In this week's podcast, we highlight the fact that today is International Dog Day, and discuss the plight of dogs in Ireland in 2022. We also highly the upcoming dog festival, Pups In The Park, that is happening on the weekend of September 10th and 11th in Marlay Park, Dublin.

Nutritional supplements are given to around 20% of pets every day. But are they really necessary? Listen to this ten minute podcast to find out more.

This week's podcast starts with a light piece about some recent research which shows that a man is more appealing to women if he is accompanied by a small dog. Then we discuss a more serious topic: helping dogs stay comfortable in the recent hot sunshine.

After a new outbreak of Parvovirus in the Dublin area, dog owners have been warned to keep their pets up to date with their vaccinations to ensure that they stay safe. To learn more about this, listen to the podcast.

If a dog bites a person, the dog's owner is usually legally liable for damages, and sometimes they may be covered for this by insurance (either pet insurance or home insurance). But why do dogs bite in the first place? And what can be done to prevent dog bites? Listen in to find out.

This week, Pete discusses the common summer problem of heatstroke in pets: how can it be prevented, and what to do if your pet is affected?

This week, I was delighted to be interviewed by Andrea Hayes, who I have worked with previously in a television series called Animal A&E. Andrea is passionate about animal welfare, and we had a useful discussion about the latest developments in Ireland, including the recent discussion in the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) about dog licences, microchips, dog breeding establishments and greyhounds.

A new report highlights that pugs are 54 times more likely to suffer from breathing issues compared to other types of dog. The report authors say that Pugs can "no longer be considered typical dogs". To find out more, listen to this podcast.

In my home town of Bray, Co Wicklow, a new bridge over a local river has been proposed. The design includes a screen of vertical cables that will create an obstruction to the many swans that live in the area. To find out more, listen to this podcast

Over 600 pets have been imported into Ireland in recent weeks as companions for refugees from Ukraine. To hear more about the details of how this is being organised, listen to this podcast.