Tuesday, 8 May 2012
That's Green: Painting, but do it with a Conscience!
That's Green: Painting, but do it with a Conscience!: eicó has launched a brand new paint range, eicó Zero VOC, that not only offers superior quality to interior walls, but reassuringly co...
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Over A Third Of Dogs Abandoned Last Year Still Looking For New Homes
Credit crunch, family break ups and increased volume of dogs in shelters cause dog re-homing concern.
A new research study of 300 rescue centres has raised alarming concerns about the prospects of abandoned dogs finding new, permanent homes. Over 35% of dogs abandoned in 2011 are still awaiting re-homing as economic conditions and the sheer volume of dogs in rescue shelters are taking their toll on Britain's over-burdened animal welfare sector.
Aside from financial reasons, relationship break-ups are the main reasons UK's dogs are being given up, but there is a glimmer of hope this year which has been sadly lacking in previous years.
Encouragingly, over half (56%) of 1,277 dog owners surveyed wouldn't consider a dog who's been in a rescue centre for six months or more a problem dog, according to the recent survey carried out on behalf of Churchill Pet Insurance by UK dog adoption site, DogsBlog.com. In the past dogs who've been in rescue homes for more than six months have remained there because would-be dog owners have had concerns about how they would fit into their home.
Pete Bishenden, spokeman for Churchill Pet Insurance, said: “It’s worrying that so many pets are being housed in rescue centres because owners are struggling to cope. However, it seems that more prospective dog owners are willing, and would even prefer, to take in a rescue dog. Over 90% of dog lovers know about the problems dogs in rescue centres face and are aware of how many dogs are currently waiting for new homes. As a result, more would-be dog owners than in previous years are investigating adopting a dog.”
DogsBlog.com co-founder Ryan O'Meara offered his thoughts on the findings:
“Sadly, the number of dogs seeking new, loving homes from Britain's rescue shelters is making it almost mission impossible for the UK's already over-stretched animal welfare organisations. Whilst donations and funding for the welfare sector are as important as ever, the only real, long-term solution to the problems are for more dog lovers to consider adopting a dog rather than buying from breeders. We are facing a tipping point. As more dogs are being bred every day, the consequences of Britain's dog population problem are being felt in rescue organisations and healthy, loving dogs are losing their chance at a happy life with a loving family.”
A new research study of 300 rescue centres has raised alarming concerns about the prospects of abandoned dogs finding new, permanent homes. Over 35% of dogs abandoned in 2011 are still awaiting re-homing as economic conditions and the sheer volume of dogs in rescue shelters are taking their toll on Britain's over-burdened animal welfare sector.
Aside from financial reasons, relationship break-ups are the main reasons UK's dogs are being given up, but there is a glimmer of hope this year which has been sadly lacking in previous years.
Encouragingly, over half (56%) of 1,277 dog owners surveyed wouldn't consider a dog who's been in a rescue centre for six months or more a problem dog, according to the recent survey carried out on behalf of Churchill Pet Insurance by UK dog adoption site, DogsBlog.com. In the past dogs who've been in rescue homes for more than six months have remained there because would-be dog owners have had concerns about how they would fit into their home.
Pete Bishenden, spokeman for Churchill Pet Insurance, said: “It’s worrying that so many pets are being housed in rescue centres because owners are struggling to cope. However, it seems that more prospective dog owners are willing, and would even prefer, to take in a rescue dog. Over 90% of dog lovers know about the problems dogs in rescue centres face and are aware of how many dogs are currently waiting for new homes. As a result, more would-be dog owners than in previous years are investigating adopting a dog.”
DogsBlog.com co-founder Ryan O'Meara offered his thoughts on the findings:
“Sadly, the number of dogs seeking new, loving homes from Britain's rescue shelters is making it almost mission impossible for the UK's already over-stretched animal welfare organisations. Whilst donations and funding for the welfare sector are as important as ever, the only real, long-term solution to the problems are for more dog lovers to consider adopting a dog rather than buying from breeders. We are facing a tipping point. As more dogs are being bred every day, the consequences of Britain's dog population problem are being felt in rescue organisations and healthy, loving dogs are losing their chance at a happy life with a loving family.”
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
The Crowning Glory Of Any dog's Wardrobe
The range includes eye catching t-shirts featuring not only the official emblem and also a range of bespoke designs including the date of Her Majesty’s reign and fun slogans like ‘Keep calm and reign on’ which are all available in a selection of colours and priced at only £12.95.
With the huge attention that last year’s Royal Wedding attracted this is sure to be another Royal knees up that the family canine can join in with a special limited edition UrbanPup t-shirt.
UrbanPup Managing Director Denis Kelly said, "The Queens Diamond Jubilee is a great celebration, particularly for fashion lovers. Over the years The Queen’s dresses and their makers have often been a hot topic. Make sure your dog looks the part too on the extended Bank Holiday weekend in Urban Pup’s own high fashion Jubilee range."
Monday, 2 April 2012
That's Health: McTimoney Chiropractic Association launches new pa...
That's Health: McTimoney Chiropractic Association launches new pa...: The McTimoney Chiropractic Association The McTimoney Chiropractic Association is proud to announce the launch of a new set of pa...
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
That's Green: Have Breakfast with the Birds
That's Green: Have Breakfast with the Birds: Haith's know a thing or two about birds and therefore it comes as no surprise that they’re about to launch a Limited Edition Bird Breakfa...
Monday, 26 March 2012
Chickens become firm family favourite in time for National Pet Month
Vanessa's daughter cuddles Victoria
But it isn’t just cats and dogs that are getting all the attention. As animal feed specialist Dodson & Horrell reveals, more people than ever before are turning to an alternative to our four legged friends.
Chickens and hens are wowing animal lovers across the UK this year, with the feathery friends increasingly proving their credentials as family pets.
In the lead up to National Pet Month animal feed specialist Dodson & Horrell has recorded a 25% increase in chicken feed sales across the UK in the last two years and a surge in demand for chicken feeders and accessories.
The popularity of chickens has been backed up by the NFU Poultry board, with an estimated three million hens now being kept in people’s back yards.
Chris Gordon, Technical Director and Dodson & Horrell’s resident chicken enthusiast says: “As well as demand for chicken feed and accessories increasing, we also hear lots of anecdotal evidence to suggest that chickens are fast becoming a viable option when people are choosing pets along with traditional choices like dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs.
“We used to find that chickens were limited to farms or smallholdings and in the gardens of those living in the country but now it’s increasingly common for chickens to reside in backyards in our towns and cities.”
To help chicken lovers bringing these clucking friends into their lives, Dodson & Horrell has these top ten tips and facts.
Dodson & Horrell’s Top Tips
1. Scrupulous cleanliness is the key. Birds need regular worming and the house needs spraying against red mite.
2. Be sure to feed your chickens an appropriate food for laying hens but do not over feed. More feed does not equal more eggs and a fat bird readily succumbs to liver disease and can become too fat to lay.
3. Birds are thirsty animals so clean water must be continually available.
4. Shut your chickens in at night so they don’t get attacked by foxes.
5. To achieve good laying buy a ‘pullet’, a young domestic hen.
6. Birds should have good housing, one to four square feet per bird, and a fresh run area where they can peck and forage. Include a dust bath, sand, ash box or a half square foot pit per bird.
7. A good, well kept chicken will produce between 150 and 250 eggs per year.
8. Bantams are essentially scaled down versions of the hybrid hen, lay smaller eggs and can be a sound option if space is limited.
9. Egg laying takes place when there is no cock bird (a male over 12 months old) present. Traditional breeds lay in spasms, basically enough to sit on at any one time.
10. Modern, developed (hybrid) birds are bred to lay almost continuously.
CASE STUDY
For Vanessa Kimbell, who has one of the top UK food and lifestyle blogs (Goddess on a Budget), life without chickens would just be unthinkable. The mother of three, who lives in a village in Northamptonshire, considers her eight chickens an integral part of the family.
“Not only are they fabulous in terms of teaching the kids where food comes from," said Vanessa, "but they are also much loved pets, each with their own personality and traits. We first got the chickens for their fresh eggs, but now they are about far more than that. The children play with them, they are gentle and fun, and get along with our dog and three cats.
“As well as providing us all with hours of entertainment, they are hilarious with their antics, we also eat our own free range fresh eggs with pride - we just love them!"
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Does a legacy guarantee that your pet lives after you die?
Leaving a legacy to your favourite animal charity is a kind and generous act. But the Pet Education Trust (PET) has recently been made aware of a number of pitfalls and so would urge anyone considering leaving a legacy to be very careful when writing their will, particularly with their wishes regarding a pet who outlives you.
If your will states that your pet is to be fostered or re-homed, unless carefully worded, this needn’t guarantee that this will actually be the outcome. PET issue this warning, since being made aware of a very sad incident whereupon an elderly lady had been found dead at her home, with her dog, Henry, laying faithfully by her side.
The lady was widowed and had lived on her own with no family for over 20 years. Henry (8) was the latest in a line of Golden Retrievers, who had kept this lady company over the years. He was a familiar sight to the neighbours as his owner took him out twice a day, happily padding alongside his owners mobility scooter. His owner’s greatest concern was what would happen to her beloved Henry in the event of her passing, so she had made arrangements in her will for him to be taken in by an Animal Shelter to be re-homed or fostered in return for them receiving her entire estate.
Henry was put to sleep 24 hours after being taken into the care of the Animal Shelter. Following a basic veterinary assessment on the day Henry arrived and without any further tests (blood, scans, x-rays) being undertaken, Henry’s medical condition was deemed to be such that it would be unfair to continue his life and therefore be rehomed. There had been no consultation with his regular vet other than the passing over of records and no communication regarding the circumstances under which Henry had been found.
Close neighbours and friends of the lady have been left reeling at this decision, describing an eight year old, happy dog who enjoyed his twice daily walks, who loved to play ball in the garden and who only weeks earlier had relished rolling in the snow ‘like a puppy’. The owner had recently spoken to her next door neighbour of 48 years at her joy of hearing that Henry’s anti-inflammatory medication - which had been prescribed for mild arthritis and hip dysplasia – could be reduced following a Medication Review appointment at his vets in mid January. An appointment which he’d walked the 4 mile round trip to and from.
Unfortunately, when Henry’s owner signed up to the Animal Shelter's Pet Promise Scheme, she had not supplied any other contact details which would have enabled them to contact someone to speak about the dog. It’s not clear whether Henry’s death would have been prevented by this but it would have given the charity the chance to know more about the Henry everyone else knew as opposed to the Henry described in their veterinary report – and some background information on his last few days which were clearly responsible for his ‘distressed’ state when he arrived at the charity’s site.
Anyone thinking of arranging legacies for their pets needs to be aware that there is no guarantee that their pet will not be put to sleep and that doing so does not invalidate a will.
PET are in no way suggesting that sick animals or those in a great deal of distress or pain should be kept alive in order to satisfy someone’s wishes in a will, but all animal charities should make a point of taking the time to access to as much information on the animal’s background as is possible before such a dramatic decision is made.
Finally, and because the law cannot guarantee your pet’s fate, it is worth considering very carefully who your legacy is left to. For further information on legacies please call the Pet Education Trust on 0845 257 2565.
If your will states that your pet is to be fostered or re-homed, unless carefully worded, this needn’t guarantee that this will actually be the outcome. PET issue this warning, since being made aware of a very sad incident whereupon an elderly lady had been found dead at her home, with her dog, Henry, laying faithfully by her side.
The lady was widowed and had lived on her own with no family for over 20 years. Henry (8) was the latest in a line of Golden Retrievers, who had kept this lady company over the years. He was a familiar sight to the neighbours as his owner took him out twice a day, happily padding alongside his owners mobility scooter. His owner’s greatest concern was what would happen to her beloved Henry in the event of her passing, so she had made arrangements in her will for him to be taken in by an Animal Shelter to be re-homed or fostered in return for them receiving her entire estate.
Henry was put to sleep 24 hours after being taken into the care of the Animal Shelter. Following a basic veterinary assessment on the day Henry arrived and without any further tests (blood, scans, x-rays) being undertaken, Henry’s medical condition was deemed to be such that it would be unfair to continue his life and therefore be rehomed. There had been no consultation with his regular vet other than the passing over of records and no communication regarding the circumstances under which Henry had been found.
Close neighbours and friends of the lady have been left reeling at this decision, describing an eight year old, happy dog who enjoyed his twice daily walks, who loved to play ball in the garden and who only weeks earlier had relished rolling in the snow ‘like a puppy’. The owner had recently spoken to her next door neighbour of 48 years at her joy of hearing that Henry’s anti-inflammatory medication - which had been prescribed for mild arthritis and hip dysplasia – could be reduced following a Medication Review appointment at his vets in mid January. An appointment which he’d walked the 4 mile round trip to and from.
Unfortunately, when Henry’s owner signed up to the Animal Shelter's Pet Promise Scheme, she had not supplied any other contact details which would have enabled them to contact someone to speak about the dog. It’s not clear whether Henry’s death would have been prevented by this but it would have given the charity the chance to know more about the Henry everyone else knew as opposed to the Henry described in their veterinary report – and some background information on his last few days which were clearly responsible for his ‘distressed’ state when he arrived at the charity’s site.
Anyone thinking of arranging legacies for their pets needs to be aware that there is no guarantee that their pet will not be put to sleep and that doing so does not invalidate a will.
PET are in no way suggesting that sick animals or those in a great deal of distress or pain should be kept alive in order to satisfy someone’s wishes in a will, but all animal charities should make a point of taking the time to access to as much information on the animal’s background as is possible before such a dramatic decision is made.
Finally, and because the law cannot guarantee your pet’s fate, it is worth considering very carefully who your legacy is left to. For further information on legacies please call the Pet Education Trust on 0845 257 2565.
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