With police recording over 4,500 offences involving stolen dogs in the last two years in England and Wales, ethical retailer Pets Corner has put together an owner’s guide to help safeguard your dog from theft and what to do if an animal is stolen. Lucy Ross is an animal specialist and Head of Training at Pets Corner.  She said: “The emotional impact of losing a cherished pet is profound so if an animal goes missing it can be an incredibly distressing time for its owners.  There are a number of things that owners can do to help protect their pet from thieves as well as procedures they can follow if an animal is taken.”

The fascinating story of Queen Victoria’s visit to Wolverhampton 150 years ago will be brought to life as part of a series of fun events celebrating all that the city has to offer. Queen Victoria came to Wolverhampton in 1866 to unveil the statue of her late husband Prince Albert which remains in Queen Square to this day and has become an iconic symbol of the city. It is believed that the monarch’s trip to the Black Country was her first public appearance after years of private mourning following the death of her beloved consort.

69% of people in the West Midlands picked seeing friends as the number one reason for bringing a smile to their faces, followed by listening to music and falling in love. Recent research commissioned by Wrigley’s Extra® to mark its partnership with leading charity Action for Children and the launch of oral health workshops shows that spending time with our friends is what makes us smile most.

Next month’s Enjoy Wolverhampton programme includes a footy treat for all generations. You can get free entry to the Wolves Museum on Friday, July 8, between 11.30am and 5pm. The museum includes access to a special interactive Games Zone, History Zone and Cinema Zone. Between noon and 3pm football fans will also have the chance to meet legendary former Wolves players as well as have their football memorabilia valued by some of the leading experts in the game.

School children from Ward End Primary spent a day asking speeding drivers to account for their actions, after they were caught breaking a 20mph speed limit outside the school. Over the course of three hours 19 drivers were stopped by West Midlands Police and given the opportunity to face a panel of school children at a ‘Kids’ Court’, or face points on their license and a £100 fine. Those who were driving at excessive speeds of 37mph or more were immediately reported.

The average person from the West Midlands loses more than 3,300 items in their lifetime – including 230 items of clothing and 104 umbrellas, research reveals. A national study into lost belongings of 2,000 adults found we’ll also misplace 394 pens across a lifetime and on average lose four items a month. Keys are the most commonly lost item, followed by mobile phones, pens and glasses.