Has your dog got what it takes to be RSPCA Rescue Dog of the Year 2009? The RSPCA are looking for rescue dogs with star quality to enter this year's Rescue Dog of the Year competition.

The RSPCA Rescue Dog of the Year competition is the UK's largest national competition exclusively for rescue dogs, both cross-breeds and pedigrees, of all ages, shapes and sizes and from all backgrounds, not just RSPCA centres. The winner is chosen for their general condition, overall appearance, character and story of how they triumphed over adversity.

Dogs will need to have been adopted from a registered (RSPCA or non RSPCA) centre.

Heats are held at RSPCA branch dog shows throughout England and Wales.

If you think your dog has what it takes, then come along to one of the regional RSPCA shows and enter your dog in the RSPCA Rescue Dog of the Year regional heats.

Visit www.rspca.org.uk/doty to find where your nearest regional heat is being held. Good luck!

Rescue Dog of the Year 2008 - Alfie Alfie, a three-year-old Newfoundland from Chester-le-Street in County Durham, overcame his behavioural problems after a lot of hard work and effort to become a healthy, well-adjusted dog (but not before eating £75 worth of cushions!)
He may have been starved of love and human contact before he was rescued, but three-year-old Alfie won the hearts of the nation to be voted RSPCA Rescue Dog of the Year 2008. Owner Julia Marsh-Pitt says "Alfie was rescued from Southern Ireland where he had been kept in a pen in the garden from the age of eight months. He is very small for a Newfoundland, only weighing 5st when rescued (males are usually over 10st). It is thought the sheer neglect has stunted his growth and mental development. His mindset is that he is a puppy and always will be."
"Alfie has given me and my husband (we do not have children because of my health problems) a centre to our lives. He gives us something positive to concentrate on, he looks after me and makes me smile even on my darkest day. It was worth all the effort, to see such a healthy, well-adjusted dog. We love him very much."

Rescue Dog of the Year 2007 - Oliver A blind dog that was dumped when he was just five months old has been voted RSPCA Rescue Dog of the Year 2007. Oliver, a bullmastiff from Houghton-Le-Spring, fought off stiff competition in the final from five other rescue dogs, stealing an impressive 23% of people's votes.
Oliver had a difficult start in life. When he was just a pup an unscrupulous dog breeder threw him out onto the street because he had an eye infection. A dog warden found him just before Christmas 2005, thin and distressed, with his eye causing him severe pain. Despite urgent veterinary treatment, the infection spread. Oliver lost his sight and one eye had to be removed altogether. But his spirits were soon to brighten when Julie Harkess and her family decided to offer him a home after reading his story in the local paper. At two-years-old, Oliver has now learnt to manage his
disability and leads a fulfilling life with the Harkess family and their other dog, Simba. He has been given a special artificial eye, which, though he cannot see through it, improves his appearance. Julie said: "I can't believe that Oliver has won the competition! He is a true inspiration and clearly the rest of the country think he is too. Oliver has made so much progress that we forget he's blind. No matter how down we might feel, Oliver always lifts our spirits. I just can't believe that he lost his eyesight simply because his previous owner didn't want to spend the money on veterinary fees. He really deserves to be the RSPCA's Rescue Dog of the Year."