestic dogs, climate change, and human-wildlife conflict, and the urgent conservation efforts underway to protect the dwindling population. Professor Sillero sheds light on the science, strategy, and community-based initiatives driving hope for the species’ survival, offering a powerful perspective on why safeguarding the Ethiopian wolf is critical not only for biodiversity, but for the integrity of the Afro-alpine ecosystem itself.