birminghammail--2019-06-26--Mystery as nine pets allegedly vanish while in the care of dog-sitter

Mystery as 'nine' pets allegedly vanish while in the care of dog-sitter

Police have launched an investigation after 'a number' of dogs allegedly disappeared - while in the care of a pet-sitter.  The pooches with Birmingham owners - including three pugs, a jug (pug and Jack Russell cross) and a French bulldog - all reportedly vanished while being walked at Hopwas Woods, Tamworth , on Sunday (June 23).  Now the distraught owners are appealing for help to track down their missing pets, with one even offering a 'substantial' reward.  The exact number of missing dogs is unclear, but there are claims up to NINE pets could be missing, many from Sutton Coldfield.  The animals had been left with the dog-sitter, but the owners allege that when they returned to fetch their pets they were told they had all 'disappeared'.  They have since contacted West Midlands Police , who confirmed they are investigating the claims.  James Egan left his beloved 18-month-old French bulldog Jack with the dog-sitter for the very first time, while he took a weekend break with wife Liz.  But on Sunday, just hours before they were due to collect their pet, James was told his pet had disappeared.  He claims the dog-sitter alleged they had been walking the dog in Hopwas Woods, Tamworth, when there was 'a loud bang' - and the animal ran off.  Jack hasn't been seen since.  James, from Kingstanding, said he returned to the woods with the dog sitter to search for the missing pooch, but they could find no sign of him.  "It was the first time we had left Jack," James told BirminghamLive.  "The dog sitter had been recommended to us by other dog owners who I had met while walking Jack.  "I didn't like the thought of leaving him at a kennel, so we went with the dog sitter who would look after him in their own home.  "We thought he would be safer and the dog walker seemed very professional.  "We were due to fetch Jack on Monday but on Sunday I had a phone call from the dog sitter to say he had been lost.  "The walker claimed they had been walking their own dog, along with ours, in Hopwas Woods. They said there had been a loud bang which spooked the dogs and they had run off.  "I was sympathetic at first as the walker was really upset but then something didn't sit right."  James said he soon learned of other dog owners who had been told their pets had been lost, in exactly the same way at the same location - by the same dog sitter.  "It was unreal. Within a few hours we'd heard of another eight dogs who had all been 'lost' by the same person, over the same weekend and all from the same place," he added.  "All us owners came together and reported it to the police on Tuesday (June 25).  "But we've no idea where the dogs are or what has happened to them, we're at our wits' end."  Becky Parsons, who lives in Erdington, also claims her two dogs, Maggie and Pablo, have not been returned by the dog sitter.  She has used the services of the dog sitter on two previous occasions - without any concerns - but she returned home from holiday on Monday and was unable to get in touch with her.  She said the sitter was "vague" about what had happened.  One dog is a black pug, aged eight, he is going grey and has a white patch across his chest.  Second is a pug crossed with a Jack Russell, aged six, tan coloured and wearing a red and white checked frilly collar.  She said: "I have had the dogs since they were puppies. I am devastated, they are my world.  "I have had a lot of family bereavement recently and the dogs have been my comfort. I can't explain how it feels."  And another owner is calling for the return of her pugs, Ralph and Charlie.  In an emotive post on Facebook, the owner wrote: "I am offering a reward for anyone who can get my boys back - no questions asked.  "Charlie is poorly, he is half blind in each eye and his vision is blurry, he can only hear out of one ear and suffers skin allergies that he needs medication for. He also suffers with overgrowth in his nails that he is due an operation for.  "Charlie is such a happy little guy - he can be very greedy but loves a tickle on his belly. Ralph is my baby, my sidekick, my comfort through all the bad times i've had.  "Whoever has them, please do the right thing and in the meantime, please look after them."  West Midlands Police have confirmed they are investigating and enquiries are 'ongoing'.  "West Midlands Police is aware a number of dogs have gone missing while under the care of a dog sitter based in the Birmingham area," a West Midlands Police spokeswoman said.  "Enquiries are ongoing to understand what has happened to the dogs and whether any criminal offences have taken place.  "Anyone with information can contact West Midlands Police via Live Chat at www.west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, or all 101 anytime.  "Please quote log number 1100 and 1106 of 26/06/19."


birminghammail--2019-10-17--Sainsbury's stops selling fireworks amid concerns for pets and elderly

Sainsbury's has banned the sale of fireworks from all of its 2,300 stores.  The move from the supermarket giant comes amid fears for the welfare of pets and the elderly.  Sainsbury's announced it will no longer stock fireworks due to health and safety fears as the UK heads towards Bonfire Night.  The retail giant - with stores across Birmingham and throughout the Midlands - traditionally stocked fireworks ahead of Bonfire Night on November 5.  But animal welfare charities have called for a blanket ban on sales.  Replying to a social media user on Twitter today, the supermarket giant confirmed the move.  Sainsbury's replied to one customer, who was shopping a north west London branch of the supermarket, saying: "Hey Sally, thanks! We won't be selling fireworks in any of our stores this year. Hope this helps!"  The customer had tweeted the chain asking: "@sainsburys Have to say well done & thank you. Been informed local branch #Stanmore won't be selling fireworks this year due 2 the distress it causes our pets & wildlife. Any other stores doing this? Can't thank you enough as my dog is beside herself with fear at these times."  The customer added: "Please note @asda @morrisons @Tesco @waitrose. Sainsburys aren't selling fireworks in any stores this year as it causes so much stress in pets, wildlife & kids. Please think about doing the same. #Diwali2019 doesn't have 2b celebrate with fireworks, it's a festival of light!"


dailybeast--2019-12-25--Is It Ethical to Keep Pets and Other Animals?

New York City’s comprehensive new code for animal welfare restricts when horse-drawn carriages can operate and bans the sale of the fatty liver of a force-fed duck, foie gras.  Washington state just adopted a new law that will enhance the life of egg-laying chickens, requiring that they live in an environment with “enrichments” like scratch areas, perches, nest boxes and areas to take the dust baths chickens so enjoy.  These bills, both passed this year, are part of an ongoing effort to codify the rights of animals, an area of the law I have studied and written about for 30 years. My next book, which will be published in 2020, develops a group of seven legal rights that I believe an ethical society should adopt to protect animals.  Freedom from cruelty of course makes the list. U.S. law has required this since New York first passed an anti-animal cruelty law in 1867. Today, all U.S. states have laws that prohibit the infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering. Modern law also protects the physical well-being of animals in human care by requiring they receive food, water and often veterinary care.  But a full life requires more than basic survival, so I propose some new rights for animals in my book. Perhaps most importantly, I argue that animals need a “right of place”—that is, access to sufficient physical space to live a natural life.  To be comfortable, content and to find their place in a social hierarchy, animals require space. Conversely, if an animal has too little space, then its home becomes a jail, a stressor, a frustrating moment that continues indefinitely.  On the Right of Place  Living on a farm with five different species, including chickens and dogs, has convinced me of an animal’s right to place, too.  This space has two components. First, there’s its size—is it big enough to suit an animal’s needs? Second, there’s the content of that space—what’s inside that space that the animal can make use of?  Different animals have different space needs. Consider, for example, a Great Pyrenees dog—a breed genetically predisposed to guarding. For over a decade, my family’s farm has been watched over by five of these large, amazing dogs.  When on guard, the Great Pyrenees have the regal look of white lion. On a given day on our farm, they will independently wander over 30 fenced acres. Without fences, I am sure these dogs could patrol an even greater range, but letting the Great Pyrenees wander her maximum range is usually not desirable. Natural and human-made hazards pose a risk to the uncontained dog, and the dog might pose a risk to others.  An optimum option for the Great Pyrenees is several acres of fenced-in land, which allows the dog to investigate its natural features while guarding against intruders.  If that same amount of land were paved in concrete and surrounded by a brick wall, it wouldn’t suffice. To exercise her natural capabilities, the Great Pyrenees needs trees that provide shade, plants to sniff, perhaps a place to dig and things to watch.  Nor would confinement in a city apartment give this animal the room or features she needs to exercise her instincts.  Pigs are at least as complex an animal as dogs, studies show.  Ideally they would live in open fields of many acres with other pigs. Instead, many are kept in the cement and iron confinement of industrial agriculture, in stalls the size of their physical body.  The vast majority of commercial chickens, too, lack the space in which to live natural lives. For their entire useful life, egg-laying chickens are often kept in battery cages that holds six hens in a four-square-foot space.  As the free-range movement has brought to light, it is possible to give egg-laying chickens a better life without significantly increasing cost. Chickens don’t actually require much space. Some of the chickens on my farm have total free range and yet seldom wander more than 100 yards from the barn where they are fed and go to roost at night.  But, as Washington state lawmakers recently acknowledged, chickens do need a space that meets their needs. Washington’s quietly created bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee in May, effectively guarantees a chicken’s right of place.  So what about your pet, you ask? Are you respecting its right of place?  It all depends on the pet.  Our family has had a number of poodles, and we’ve found that young standard poodles, being a smart and high-energy dog, will want the opportunity to run like the wind and be challenged mentally. An elderly miniature poodle, however, may be content in an apartment with daily walks.  House cats, meanwhile, are often thought to be satisfied with apartment life, as long as they have places to climb, hide, perch and scratch. But a confined habitat may actually cripple some felines’ instinct to hunt. Behavioral scientists haven’t studied cats enough to fully understand their needs.  Frankly, people don’t yet know how yet to satisfy every individual animal’s right of place. We need more information from science.  Nor is it clear, beyond the most egregious cases, when the law should intervene to ensure that pet owners are meeting their animals’ needs. This, I contend, is the next frontier of animal rights law.  People bring these animals into existence. So I believe people owe them a dignified life, a right of place on this Earth.  David Favre is a Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law, Michigan State University and the author of the forthcoming book, Rethinking the Future of Animal Law, (Edward Elgar Publications, 2020).


eveningstandard--2019-02-14--Tesla introduces Dog Mode to keep pets comfortable while they are left in the car

Tesla has released a new animal friendly update to their US cars that prioritises the comfort of pets.  The company announced today that it will be rolling out Dog Mode, which keeps the car cool and comfortable even when it is turned off.  When the owner is out of the car, the jumbo display centre will show a message for passersby that they will be returning soon, preventing Good Samaritans from breaking in.  In its release notes, Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, said: "Keep your dog comfortable in your car while letting people passing by know they don’t need to worry with Dog Mode.  “In addition to keeping the climate control on, the touchscreen will display the current cabin temperature.  “Dog Mode will stay on after you leave your car. If your battery reaches less than 20 percent charge, you will receive a notification on your mobile app.”  The company warned pet owners to make sure local laws were checked for any restrictions on leaving pets unattended in a car before using Dog Mode.  Dog Mode was released at the same time as Sentry Mode, which enables the car to essentially guard itself by using its exterior cameras to monitor movement nearby and identify potential threats.  The new updates are being rolled out to Model 3 cars in the United States from Thursday, to be followed by Model S and Model X vehicles built after August 2017.


eveningstandard--2019-07-24--Treat your pets with this weekaposs Aldi aposSpecial Buysapos

Treat your pets with this week's Aldi 'Special Buys'

The renowned middle aisle of Aldi is concentrating on something a little bit different this week and it means your four-legged friends will have some treats to look forward to.  Launching in store on Thursday, July 25 and available online now, the new pet essentials range will ensure the furriest members of your home look and feel fabulous.  Head down down to your local shop if you want a bargain — once items sell out, they won't be coming back in stock.  The selection ranges from practical products such as cute polka dot food bowls, priced at £3.99 each, to fun playtime accessories like cuddly jungle-themed plush toys, priced at £4,99.  Keep your dog's boredom at bay — and distract them from chewing your chair legs — with these cool puzzles, priced at £6.99 each.  Make sure your pet gets a good night's rest on this cosy bed, with various sizes starting from £7.99 each.  Feline friends are well provided for too, with a special cat bed available, priced at £8.99 each.  Finally, keep your home free of mud, fur and spillages with a washable pet feeding mat.  Available in four different designs in navy and grey, each mat is priced at £3.99.  Scroll through our gallery above to see what to put in your basket next time you visit the store...


eveningstandard--2019-11-12--Best pet advent calendars for Christmas 2019: The adorable advent calendars for dogs, cats and all y

Best pet advent calendars for Christmas 2019: The adorable advent calendars for dogs, cats and all your precious pets at home

Christmas is a time for family, and that includes non-human members too.  If you’re thinking about getting your cat, dog or other pet to join in the festive fun with an advent calendar all of their own, there are myriad options that cater for animals.  Countdown to Christmas with your critters and share the excitement in checking off every day until December 25 with a fabulous treat.  See our favourites below  Keep your pup entertained throughout cold December days with this hand drawn calendar which depicts a fun Panto scene. Inside each window you’ll find a selection of organic treats including bone-shaped biscuits and nibbles to enjoy before bedtime.  If you have a cat, they also deserve to join in the Christmas fun too! Get them in the spirit with a similar calendar which has 24 ‘theatre’ windows, each crammed with natural treats. Expect chicken and turkey treats given a festive lift with cranberries.  An advent calendar fashioned into a Christmas wreath wins extra brownie points - even more so when you consider this design is made up exclusively of treats for your dog!  There are 24 biscuits, dental sticks and bones individually tied to the wreath with raffia string to make it easier to detach every December day until the 25th. You can even personalise this wreath further by adding a festive ribbon.  £23.50 | Not On The High Street |  If you’re looking to give your pet a thrill that won’t break the bank, this might just be the one. Containing gourmet goodies made with real meal, fruit and veg, the 24 windows will ensure your pooch is thoroughly spoiled by Christmas day.  Just ensure you’re home to take delivery as past reviewers have returned home to find their packages ripped open by overexcited pets.  Cat version available here for £2.50.  When it comes to your pets we know it’s not a case of naughty or nice – you’d forgive them anything. Treat them to this advent calendar filled with delicious tasty treats that will get their tails wagging fast enough to power Santa’s sleigh.  Spread the joy from as little as a few quid with this calendar filled with treats for small pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, gerbils and mice. There are 24 doors behind which small nibbles are waiting to help your creature join in the excitement of being one day closer to Christmas.  Spoil your pooch with a selection of luxury treats as you both tick off the days to December 25. Behind each window is a special oven baked treat shaped like a bone, paw print or heart that will have their tails thumping with excitement.  Order online and collect for free in store, or spend more than £39 and have it delivered for free.  With fun festive packaging depicting a snowy village scene, this advent calendar for dogs will let you four-legged friend join in on the Christmas fun. There are 24 windows hiding delicious nuggets of specially created food.  Treat your furry pal to a treat every day until Christmas with this grain-free advent calendar, available at pet superstore Pets at Home. This is suitable for dogs aged six months and up.  Let's be honest, they've been a very good boy this year and definitely deserve a treat. Let them chew on a delicious, dog-friendly carob chocolate treat every December morning until the 25th.  Shop all Fred & Ginger festive dog treats and accessories at John Lewis  Filled with 24 treats to get your pup in a Christmas frame of mind, this fun calendar will donate 50p from its sale to All Dogs Matter charity. There are two flavours to keep them healthy; Baked Turkey with Slippery Elm and Mini dental bones for strong teeth, and both, we're told, are absolutely scrumptious.  Keep well out of reach of your dog to avoid them looking like the over-indulged pooch on the front of the box.  Not exactly an advent calendar, but a box full of surprises all the same, this festive box for dogs from Fetch contains 9 treats for them to play with and devour.  We love this calendar for the adorable picture of the bulldog on the front, but if your pooch isn't as impressed, they will be by the contents of this 24-window calendar. They can expect a daily treat of a carob-based treat, the healthy and safe alternative to chocolate.  With lovingly made organic treats, royal warrant holder Lily’s Kitchen is our top pick. Everything from the exterior illustration to the 24 treats nestled inside has been designed to help you pet join in the sheer excitement and fun of Christmas.  ESBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter


fortune--2019-12-16--Americans Will Spend $75 Billion on Their Pets This Year

A New Study Shows the Damage Just 3 Years of Vaping Could Do to Your Lungs


naturalnews--2019-09-01--Natural remedies Pets help relieve anxiety in children

Natural remedies: Pets help relieve anxiety in children

(Natural News) Families that keep dogs as pets often enjoy the company of these adorable and loyal animals. According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, dogs used in pet therapy can also help relieve situational anxiety among hospitalized children.  Pet therapy refers to the guided interaction between an individual, a trained animal, and the animal’s handler. This type of therapy aims to help someone recover from or cope with a physical or mental condition. Pet therapy is also known as animal-assisted therapy (AAT).  While cats and dogs are often used in pet therapy, other animals like fish, guinea pigs, and horses can also be used. The type of animal chosen usually depends on the therapeutic goals of an individual’s treatment plan.  The success of pet therapy relies on the pre-existing human-animal bond. Simply interacting with a friendly pet can help ease several physical and mental issues.  Pet therapy offers many benefits, such as:  Pet therapy is often recommended for:  Defined objectives are an essential part of pet therapy, and a patient’s progress is recorded and tracked at structured sessions.  The goals of a pet therapy program often include improving assisted or independent movement, motor skills, and joint movement. It can also increase someone’s self-esteem and verbal communication. Pet therapy helps develop an individual’s social skills.  Data from a study conducted by a nurse research team at Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center revealed that pet therapy visits can significantly reduce anxiety in hospitalized children.  Dr. Katherine Hinic, the lead author of the study, explained that hospitalization can be very stressful for both children and their families. Once the children are taken out of familiar surroundings, they may experience fear, loneliness, pain, or worry. (Related: Dogs as college therapists are on the rise in North America; study finds they help stressed out students feel better.)  Hinic noted that while there has been limited research on how pet therapy affects hospitalized children, their findings suggest that pet therapy visits are an effective complementary therapy. The researchers reported that the therapy dogs used in the study helped decrease anxiety in children while they were undergoing hospital treatment.  For the study, the researchers observed 93 young participants aged six to 17. They compared the children’s anxiety before and after the intervention.  The researchers separated the children into two groups: The first group was visited by a therapy dog, its handler, and a research assistant, while the second group was visited only by a research assistant who instructed the volunteers to complete a puzzle. Both groups were similar to each other and did not differ in key demographic factors or baseline anxiety levels.  The researchers used the State-Trait Anxiety Scale for Children (STAIC) S-Anxiety Scale to measure the children’s anxiety levels before and after the visit. They also asked the children’s parents to complete a brief background questionnaire.  The researchers reported that situational anxiety decreased significantly in both groups. However, the researchers found that children in the pet therapy group experienced a significantly greater decrease in anxiety. Their parents also reported high levels of satisfaction with the pet therapy program.  Peggy Grow, the program manager of Soothing Paws Pet Therapy Program, collaborated with the researchers for the study. Grow coordinated the volunteer dog handler teams who gave the children and their families a remarkable pet therapy experience.  If your children require long-term hospitalization, consider pet therapy to prevent anxiety.


newyorkpost--2019-03-21--Man brings steer to Petco in test of all leashed pets are welcome policy

Man brings steer to Petco in test of ‘all leashed pets are welcome’ policy

Don’t have a cow, man — unless it’s at Petco.  A man and woman from Texas couldn’t help but laugh as they recently walked their leashed steer into a Houston-area Petco to really see if “all leashed pets are welcome” at the store.  To Shelly Lumpkin and Oliver Browning’s surprise, the African Watusi was welcomed “with open arms,” Browning wrote on his Facebook page on Monday. “The staff members here are always super friendly and courteous to us. We really enjoy coming to this location…our favorite Petco BY FAR!!”  The post has since earned more than 400,000 views.  Oliver is owned and trained by Browning for rodeos and other shows, and although it’s not clear exactly how much he weighs, African Watusi bulls can reach 1,600 pounds, according to the Livestock Conservancy.  Oliver has his own Facebook page, which is updated regularly.


newyorkpost--2019-12-14--Adoring crowds pounce on celebrity pets at PetCon in NYC

The Coachella for Pets hit New York City on Saturday as celebrity canines, cats and their fur loving fans packed the Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18th Street for PetCon 2019.  The event, which promised, “an action-packed event of insightful panels, fun activations and can’t miss meet and greets with your favorite celebrity pets,” featured panels like “Pets: Family or Property,” “Shifting the perception of Pitbulls” and “Helping Animals Through the Legislative Process” for the adoring crowds.  In attendance was Dogs of Instagram (4.5M followers), Tuna Melts my Heart (2M followers), Harlow and Sage (1.7M followers), Crusoe The Dachshund (730K followers), Mango Brown (556K followers), Gone to the Snow Dogs (221K followers), Marley Mutts (167K followers), and hundreds of beloved Instagram and YouTube celebrity cats and dogs.  The event was launched by Loni Edwards, founder of the pet talent agency The Dog Agency to take advantage of the booming influencer and pet product industry.  In 2018, Americans spent more than $72 billion on products on their pets and a recent nationwide study by SpotOn Virtual Smart Fence found that 98 percent of dog owners consider their dogs to be members of the family.  Edwards was also the owner of Chloe the Mini Frenchie (171K followers) – who died in 2017 due to “medical malpractice.”  According to a release for PetCon, “In the wake of her death, Loni learned that under law, pets are considered property. They do not even hold the same legal status of ‘persons’ like businesses in the U.S. do.”  Since then, Edwards has partnered closely with Animal Defense Legal Fund, to earn pets the legal status of “persons.” Attendees and non-attendees alike are asked to donate to the fund.


newyorkpost--2019-12-14--American families spent estimated $75 billion on pets in 2019: report

Hannah Rountree was volunteering at the Saving Grace Pet Adoption...


sputnik--2019-03-22--Whos a Good Boy Golden Retriever Pets Owner

Who’s a Good Boy? Golden Retriever Pets Owner

While one golden retriever is embraced by its owner, the other pets the Japanese man's hair in a unique show of warmth. Everybody seems to be having a good time.


sputnik--2019-05-13--How Do You Do Little Girl Pets Giant Python

How Do You Do? Little Girl Pets Giant Python

This little girl was recorded in an astonishing video while playing with a python, a non-venomous snake — albeit a very big and heavy one.  The enormous reticulated python, which could easily swallow her whole, was filmed slithering inside a Surrey home in the United Kingdom.


sputnik--2019-07-31--Orange Pets Good Golden Retriever and Kitty Love to Chill Like Bros

Orange Pets Good: Golden Retriever and Kitty Love to Chill Like Bros

However, there are many examples of complete mutual understanding between cats and dogs.  They can even become genuine friends, playing together, sleep together, and even missing each other when they're apart. Often these couples grew up together.  In this video, a golden retriever really loves his cute little kitten friend.


tass--2019-01-18--This week in photos Djokovic teases Peppa Pig Putin pets puppy Trump serves hamburgers

This week in photos: Djokovic teases Peppa Pig, Putin pets puppy, Trump serves hamburgers

Novak Djokovic teases Peppa Pig,  Vladimir Putin pets a puppy, Donald Trump serves fast food in White House and other photographs of the week. The world in pictures in a photo gallery by TASS  In other media


thedailybeast--2019-06-26--Why Do the Kardashians Pets Keep Mysteriously Disappearing

Why Do the Kardashians’ Pets Keep Mysteriously Disappearing?

Kim Kardashian West is many things—a reality TV icon, multimillionaire entrepreneur, prison reform activist, aspiring lawyer—but animal lover is nowhere on the list. A recent episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians showed the mother of four dealing with the inconvenience of the death of her daughter North’s beloved hamster. The hamster, complete with a pink castle cage, was a gift from Aunt Khloé, who’d failed to impress her niece with the special day of limousine rides and ice cream she planned. The only thing that would make North happy was a tiny rodent, much to her mother’s chagrin.  Disaster soon struck when one of Kim’s assistants delivered the grim news that the hamster, named Blacktail, hadn’t moved in a while. “It’s, like, stiff,” the assistant said monotonously, urging his boss to check on Blacktail. With the swish of a sleek black ponytail, Kim stood up from the kitchen table, sighing, “I don’t have time for a dead hamster.” She spent the rest of the episode fluctuating between anger toward her sister for getting North a pet without permission and emotional distress over how to teach her daughter about the circle of life.  Kim decided instead to take the classic lie-to-your-children-to-protect-them route and find an identical replacement. North’s pet was a fancy bear hamster (which I learned today is the actual name of a hamster breed and not something made up by a child), dubbed the “unicorn of hamsters” by Khloé because of its rare pedigree. They found a match, successfully hoodwinked a 6-year-old, and learned they’ve been spelling “hamster” wrong their whole lives. (Hint: there is no ‘p’.)  Given the family’s track record with pets, it is not all that surprising that poor Blacktail met an early end. There have been numerous articles over the years outlining the lengthy list of Kardashian-Jenner pets, including several who mysteriously disappeared after a few Instagram posts or cameos on the show.  Back in 2016, Kim herself even made a post on her now-nonexistent app, a sort of “where are they now” piece detailing the fates of all of the family’s pets—or at least the ones she could remember. She was careful to clarify that she remembered “almost” all of them, meaning there have been so many that some have been forgotten. Perhaps she was going for transparency, but she mostly just succeeded at raising eyebrows over just how many pets they have seemingly abandoned. (The Kardashian team did not respond to requests for comment.)  Based on Kim’s list, Keeping Up with the Kardashians clips, and years of Snapchat stories and Instagram posts, I was able to determine that since Kardashian clan hurtled into the spotlight just over a decade ago, they have owned approximately 40 pets. The extensive menagerie has included nearly two dozen dogs, a couple of cats, chickens, a peacock, and maybe a pig. According to a KUWTK deleted scene, Wilbur the teacup pig was a gift from Kris to her favorite and youngest daughter, Kylie. It is unclear if she kept Wilbur, but he did go on to be a Vine star when the hilarious clip of the makeup mogul mistaking him for a chicken went viral.  The Wilbur anecdote is one of the more harmless of the unsolved pet mysteries, since it was never officially confirmed whether or not he became a permanent part of the family. In addition to Blacktail, at least three other family pets have died. Kim’s white Persian kitten Mercy, a gift from Kanye West, died unexpectedly in 2012 of something Kim vaguely described as a “cancer-like virus.” Dolce the Chihuahua, one of the OG Kar-Jenner pets, was killed by a coyote. He is now immortalized in the form of a beige Kylie Cosmetics lip kit bearing his name.  Some of the dogs that are still alive became casualties of break-ups, lost in “custody” disputes or given away after the relationships went south. And then there are the ones who vanished with no explanation: bunnies who haven’t been featured on Instagram in years, a dog who seemed to exist solely as a prop in sponsored ads for the Wag dog-walking app.  It should be noted that Kylie Jenner seems to be the only devoted pet parent of the bunch, recently confirming on Twitter that she still owns all of her pets and sharing videos of them playing with her 1-year-old daughter Stormi.  Disposing of pets as if they are material goods, like Kourtney giving away her pricey Bengal kitten when she gave birth to Reign or Kendall presumably parting with her Great Dane puppy because it pooped too much, is not entirely off-brand for a family as wealthy as the Kardashians. It should not have come as a surprise to Kris that Kendall, the world’s highest-paid supermodel, did not want to pick up giant dog turds. And the KUWTK producers were really underestimating their viewers when they expected us to believe that Kris, all-powerful momager that she may be, donned rubber cleaning gloves and scrubbed the black-and-white tile floor of her laundry room when Kendall wouldn’t do it.  Not everyone has to be a pet person. So, given their pristine houses full of expensive white furniture and their jet-setting schedules of modelling gigs, meetings with the president, and vacations with baby daddies, why do the Kardashian-Jenners keep trying to convince the world that they are?


thedailymirror--2019-01-22--Chris Packham says pets can be as good as any partner - but his girlfriend disagrees

Author Jilly Cooper is famous for writing about raunchy romantic relationships – but she now prefers her pet to any lover.  Jilly, 81, was married to beloved husband Leo for 52 years until he died in 2013, and says she doesn’t need to wed again because she has her greyhound, Bluebell. She said this week: “Instead of getting married again, one ought to get a dog. I talk to Bluebell all the time.”  Another couple who are head over heels for their animals are Chris Packham, 57, and his partner of 11 years Charlotte Corney, 42.  The Springwatch presenter, who has Asperger’s, is more comfortable with animals than people and is devoted to his poodle, Scratchy.  He was devastated in 2016, when Scratchy’s brother, Itchy, died.  Charlotte is equally passionate about animals, particularly the tigers she cares for at her zoo on the Isle of Wight, and her two pet giant rabbits, Otto and Abella.  So we asked the nature-loving couple – can a pet really be as good as a partner?  Charlotte is well aware that Scratchy, my 14-year-old poodle, is the epicentre of my universe.  I’m wholly and totally devoted to him – he is the apple of my eye and singularly the most important organism to me on planet Earth, with no ambiguity about it at all.  My love for him is immeasurable, and vice versa. I’ve just had to drop him off at his dog carers and he’s never happy when I leave him. He is with me all of the time at the moment. He’s about to have a cataract operation, which is going to be transformational.  That’s been difficult, him not being able to see. But I am strangely excited about his operation – it will be successful and it will change his life. When Charlotte came along into the Chris-Itchy-Scratchy domain, she had to find her way into that trinity of two dogs and a man. But Charlotte loves Scratchy as well – greatly – and has accepted him.  In terms of our relationship, it’s totally unconditional. When I get home he’s always pleased to see me and I am 100% pleased to see him. He is also totally dependent on me, whereas Charlotte isn’t.  His health and well-being are something that I’m responsible for, which adds a different dimension to our relationship. Charlotte is independent.  When you have a pet you have to take on the responsibility of looking after their health and well-being. I am totally devoted to him, but I need to be. He offers something that Charlotte can’t.  It’s that simple feeling of when I’m watching him bounding around in the woods, seeing him so happy and trying to imagine how he’s perceiving the world. It brings me so much joy.  In many ways, the relationship I have with him is less complex but I think it’s more powerful.  I wake up in the morning and I like to know that he’s there beside me. I love lying in bed just listening to him breathing and snoring – that closeness. I need that. I fret about him a lot when I’m away.  People like me, with neurological differences, we find it easier to form deep-rooted bonds with animals like that because we are not as good at understanding humans and our relationships with them. It’s something I’ve got better at over time – well, Charlotte might say otherwise.  This morning I sent her a long email at 2.30am about Scratchy and then she probably thinks, “My God, it’s 2.30 in the morning and he’s emailing me about the damn dog”. But one of the reasons Charlotte and I entertain a human  relationship is because I know that she understands.  She, to some extent, has that relationship with her big cats.  So I am fortunate that Charlotte understands the gravity and depth of my relationship with Scratch.'  There are many benefits of a human partner over a pet. In my case, giant rabbits Otto and Abella.  Partners don’t tend to vomit all over the bed, they don’t track mud into the house – well, most of the time – and you don’t have to worry about healthcare bills.  You don’t need to be responsible for your partner’s fitness – Chris doesn’t need to be taken for walks.  The rabbits can’t cook me dinner, which Chris sometimes does, and they can’t do my laundry.  A big headache for us is going out for dinner with Scratchy. There’s still not much tolerance for having animals in restaurants, so romantic meals out are scarce.  One of my favourite things over Christmas was spending time in London, just Chris and I, enjoying eating out and going to bars. It is very rare for us to be without our animals. While animals can communicate with us in many ways, they can’t talk back.  Chris would probably argue he doesn’t need that much conversation, but he absolutely does need it.  You can’t engage your pets in any problem-solving or have sophisticated dialogue to work out any logistical problems. Above all, pets have such a shorter lifespan that we ultimately have to go through the heartache of losing them. But I cherish all the animals I’ve had.  I completely know the position Scratchy holds in Chris’s life. There’s no competition there.  Chris and I have found a way to make our lives revolve around our animals, but also each other. We wouldn’t have it any other way.'  The Wildheart Trust is raising money to bring two circus lions to the UK. To donate, visit justgiving.com/campaign/kumbaandvigo, or send a cheque to: The Wildheart Trust, Kumba and Vigo, Isle of Wight Zoo, Yaverland Rd, Yaverland, Sandown, PO36 8QB.


thedailymirror--2019-04-24--Universal Studios is opening an adorable new Secret Life of Pets ride

Universal Studios Hollywood is opening a brand new ride sure to be a hit with cat and dog lovers alike!  The Los Angeles theme park has unveiled plans for new attraction 'The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash', themed around its hit film which reveals just what your pets do when you're not at home.  The park promises that it will be a 'fully immersive experience' where guests will take on the roles of stray puppies, as they join the likes of Max, Snowball, Gidget, Chloe and Duke on an epic adventure to find their 'forever homes'.  The ride itself will be set in New York City, and will see riders zipping along a track aboard little vehicles through the Big Apple, towards an important Pet Adoption event.  Of course it's not all smooth sailing - expect plenty of surprises and challenges as you make your way through the attraction.  The news comes ahead of the release of The Secret Life of Pets 2 this summer, although the new ride won't open to the public until 2020. (Universal Studios has yet to confirm the exact dates).  Karen Irwin, President and COO, Universal Studios Hollywood, said: "We are thrilled to be able to bring another exciting Illumination movie-based ride to our guests.  "'The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!' will capture the essence of the popular film and invite our guests to live vicariously through some of their favourite characters as they embark on a one-of-a-kind experience only available at Universal Studios Hollywood."  It's not the only new exciting addition coming to the theme park, although it definitely is the more gentler of the two.  That's because Universal Studios Hollywood is soon set to welcome brand new immersive attraction Jurassic World - The Ride , expected to be unveiled in summer 2019.  Instead of fluffy cats and dogs, here it will be predators from Velociraptors to Dilophosaurus that guests will need to look out for (although there are some docile creatures such as the Stegosaurus and Parasaurolophus around too).  Oh, and the only exit is a treacherous waterfall...


thedailymirror--2019-11-01--Inside horrific dog meat farm where 5,000 family pets butchered

An animal welfare charity has shut down what appeared to be a dog meat farm that butchered family pets.  Pictures show how dogs would be held in holding pens before being butchered with some even turned into bar snacks.  The Cambodian slaughterhouse was processing between 2,000 and 5,000 dogs a year, according to animal welfare charity Four Paws.  Dr Katherine Polak, a veterinarian at Four Paws, first heard about the slaughterhouse from local restaurants who used it as a supplier.  The first thing she saw at the rural property in the Takeo province, just outside of Phnom Penh, was a dying tree with caged dogs underneath.  She told Yahoo News : “The tree was apparently in full bloom about a year ago, but it’s just been dying from all the blood and urine and faeces.  “There’s a smell, there’s a stench to it, it’s really heartbreaking.”  “The farmer would hit them over the head and then put their back legs into the cage,” she said.  “So the other dogs would watching this, waiting for their turn.  “And then he stabs them in the throat, allows them to bleed out a bit and then he puts them in a pot of boiling water.”  Selling dogs for meat often attracts a social stigma in south east Asia and Dr Polak has heard stories of the farmers being beaten to death by villagers in neighbouring Vietnam.  The farmer at the Takeo province facility contacted Four Paws, pleading them to help him get out of the trade.  On October 27, Four Paws and Animal Rescue Cambodia entered the property and seized the surviving 10 dogs.  These included two animals the farmer had kept since they were puppies as good luck charms.  The damaged canines had been confined to cages.  Working to shut down the farm, Four Paws purchased a rice paddy for the farmer as an alternative income source and he has now pledged never to enter the dog meat trade again.  While the trade is largely conducted underground and numbers hard to estimate, Dr Polak believes annual dog slaughter numbers amount to five million in Vietnam, three million in Cambodia and one million in Indonesia.


thedailyrecord--2019-01-21--Calls for outright ban on electric shock collars for pets in Scotland

The Scottish Government is facing calls to bring in an outright ban on electric shock collars for pets.  Scottish Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham announced last year she would take steps to effectively and "promptly ban" the use of the collars in Scotland and guidance was issued on their use.  However, the government later clarified that use of the devices, which campaigners argue is painful and cruel for animals, is not prohibited.  Conservative MSP Maurice Golden said: "Over 20,000 people signed my petition to ban these harmful devices which cause so much harm to dogs.  "That is why it is hugely disappointing that the Government have completely failed to deliver on their promise to ban these harmful devices.  "This is an issue that cannot be kicked into the long grass, the Government must act urgently and outline plans that will see electric shock collars for dogs banned once and for all."  Golden hosted a drop-in event at the Scottish Parliament last week for MSPs to pledge their support for an outright ban.  The UK Government announced plans in August to ban electronic shock collars for pets and the devices are banned in Wales.  Rachel Casey, of the Dogs Trust, said: "We are disappointed that despite previously committing to effectively ban the use of electronic and other aversive training devices, a year later the Scottish Government has only issued guidance about their use.  "This means that Scotland's pets are not protected from the negative impacts of using these cruel devices."  She said changes could be made to a dog's behaviour through positive reinforcement without the need to use the collars.  Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: "We strongly believe that an outright ban on the use of shock collars is the only outcome that will ensure dogs are protected from the fear and misery these collars bring."


thedailyrecord--2019-04-01--Irvines Pets at Home launch interactive workshop to keep kids entertained during Easter break

Irvine's Pets at Home launch interactive workshop to keep kids entertained during Easter break

The Easter holidays are here and if you are looking for something to do with the kids, why not pop along to Pets at Home in Irvine?  The store is running free, interactive ‘My Pet Pals’ workshops, held in store until April 14.  The workshops will focus on caring for small furries, such as guinea pigs, gerbils and rabbits, teaching children the responsibilities of owning them but also how rewarding these pets can be and how to care for them.  Children will also learn how to interact with them safely too.  Taking place every day in stores across Scotland at 11.30am, the workshops are aimed at children between the ages of five to 11 and will be hosted by Pets at Home pet care advisors.  A Pets at Home manager said: “The My Pet Pals workshops demonstrate how rewarding pets can be and how to care for them, making sure parents and kids understand pet welfare and responsible pet ownership. It’s a great way of learning how to keep small furries happy and healthy during a fun and hands-on experience!”  The workshops will cover the five key welfare needs for each - shelter, food and water, good health, appropriate company and the right living environment. Each workshop lasts 30 minutes and is free to attend.


thedailyrecord--2019-04-08--Glasgow dog owners hit with urgent warning as more sick attempts to kill pets discovered

Dog owners in Glasgow have been warned to be on the look out after a spate of deliberate attempts to harm their pets.  The Scottish SPCA have today revealed that three dogs seemingly ingested poison in Alexandra Park.  It comes less than two weeks after dog biscuits were found laced with nails in Anderson in a sickening attempt to harm the animals.  And just over a week ago , in another separate incident, we told how dog owner Ross Logan warned others to steer clear of Knightswood Golf Course after his dog ate some food coated in antifreeze.  In the latest incident, the Scottish SPCA were alerted by a dog walker who had to seek urgent treatment for the animals in his care after finding food smelling strongly of household cleaner.  Inspector Stacey Erwin said: "The person who called found foodstuff, which appeared to be cheese and chicken, smelling very strongly of cleaning products, which could have been antifreeze.  "The dogs were immediately taken for the necessary emergency treatment.  "Thankfully, they have since been discharged.  "This is the second attempt to deliberately harm or kill an animal in Glasgow within days of each other.  "This is a criminal offence and Police Scotland have been made aware."  The charity are urging the public to be extra vigilant and to report anything suspicious to Police Scotland via 101.


thedailyrecord--2019-11-21--Cannibal cat horror as woman jailed for abandoning desperate pets which ate each other

A callous woman whose abandoned, dying cat was forced to eat two other cats to survive has been jailed for 20 weeks.  Elizabeth Mary O'Sullivan, 52, selfishly left behind her three pet cats at her old property when she moved home in March.  JPs heard when local authority housing officers attended on May 16 they came across the remains of two black and white cats and found another one barely alive.  Shocked RPSCA inspectors attended the property in Moseley, Birmingham and were shocked to find the dismembered remains of the two animals on the lounge floor.  Another collapsed cat was in a critical condition having only survived without food and water for several weeks by eating the remains of the others and drinking from the toilet.  RPSCA Inspector Jonathan Radcliffe took the cat for emergency veterinary treatment where the decision was made to put him to sleep to end his suffering.  O'Sullivan was traced to a nearby address 10 days later and was arrested by police but she failed to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on two occasions.  She was tried and found guilty in her absence last Friday of causing unnecessary suffering to three cats contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.  O'Sullivan was arrested two days later and brought before JPs for sentencing on Monday.  Magistrates described the case as "appalling" as they banned her from keeping animals for life and ordered her to pay a £150 victim surcharge.  Inspector Radcliffe said: "The flat was filthy and the remains of two dismembered cats were on the living room floor.  "There was also a cat which was barely alive collapsed nearby.  "It appears this cat had survived for weeks without food and water by eating the remains of the other two pets as they had died from starvation and dehydration.  "There was no food and water in the flat - but the toilet seat had been left up so the cats may have been able to drink from this, however, as they became weaker they would have been unable to access this water.  "It is incomprehensible to think the suffering these pets must have endured and how terrified they must have been for such a long period of time before dying of starvation.  "It must have been awful for the remaining cat to watch as the others died in front of him and then he was forced to eat their remains in a desperate attempt to survive.  "Sadly this cat was too ill to recover from his ordeal."


theguardianuk--2019-04-08--Hundreds of activists and pets march in Cuba against animal abuse

Hundreds of Cubans have marched through Havana calling for an end to animal cruelty, in what organizers believe was the first independent march authorized by the one-party state.  Accompanied by their pets, the activists carried placards calling for an animal protection law and chanted “down with animal abuse” as they walked through the central district of Vedado on Sunday to the surprise of curious onlookers.  That the communist government authorized ordinary citizens to stage the march could point to an expanding tolerance for Cubans to express their views and even make demands, albeit still within limits, analysts and participants said.  Authorities still crack down on opposition attempts to hold demonstrations and detain dissidents who they say are subversives in the pay of the United States, however.  It was ironic that the first authorized independent march would be in support of animal and not human rights, but it could be a pilot test for greater freedoms, some march participants said.  “This could be the new Cuba,” said organizer Beatriz Batista, a 21-year-old communications student who received a permit for the march from the municipal authority of her Havana borough.  Others were more skeptical.  “This enables the government to say ‘look how permissive we are’. But is it really?” said dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who was briefly detained last week over a piece he plans to show on the sidelines of the upcoming Havana Biennial.  Previous marches have been largely restricted to those organized by the government to celebrate Cuba’s 1959 leftist revolution or criticize its cold war foe, the United States, religious processions and an annual march by gay rights activists under the umbrella of a government organization.  While physical public spaces in Cuba remain tightly controlled, a recent expansion of internet access in what was long one of the western hemisphere’s least connected countries has allowed citizens to mobilize more in the virtual realm.  Sunday’s event was publicized on social media and independent online media.  “Social media has really brought about miracles,” Batista said.  The government appears to have become more tolerant of and even responsive to online activity since Miguel Díaz-Canel replaced Raúl Castro as president last April.  In December, the government postponed the full implementation of a decree clamping down on the arts after an online campaign protesting against the law, and rowed back on regulations governing the private sector after entrepreneurs and experts complained.  Some participants said they hoped Sunday’s march signaled that people would now be able to take to the streets as well as the web.  “Let’s hope this opens the door for more people to be able to hold such initiatives,” said Cuban artist Abu Tamayo.


theguardianuk--2019-06-25--Should pets ever be kept in classrooms

Should pets ever be kept in classrooms?

Watching duck eggs hatch in a classroom was a “wow” experience that brought the topic to life, says Sarah Holmes, teacher in Derby High School’s primary department. “It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to learn about the life cycle, see the ducklings grow and learn to swim. They also learned to take responsibility for looking after them.”  Classrooms across the UK house a wide range of school pets: hamsters, fish, guinea pigs and even tortoises. But though they teach children about nature it is not always a happy story, animal charities say, and it might be teaching children the wrong lessons.  In some schools, animals are left alone for long periods, over-handled and farmed out to different homes at weekends. Some die because the school cannot afford vets’ fees, the charities say. They are calling on schools to find other ways of teaching about nature and taking responsibility, perhaps by creating their own wildlife areas instead.  The eggs at Derby High came from a company that provided detailed instructions on how to care for the ducklings and took them back to rear, but the service costs money not all schools can afford.  Classrooms can be noisy and frightening places for some animals, the RSPCA and the charity Peta (People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals) say. Peta says it hears complaints that animals have died after being forgotten during school holidays, or through accidents in pupils’ homes.  “Many teachers who keep classroom pets do so with good intentions. But a classroom simply isn’t a suitable home for an animal, and there are many factors that kind teachers need to consider before bringing one into theirs,” says Elisa Allen, the charity’s director.  “The sleep-wake cycles of nocturnal animals, such as mice and hamsters, are disrupted by bright classroom lights and by pupils who disturb sleeping animals by taking them out of their cages and handling them,” she says.  The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue, based in Stoke-on-Trent, has taken in a number of guinea pigs from schools in North Staffordshire that have found themselves unable to care for the animals.  “We have taken in many pairs of guinea pigs from schools that were originally classroom pets,” says Helen Chadwick, its founder and rescue manager. “The school thought it was a good idea until the animal experienced health issues and they had to pay for vet treatment. Any pet in school sets an example that caring for animals is part-time. To promote responsible pet ownership we want to see all pets treated as part of the family unit, with their needs catered for 24 hours a day.  “It’s vital in an age still so contaminated with animal neglect and cruelty that our generation set an example to children,” she says. “I can’t imagine many things worse than being limited to a cage stuck in a noisy classroom all day.”  At Derby High, Holmes says it’s important for children to learn how to care for animals. “Actually seeing the ducklings hatch brings nature to life and makes the topic much more meaningful and purposeful. They absolutely loved having them in class and would check on them regularly making sure they had plenty of food and water.”  However, Debs Howe, a former biology teacher who runs Eggucation, an ethical egg hatching company, says that, done responsibly, looking after animals can be an experience children don’t forget. “It inspires them to learn more about the natural world. For children who may have issues accessing the curriculum, often due to autism or emotional or behavioural issues, the hatching of chicks has an incredible effect.  “It’s also a fantastic way for children from inner-city schools, who may never have seen farm animals or the countryside, to experience animals and nature and learn how to care for them.”  Despite concerns, many schools continue to use animals to teach children about nature and as therapy. The guinea pig Snowball even won praise from Ofsted inspectors at Upton primary, near Halifax, West Yorkshire. Their report said: “Opportunities to look after Snowball, the school pet, inspire pupils to consider their actions and help them understand the importance of being calm and caring.”  However, the RSPCA says: “We would discourage educational establishments from attempting to keep and look after animals themselves. We believe that children can be taught about animals without keeping pets in the classroom. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for pets intended to live at a school to require rehoming.”  Some schools have solved the problem by using dogs belonging to staff members, parents or friends of the school. Kings Hill primary, in West Malling, Kent, for example, has two dogs – Charlie a therapy dog and Duke, a reading dog.  “Children who struggle find it easier to read to Duke, our American cocker spaniel, because he doesn’t correct them and they then start to enjoy the story and are reading for pleasure,” says Georgette Williams, the head of inclusion. “It is our most successful intervention.”


theguardianuk--2019-08-13--Dogfishing beware the man who poses with pets on a dating app

Dogfishing: beware the man who poses with pets on a dating app

Appearance: You are just so cute and adorable! Aren’t you? Yes you are. Yes you ARE!  Thanks … I did actually brush my hair today. Not you.  Oh. Who’s cute and adorable then? All the dogs on Tinder – and the other dating apps that are available.  I thought that Tinder was mainly for humans who date other humans, but I suppose the world moves fast these days … No, you’re right. The dogs themselves aren’t looking for love – at least, no more than usual. They just appear in people’s profile pictures.  Ah, I see. I suppose it’s only fair to warn your dates in advance. On the contrary; having a dog is a great way to start a flirty conversation.  “Rub my ears”, “lick my face” etc? Well … maybe it gets to that stage eventually. Some research suggests that women are especially likely to find men attractive if they have a dog, perhaps because they see it as evidence of a kind, warm and trustworthy personality.  Only a nice guy would willingly share his home with an animal that eats its own sick. Something like that. And men have cottoned on. One study found that about a quarter of men knowingly put their pet in their dating profile as bait.  Well, if milady desires it … And a few men have found that borrowing someone else’s dog works just as well. This is “dogfishing”.  What? Do you mean to say that some men will exaggerate in order to get laid? I’m afraid so. The Washington Post reports the case of a man in Sydney who lends his dog to his friends for dating purposes.  The cad! There’s also a woman who discovered that the dog in her date’s picture wasn’t his, although he wouldn’t admit it face-to-face. “He said something along the lines of: ‘It would’ve been too awkward to bring up’,” she said.  Why on earth would people lie about this? Have you tried actually owning a dog? They are noisy, they chew your furniture, they cost a fortune to feed, you have to walk them every day and pick up their faeces, they shed fur everywhere, they bite people, they make your home smell …  No, no, I mean, what’s the point of telling a lie that will inevitably be discovered if things go well? I suppose if they can postpone the moment of discovery beyond the having sex stage and into the getting bored of each other stage.  I’m shocked and appalled. How can I ever trust a man with a dog again? You could make him produce vets bills, I suppose.  Do say: “Scratch my tummy while I roll around on my back.”  Don’t say: “Strap a leash around my neck and make me eat from a bowl on the floor.”


theguardianuk--2019-10-13--Are pets really good for us – or just hairy health hazards?

My childhood dog was called Biff. Biff was a handful. He was a loud, cocky shetland sheepdog who oozed bravado and bravery. Yet, underneath it all, he struggled with the dog version of impostor syndrome. Biff was a bag of masked insecurity. He was like the kid in school who says he has seen all the scary movies, but refuses to go to any sleepovers where scary movies are played; the kid who has “a girlfriend at another school”. It was that fragile side I especially loved about Biff during my teenage years. We shared an insecurity that neither of us had the cognitive skills to put into words. This was a friendship – one that lasted as he grew older, grumpier and more infirm.  He was an exceptionally licky dog, and loved nothing more than slurping his tongue over our jeans, shoes, socks and coats. Officially, this behaviour was something we attempted to quash – but, every few nights, I would tiptoe into the kitchen and allow him to lick my naked hands and wrists to his heart’s content. For me, the sensation was tickly and calming, and never once disgusting, even though those around me told me it was not a good idea, mainly because it was highly likely that, on any given day, Biff had stuck his snout into some poor fox’s rotting cadaver. I didn’t care. I washed my hands like a surgeon afterwards, obviously. But it was what Biff wanted.  I haven’t had a dog since Biff (I’m nearly 40), and my family and I are deciding whether it’s time to get our own dog. This feels like a very big decision. Part of the reason we want a dog is that we want to walk more. We want to be healthier. We want to be happier. But questions flutter anxiously in the pit of my stomach. Will having a pet really make us happier? Will we be healthier? Does having a pet always make us better people?  The good news, at face value, is this: if you are looking for proof that having a pet improves your general health, the evidence abounds. For instance, there is plenty about how a bout of pet-stroking can lower your heart rate (and the pet’s), easing your body into a less stressed condition. This seems to apply across the spectrum, from dogs and cats to snakes and goats. And there’s more. There’s evidence from Germany and Australia (sample size: 10,000) that pet-owners make fewer visits to the doctor and, from China, that pet-owners sleep more soundly than those who aren’t. Just last week, the American Heart Association reported that the survival prospects for people who have had heart attacks and strokes are better in dog-owners than in those who are not.  There are other bonuses to having pets, especially cats and dogs. Scientists suspect that by roaming the wild and bringing novel bacteria back into our houses, some pets may introduce our immune systems to pathogens we would not otherwise meet, allowing pet-owners (and particularly children) a chance to increase their resistance, while potentially reducing the chances of allergies in later life. A 2015 study investigating the fungal and bacterial communities of 1,200 homes in the US, for instance, found that the presence of dogs and cats led to more variety in 56 and 24 classes of bacterial species respectively. This may explain another study suggesting that exposure to dogs early in a baby’s life may make them 13% less likely to develop asthma.  You could also argue that pet ownership helps us to feel better about ourselves. A loving owner can give an animal a far better life than it otherwise would have had: always-friendly faces, constant compassion, cuddles and hands to lick late at night – not just to help pathogenic resistance but just because it makes both parties happier, warmer and more contented residents of planet Earth. That was what Biff and I had. Two species, both with equal rights to the same shared, loving home. Connection.  This stuff is hard to measure, but research has shown that dogs and cats see a spike in their levels of the “love molecule” oxytocin when interacting with their owners. If they feel so much affection for us, we must be doing something right.  So far so good: it really does seem there’s some truth to the claim that pets are good for us. But closer inspection reveals some problematic and murkier truths.  As many academics have pointed out, other factors contribute to our general health – income, for instance, which is inherently linked to pet ownership because pets cost money. Bluntly, the truth behind some of these studies may simply be that those with more money can, on the whole, afford the luxuries of good health and pet ownership. One large-scale study in California involving 5,200 families failed to find a relationship between owning a pet and overall health after correcting for income and the affluency of the local neighbourhood. Other studies have had similar results. And some even suggest pets are bad for us. One study of 21,000 people in Finland, for instance, suggested that pet owners are more, not less, likely to have higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  If you really want to go there, there are some pretty alarming downsides to pet ownership. In England, for instance, between 6,000 and 7,000 people are admitted to hospital for dog bites each year. Tripping over pets is another potential danger – each year, this sends an estimated 87,000 people to hospitals in the US, particularly elderly people. And what of the parasites that pets bring into the house – the fleas, ticks and mites? And the potentially fatal diseases they can transmit to humans, from pathogens such as salmonella (from reptiles) and capnocytophaga that can be passed to humans in cat and dog saliva? For many people, the answer to whether pets are good for us is clearly no – although, to be fair, you are far more likely to be exposed to disease or violence by another human than by a dog, cat or pygmy hedgehog.  There are emotional downsides, too. One of the often forgotten aspects of pet ownership is having to care for animals into their old age, sometimes dealing with diseases that last months or years. Assuming you are a responsible pet owner, who takes this as seriously as you would caring for a human family member, this is a heavy emotional burden. A 2017 study involving 238 human participants found that pet owners with chronically ill pets had higher levels of stress and anxiety, coupled with a lower quality of life. And after death? My guess is that a family grieving for their recently dead cat is not going to appear in an advert for Pets at Home any time soon.  But there is probably no more damning indictment of the idea that pets always make us happier than the fact that so many of us get an animal, only to give them up weeks, months or years later. This is especially true for “designer” and “handbag” dogs: in the past seven years, the number of chihuahuas in RSPCA rescue centres has risen by 700%; dachshunds are up 600% and pomeranians up 440%. You need only scour dogsofinstagram for a few moments to see how often certain dog breeds are viewed as lifestyle accessories rather than living, breathing animals with greater needs than colour-coordinated doggy pop-socks and collar.  If we were able to put all these pros and cons into a melting pot and come up with a definitive answer to the question of whether or not pets are good for us, what would the answer be? The answer would be … complicated. Because humans and our circumstances are so universally mixed up and complex. The simple truth is that having a pet has good and bad sides, and it may not be for everyone. Which means we have a duty to think carefully before acquiring one. We need to imagine the good times we might have with a pet and to consider the bad times, too: the insecurity, the grumpiness in old age, the infirmity.  I think I have talked my way out of having a dog. If so, that’s OK. Loving animals doesn’t mean you have to have one. Ask not what a pet can do for you, but what you can do for a pet.


theindependent--2019-02-13--Cat killer hunted by police after pets aposmutilatedapos with cigarette lighter

Cat killer hunted by police after pets 'mutilated' with cigarette lighter

A cat killer is alleged to have been targeting pets in a Devon town, with five found “mutilated” on the same street over 18 months.  Four cats have died following apparent attacks in Roundham Round, Paignton, since summer 2017. A fifth was left badly injured.  The RSPCA has launched an investigation into the “really distressing incidents,” which it said “would've caused these poor cats to suffer”.  One of the cats, named Taiyou, appeared to have had his genitals burned with a cigarette lighter in attack in November, reported Devon Live. He died last month of complications from the injuries, which police believe were inflicted in a "deliberate act".  "I first noticed when the owners brought them in that he had burnt, singed whiskers," said vet Chris Bamford, who examined Taiyou.  He told the BBC: "That's quite a common abusive injury that we see in cats and from that I then did a full examination and then once I lifted up the tail it was pretty nasty."  Taiyou’s owners, Yvonne and Phil Harrison, said their other cat Ziggy was also attacked in summer 2017 and again in March 2018, when he died of his injuries.  Ms Harrison said it was “heatbreaking” to see her pets “mutilated”.  “Somebody would have used their love of people and being so sociable to be able to capture them and do something that horrific to them,” she added.  Another cat which lived in Roundham Round suffered crushed vertebra, which a vet said could not have been caused by a car, early last year. A fourth suffered devastating internal injuries just before Christmas.  An RSPCA spokeswoman told The Independent: “These are really distressing incidents which are deeply upsetting for the owners and would've caused these poor cats to suffer.  “We are concerned about these reports and would urge anyone with information to get in contact with us on our inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018."  The suspected attacks have also been reported to Devon and Cornwall Police.  Feline Network, a Paignton-based cat rescue charity, has launched an online appeal to fund a reward. More than £1,250 has been raised so far to pay for information which leads to a conviction.  In September, the Metropolitan Police closed a three-year investigation into hundreds of reported cat killings after determining the culprit was likely to have been foxes.  The force launched the probe in 2015 in response to fears about the so-called Croydon cat killer, who was said to have been targeting pets in the south London borough and beyond.  The hunt made headlines around the world before Scotland Yard concluded the animals had probably been run over by vehicles and mutilated by scavenging foxes.  But South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty, a shelter which had been involved in the police probe, disputed the Met’s findings and vowed to continue investigating cat deaths.  We’ll tell you what’s true.   You can form your own view.  At The Independent, no one tells us what to write. That’s why, in an era of political lies and Brexit bias, more readers are turning to an independent source. Please support us and enjoy extra exclusives, events, ebooks – all with no ads.  The Brexit deal for you. Subscribe now.


theindependent--2019-04-02--aposDog Suicide Bridgeapos Why do so many pets keep leaping into a Scottish gorge

'Dog Suicide Bridge': Why do so many pets keep leaping into a Scottish gorge?

“I was sure she was dead,” Lottie Mackinnon says quietly.  Mackinnon is sitting huddled in the corner of a cafe with her two children, sipping hot chocolate as she describes the day three years ago when she was walking with her border collie Bonnie on Overtoun Bridge in Dumbarton, Scotland.  “Something overcame Bonnie as soon as we approached the bridge,” Mackinnon says. “At first she froze, but then she became possessed by a strange energy and ran and jumped right off the parapet.”  A bewitched dog lured to leap off a bridge by a malevolent force? It sounds like a preposterous scene straight from an old Twilight Zone episode.  But Mackinnon’s dog is one of hundreds that Scots insist have suddenly been compelled to throw themselves off the gothic stone structure since the 1950s. Many have ended up dead on the jagged rocks in the deep valley bed below.  Residents of Dumbarton, which is northwest of Glasgow, began calling Overtoun, a century-old bridge that stretches across a 50ft gorge, the “dog suicide bridge”.  Mackinnon, who grew up in the neighbouring village of Milton, winced at the memory of scurrying down the gorge through the trees and the bushes in a desperate hunt for Bonnie. When she approached the dog, Bonnie started to whimper and eventually tried to stand up.  “It was a miracle that she survived,” she says.  In a land rife with superstitions, myths and monsters – Scotland is the land of the Loch Ness legend, after all – the bridge has been at the centre of an enduring mystery. Why do so many dogs jump?  Local researchers estimate more than 300 have sailed off the bridge; tabloid reports say it’s 600. At least 50 dogs are said to have died.  Some say there are rational explanations involving the terrain and the scents of mammals in the gorge that may drive the dogs into a frenzy.  Other explanations take on a more paranormal tone.  The bridge’s location, hushed, lush and sometimes still, fits the description of what the pagan Celts called a “thin place”, a mesmerising spot where heaven and earth overlap.  “People in Dumbarton are very superstitious,” says Alastair Dutton, a local taxi driver. “We grew up playing in the Overtoun grounds, and we believe in ghosts here because we’ve all seen or felt spirits up here.”  The leaps inspired an episode of the American TV series The Unexplained Files. An entire book is dedicated to exploring the phenomenon.  But despite all this attention, the mystery lives on.  From a distance, it seems as if the ornate Victorian bridge, built in 1895, is a mere extension of the driveway of an adjoining 19th-century manor built in Dumbarton by a wealthy industrialist, James White.  Closer still, one can make out the bridge’s three archways spanning a small river, the Overtoun Burn. Standing in the middle, on the bridge’s blackened granite parapets, it is easy to forget the space beneath falls away into the deep gorge.  In the manor nearby, the current tenant, Bob Hill, says he and his wife had seen several dogs suddenly dive off the bridge since they moved into the property, now called Overtoun House, more than 17 years ago.  But Hill, a pastor from Texas who runs a local centre for women in crisis, has an earthbound explanation: the smell of small animals scurrying around in the gorge below the bridge drives the dogs into a frenzy, then they break free of leashes – if they’re on any – and jump.  “The dogs catch the scent of mink, pine martens or some other mammal, and then they will jump up on the wall of the bridge,” Hill says. “And because it’s tapered, they will just topple over.”  Still, he allowed, the Overtoun grounds are “more spiritual than other parts”.  “Scotland is kind of a place where there is a lot of the supernatural, and it is very common in people’s lives,” he adds.  Paul Owens, a teacher of religion and philosophy in Glasgow, grew up in a town close to the bridge and recently published a book about the mystery. When it comes to an explanation for the leaping dogs, he is firmly in the supernatural camp.  “After 11 years of research, I’m convinced it’s a ghost that is behind all of this,” he declares, while sitting outside a pub on a drizzly day in Glasgow.  Owens’ theory is popular among some local residents, who grew up hearing stories about the “White Lady of Overtoun”, also known as the grieving widow of John White, James’ son.  “The lady lived alone in grief for more than 30 years after her husband died in 1908,” says Marion Murray, a Dumbarton resident. “Her ghost has been lurking around here ever since. She’s been sighted in windows and walking around the grounds.”  In 2010, animal behaviourist David Sands investigated the phenomenon and ruled out the possibility that the animals were deliberately killing themselves.  His experiments at the bridge found that dogs – especially long-nosed breeds – were drawn to the scent of mammals below. Sands theorised that the dogs’ limited perspective, their ignorance that the path changes from level ground to a bridge spanning a deep gorge and the smells wafting through the air probably enticed the dogs to jump.  But even he acknowledged that the bridge has a “strange feeling”.  Some residents found his theory plausible, but many here still take the position that the leaps are inexplicable. They question why the phenomenon does not occur at the same rate at other bridges in Britain where mammals roam below.  Despite the macabre reputation, the Overtoun grounds remain a popular dog-walking area, and many of the animals are off leash.  “Many people don’t believe in the story until they see it for themselves, and even then they don’t think it will happen to them,” says Hill.  One day, Emma Dunlop, who says she had heard “the horror stories”, took her labrador retriever Ginger for a walk to Overtoun anyway.  She did not let him out of her station wagon until he was on a leash.  “He’s never tried to jump,” she says, “but sometimes he freezes or hesitates when he gets on the bridge, so I’m always careful.”  Ginger jumped from the car, raced around his owner and headed straight towards Overtoun Bridge, crossing it without any hesitation.  But then Ginger froze, looking back intently at something on the bridge, which appeared empty to human eyes.  “Aye, there she is – there’s the White Lady,” Dunlop says with a laugh.  We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.  At The Independent, no one tells us what to write. That’s why, in an era of political lies and Brexit bias, more readers are turning to an independent source. Subscribe from just 15p a day for extra exclusives, events and ebooks – all with no ads.


theindependent--2019-11-21--Woman who abandoned starving cat to eat other pets jailed

A woman has been jailed after two of her pet cats starved to death and a third was forced to eat their remains.  Housing officers found one feline in critical condition and another two dead when they visited Elizabeth Mary O’Sullivan’s Birmingham flat in May, according to the RSCPA.  Inspector Jonathan Radcliffe and took the living cat to a vet, who put it down.  The owner had left her flat in Moseley two or three months beforehand, Birmingham Magistrates’ Court was told.  O’Sullivan was found guilty in her absence of one animal welfare offence.  Mr Radcliffe said: “It appears this cat had survived for weeks without food and water by eating the remains of the other two pets as they had died from starvation and dehydration.”  He said the flat contained no food or water.  “The toilet seat had been left up so the cats may have been able to drink from this,” he said. “However, as they became weaker, they would have been unable to access this water.  “It is incomprehensible to think the suffering these pets must have endured and how terrified they must have been.”  O’Sullivan has been given 20 weeks in jail and a lifetime ban on keeping all animals, the RSPCA said.


theindependent--2019-12-02--How therapy pets can be a powerful way to help children in need

Pets, especially dogs and cats, can have amazing therapeutic benefits for children and young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs.  Ben*, a shy child who couldn’t bear the gaze of another human, whether child or adult, was smiling for the first time anyone knew. The little boy, barely 10 years old, had experienced such severe trauma in his family background that it had left an indelible mark on his nascent personality. But, now, he was slowly but most certainly and surprisingly coming out of his shell as he reached forward again to caress the tufty mane of Lola, a five-year-old alpaca.  His eyes sparkled as Lola bobbed her head towards his arms looking for more affection. Ben gazed lovingly at Lola and told her she was a ‘good girl’. Weeks later he started to trust his surroundings more and even started to speak to people, other children and adults too. He opened up and started healing, and learning to live life on life’s terms.  Ben is a young resident at one of Calcot Services for Children’s (www.csfc.co.uk) residential care homes called The Lodge. The homes, based in Berkshire and Hampshire, provide 52 weeks a year care and accommodation for looked-after children who have emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. Young people admitted to the homes can vary in age between five years and 18 years, and all have complex emotional and behavioural requirements. Each of the homes uses pet therapy to help the children heal emotionally, and emerge into the world more confidently with a greater degree of trust in others.  Ben’s remarkable transformation is one example of the healing power of animals and how exposure in a care environment to their innocence and patient kindness can transform young lives scarred by trauma, or made unbearable by emotional or behavioural difficulties. Children on the autism spectrum who find it difficult, if not impossible, to navigate their challenging emotional worlds, find pet therapy particularly beneficial. The simple act of stroking an animal can have calming effects and even help to regulate blood pressure.  Young Ben’s remarkable emotional journey was assisted by the resident alpacas which he helped to care for and love.  Rachel Redgwell, managing director at Calcot Services for Children, explains: “The alpacas were an amazing tool to support self-regulation and an aura of calm when Ben needed it most. Many a moment of sadness, frustration, anger and deep thought was spent in the alpaca field with Ben often spending long periods of time sitting and laying with his dear friends. Living alongside the alpacas taught Ben that there were alternative ways to cope with and manage big feelings. The bond between Ben and the alpacas was clear to see and indeed the most difficult part of Ben’s transition onto a long-term placement was to process and prepare for the end of living alongside the alpacas.”  Dogs, alpacas and chickens are animals that are deployed particularly in therapeutic environments to help children and young people. The feelings of acceptance and comfort that an animal can bring are what carers describe as close to “miraculous”.  Rachel adds: “For young people experiencing a period of crisis, often including some level of rejection or trauma, it was important for us to have a way in which they could have positive experiences of relationships in an enjoyable and non-threatening way. For some young people, it is appreciated that developing relationships and attachments with other humans is much too difficult, too painful and too complex.”  Children on the autism spectrum suffering sensory overload or full-blown meltdowns can benefit from pet or animal-assisted therapy. Esteemed child psychologist Brian Levinson observed how the presence of a dog helped to strengthen an autistic child’s connection with their environment. Levinson found that when he brought his dog Jingles along to sessions with his patients, they were much more responsive and made efforts to initiate conversations.  Children with autism who have dogs as pets are also often able to form strong social bonds with the animals which can help when it comes to socialising with peers and adults.  Another organisation, the charity Parent and Child Together North East (www.pactne.co.uk), a supported housing project for vulnerable families, based in a semi-rural location on the edge of Darlington, County Durham also deploys animals in therapeutic ways. The families who live there are vulnerable for a variety of different reasons, including challenging home lives. The charity provides comfortable family homes and support includes parenting training, counselling, advice and guidance, and recreational and occupational activities. They live in well-equipped wooden cabins and enjoy plenty of space and fresh air as well as the company of goats, alpacas, chickens and a dog.  Mick Sutcliffe, operations manager of the project, says the families all enjoy the company of the various animals but it’s the dog (a rather portly schnauzer called Schubert) who has the most therapeutic impact on the families. “Everyone knows him, plays with him, talks to him ... and feeds him,” he says.  Denzel, a bichon frise, was brought into Pondview as a therapeutic pet, the first pet for Calcot Services for Children. Before Denzil was allowed to live at the home, its managers had to submit evidence to their insurance company that proved the children could look after him; this included a stint of charity dog walking. Denzel has been living at Pondview for almost five years and is an amazing attribute to the home. The five-year old dog has seen a number of children move in and later move on from the home upon their own progression, he has provided so much comfort and love to all children placed at Pondview.  An example of Denzel’s love and therapeutic input into others’ lives has been particularly evidenced with one child; we will call her ‘Mary’.  Mary was someone who moved to live at Pondview not wanting to engage with adults and was very ‘closed off’. Mary was instantly drawn to Denzel and they would spend a great deal of their time together. Mary had said that she could talk to Denzel and he would understand and not ‘judge’ her. There were many times when they would spend quiet time together, the adults would seek both out and find them together. There was a time when Mary would open up to adults and become upset and at times distressed. Denzel would go straight to her to provide comfort, knowing that she was upset. There were also times when Mary only wanted to be with Denzel and this was respected as a great form of therapy and calming time for her.  The bond between the two has grown and developed and Mary refers to Denzel as ‘her dog’. They adore one another and recently Mary moved on from Pondview and was given a cushion with his puppy picture on it; this sits on her bed in her new home as a comforting cushion for her.  Mary will continue to see Denzel and he will be taken for visits to maintain their loving relationship and ensure Mary still has him in her life.  Whether a dog, goat or alpaca, the unconditional love and companionship of an animal can bring enormous therapeutic benefits. The remarkable journeys of the children and young people in the care of organisations that are investing the time and other resources in mining this rich therapeutic seam are surely testament to that.  *Names have been changed to protect identities.  Marie Carter is the Editor of Pets Magazine (www.petsmag.co.uk), a digital magazine for pet-owners. Follow Pets Magazine on Twitter: www.twitter.com/pets_mag Follow Pets Magazine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/petsmag.co.uk


theindependent--2019-12-29--New Year's Eve: How to keep pets calm during midnight fireworks

Firework displays are being held across the world on New Year’s Eve, but while most people love dazzling pyrotechnics, most domestic pets do not.  The RSPCA estimates that almost half of all household dogs in the UK exhibit signs of fear when they hear fireworks.  This may be due to the fact that dogs can hear four times the distance of a human and are able to pick up higher pitched sounds at a frequency range of 67-45,000 Hz.  “It is natural for dogs to be afraid of loud noises,” according to renowned dog behaviourist César Millán. “The sounds trigger their nervous systems, and they can become anxious or afraid.”  He said that bright flashes and vivid smells can make fireworks even more overwhelming for the creatures.  As a result several animal charities and pet owners have been urging others to keep their pets as calm when the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve and they have issued guidance on how you keep your pet feels as calm and soothed as possible when the fireworks go off.  Here’s what they suggest for various pets:  If you know that your dog is likely to feel anxious when the fireworks start, there are some preparatory measures you can take to help ease the stress later on.  Animal welfare charity Dogs Trust has advised people to walk their dogs before it becomes dark so they won’t need the toilet when the fireworks begin.  It also suggests making sure your house and garden is secure, as your dog may try to run away if it is feeling particularly unsettled.  Providing your dog with a “safe hiding place” in an area of your home where they feel especially comfortable could also help to ease their suffering.  When the dog is in this area, make sure closed the curtains and turned on the TV or radio in order to lessen the sounds emitted by the fireworks.  While the fireworks are going off, it is important not to leave your dog alone, as they may become frightened without your company.  Stay with them until the fireworks end and perhaps keep it occupied by playing games.  Fireworks can cause cats to become quite skittish, and as such it is essential to think about their safety.  The Blue Cross animal charity recommends keeping your cat indoors during the fireworks.  “Before fireworks season begins, get your pet microchipped and, if they already are, check your contact details are up to date,” the organisation says.  “This is really important as it gives you the best chance of being reunited with your cat if they become spooked and get lost amid the bangs and crashes.”  As with dogs, you can make your cat feel more at ease during the fireworks by putting on the TV or radio to muffle the sound and closing the curtains.  In order to make sure your cat stays indoors, the charity advises blocking off your cat flaps.  Your cat may want to roam the house or stay put in a safe space.  While horses may be used to loud noises as they spend so much time outdoors, they can still become scared by fireworks.  According to the British Horse Society, if you are planning on setting of fireworks, whether in a large display or in your back garden, you should inform local horse owners in advance and "and reconsider setting off fireworks if horses are located close by".  "If there is a local fireworks display to be held near your horses, ask if it can either be moved to a more suitable location, or held as far from the horses as possible," the society states.  If you own a horse, you can make your horse feel safe by letting it stay in an environment it’s familiar with, whether that’s in the field or in the stable.  If it remains outdoors, you must check the fencing around the enclosure for any signs of gapping. If it stays indoors, then you should check the horse’s surroundings for anything that may cause it harm, such as metal nails or string.  Ensure that yourself or someone experienced stays with your horse if you know that fireworks are being set off to try and keep them calm,” the British Horse Society says.  The organisation also recommends playing music on a radio to keep the horse calm if they’re in the stable. This will prove most effective if the horse has listened to music on a radio before.  Small animals such as rabbits or guinea pigs that are being kept in a cage or pen outside will need to either be moved to an indoor location or have their outdoor enclosures soundproofed.  Veterinary charity the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals advises partly covering outdoor hutches and cages with blankets.  This will slightly muffle the sound of the fireworks, while still providing the animals with some space to peek outside their cage if they wish.  It may be advisable to move the hutch or cage to a garage or shed.  A lot of bedding for the animal so they feel safe and snug, is also recommended.


theirishtimes--2019-12-16--Dogs Trust pauses adoptions of rescue pets until after Christmas

The largest dog welfare charity in Ireland has paused canine adoptions until next year in order to discourage well-meaning but ill-prepared people from getting a rescue pet this Christmas.  The Dogs Trust, which coined the phrase “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas” more than 40 years ago, has suspended its dog re-homing service from today until January 4th.  It is also bringing the curtain down on its weekly Puppy Cam until the same date, stressing that Christmas was a bad time to take on a dog, especially a puppy.  The charity highlighted the importance of dogs being provided with basic training and positive socialisation experiences in the first few months to set them up for the best start in life. It said many people, even those with the best of intentions, were simply unable to provide this at a busy time like Christmas.  Since the beginning of the year, Dogs Trust has received 2,135 calls and emails from the public seeking to surrender dogs, with 667 of these in the first three months of the year.  January continues to have the highest number of surrenders, with 189 calls and 47 emails received by the charity in the first month of this year. The main reason people gave when looking to give up a dog was that they did not have enough time to look after it.  While rehoming has been suspended, the charity’s centre in Finglas will remain open to the public over Christmas so dogs looking for homes can be visited and the rehoming process can begin with a view to adoptions in the New Year.  “Each year we are saddened and worried by the number of people looking to relinquish their dog, especially in the first few months after Christmas,” Dogs Trust executive director Becky Bristow said.  Ms Bristow expressed the hope that by spreading the message that it would remind people that “a dog is a long-term commitment and will encourage people to wait and consider adding a dog to their family in the New Year instead, when the festivities have died down”.


themanchestereveningnews--2019-02-19--Farmer urges dog owners to keep their pets on a lead after a sheep was left with these horrific inju

Farmer urges dog owners to keep their pets on a lead after a sheep was left with these horrific injuries

These images show the horrific injuries inflicted on a sheep following a dog attack.  The poor creature was discovered by farm staff at Higher Knoll Farm, in Rivington, Bolton, early this morning.  It is believed the Swaledale sheep was attacked late last night or in the early hours of Tuesday morning.  The three-year-old ewe was in lamb and the babies have also died.  Farmer Megan Needham shared the images on her Facebook page and urged dog owners to keep their pets on a lead when walking in the Rivington area.  She said the farm has lost ten sheep since the start of January due to dog attacks and said it has become a regular occurence.  Megan, 27, told the M.E.N: "A lot of people come at the weekends, not just locally but from surrounding areas. They have no respect or no knowledge. They don't understand. Even little dogs, they can kill a sheep because they chase it and they die of shock.  "My dad went out to feed them and found her. It has happened late last night or first thing this morning as the blood was not clotted.  "She was badly injured. We had to put her to sleep."  Megan added: "Please be respectful. If your dog hasn't got a good recall on it always have it on a lead.  "If you are walking through a field footpath put it on a lead, you may not know if there is a sheep there and unfortunately it is the dog's instinct.  "It is just common sense, but unfortunately these days there is a lot of disobedient dogs.  "We have reported it to police. They have given us signs to put up, but as far as patrolling they haven't got the resources to do anything about that.  "The owners do not report it to us. They just get the dog and go off. It is very frustrating and upsetting."  She said the deaths affect the farm business financially, with a male sheep costing £400 recently having to be put down after a similar attack.  Lancashire Constabulary confirmed they are investigating following the latest attack.  A spokeswoman said: "We were called just after 12pm today to an address on Rivington Lane.  "A Swaledale ewe has been badly hurt by a dog and has had to be put to sleep. We are investigating."  Any witnesses or anyone with further information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.


thepoke--2019-01-24--People are sharing the nicknames they give their pets and its todays loveliest thread

People are sharing the nicknames they give their pets and it’s today’s loveliest thread

It turns out that the name people give their pets isn’t actually, you know, the name they called their pet.  We know this because people have been taking to Twitter to share their pets’ names – and what they really call them.  Not only are they very funny, it might also be today’s loveliest thread. Here are the best.