Pleasing 4 Pets

When you lose a much cherished pet there are certain challenges that you as an owner must face. Some animal companions do not die out of the blue and can unfortunately suffer crippling and debilitating illnesses in the same way that humans can and unfortunately in these circumstances the owner is faced with the agonising decision of when their pet should be put to sleep. So in addition to their grief at losing a pet, some owners often experience feeling of guilt and culpability for the death of their much loved animal.

Pet memorials are often an effective and heartening way of remembering and honouring the existence of a treasured animal companion that has sadly passed away. A memorial to your precious pet will serve as a permanent testimony to the special bond or mutual friendship that united you as pet and owner.

Some owners choose to bury their animals in a pet cemetery and others decide to have their animals cremated and choose a significant or special place to scatter their ashes.

Many grieving pet owners opt for an intimate ceremony to commemorate the life of a pet and to celebrate the unconditional love and companionship that they offered throughout their lives. This form of tribute can often be of comfort to children who have suffered the loss of a pet, and can be a useful tool in enabling them to understand death and loss.

There are no firm guidelines relating to what you have to do when you lose a pet, but what is important is to allow yourself time to mourn as well as time to recall the happy moments and special memories that you shared.

The UK’s standing as one of the greatest nations of animal lovers in the world received considerable damage recently after a report was released confirmed a massive increase in the number of owners abusing their animals.

The RSPCA revealed that since the launch of the Animal Welfare Act, which was made law in April 2007, the number of persons found guilty of cruelty to animals rose by almost 25% during 2007.

Somewhere in the region of 500,000 pets were found to be in need of help, many of them having been abused, abandoned or neglected in some way.

The Chief Officer of the RSPCA Inspectorate, Tim Wass went on record to say :

“ These animals are helpless victims of our affluent, throwaway society - they’re bought on a whim and discarded when the novelty wears off.”

The disturbing figures also exposed a 34% escalation in the number of those convicted for cruelty towards dogs and a 15% increase in convictions for cruelty towards cats. Cruelty investigations overall totalled just under 500,000, an increase of around 12% on the previous year.

Throughout the course of 2007 a total of 54 people received prison sentences on the grounds of animal cruelty and 861 individuals were prohibited from keeping animals on similar grounds.

The weekend of 12th -13th July 2008 will see the occurrence of the disabled global equestrian event at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire - The 7th World Riding for the Disabled Association’s (RDA) National Multidisciplinary Championships.

The contest is the biggest event of its nature across the globe with over 400 disabled riders taking part annually. For those wishing to participate but not able to travel, the competition also encompasses Musical Ride and Musical Drive Video and DVD competitions in addition to an arts and crafts contest.

The Riding for the Disabled Association is a charitable trust committed to developing and enhancing the lives of those with disabilities by granting them the opportunity to experience horse riding. With an existing a association of in excess of 500 nationwide RDA Groups, the association provides support to an estimated 25,000 riders with the assistance of approximately 18,000 volunteer workers. Involvement with horses is thought to provide substantial physical and emotional rehabilitation opportunities amongst disabled communities.

The event started around19 years ago as a dressage gala but began to progress as a multidisciplinary event in 2002. Around 300 UK based riders are expected to enter the competition, having succeeded in the18 RDA preliminary regional competitions. The 10 categories range from Best turned out horse and rider, to dressage and vaulting divisions, with spectators afforded free entry.

Current unstable economic conditions are putting pressure on most family budgets at the moment. The recent and dramatic upturns in petrol, grocery and energy prices have done little to alleviate this pressure.

With families everywhere more aware of their budgets than ever before, many are looking to cut costs in all areas of their outgoings. But is it possible to cut down on pet care costs too?

There are a number of ways that you can make an effort to control your expenditure in this area.

• Try grooming your pet at home. Aim to begin by brushing both your animal companions’ hair and teeth where possible, on a regular basis. If you are careful you can even attempt to trim down their nails. Remember that the more often you do this, the more used to this type of handling they’ll become. This could help cut down on grooming bills and even dental costs. In the long term these actions can be considered as a form of preventative maintenance for your pet.

• Consider purchasing your pet provisions in bulk quantities if you can. Many supermarkets and pet shops offer good deals on quality brands in multi-packs and bulk buys.

• Shop around for a veterinary practice which offers good value for money. Fees vary widely between different veterinary practices. There are a great number of experienced and skilled vets in the UK who will provide expert services for reasonable cost. Be open and honest with your vet when discussing treatment for your pet and determine for yourself which vet is most suited to you and individual economic circumstances.

• Make the most of three-year immunisations where possible. Many animal vaccines are now offered in discounted three year doses. Your vet should be able to advise you which vaccinations are available in these extended doses.