Pleasing 4 Pets

The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) has chosen 8 of the UK’s most overweight pets to compete against each other in a battle to lose weight and win the title of Pet Fit Club Champ.

The domestic pets will each be required to follow a strict, but healthy diet, and whichever manages to lose the greatest percentage of its total body weight will be crowned the winner.

Contenders for the title will have 100 days to lose their excess weight.

Throughout 2007, approximately 30% of dogs in the UK were classed as being overweight, a worrying rise of 9% on the previous years figures.

One senior vet at the PDSA believes that pet owners who overfeed their pets are largely to blame and do not realise that they could be putting their beloved pets at risk of future health problems, he commented:-

“Many owners admit to spoiling and over feeding their pets. Alongside their daily portions of pet food, owners often show their affection by giving unhealthy human treats such as cheese, buttered toast and biscuits. They don’t realise they are actually killing their pets with kindness”.

The eight contenders for the title of Pet Fit Club Champion are:

German Shepherd Alfie, aged 7, from Broadway, Edinburgh, 57.3kg (126lb)

Yorkshire Terrier Paddy, 13, from Bradmore, Wolverhampton, 6kg (13lb)

Cavalier King Charles spaniel Bo, 2, from Hebburn, Gateshead, 19.75kg (44lb)

Beagle Toby, 5, from Southport, Merseyside 22.8kg (50lb)

Labrador Keano, five, from Plymouth, 46kg (101lb)

Cocker Spaniel cross Sam, five, from Llandaff, Cardiff, 20kg (44lb)

Cat Tinks, 13, from Walderslade, Gillingham, Kent 9.8kg (22lb)

Jack Russell Roxy, six, from Croydon, 9.35kg (21lb)

A rare breed of dog has given birth to a record breaking number of puppies in the UK, increasing the countries population of the breed by an astonishing 25%.

The Komondor, named Kyra was expected to give birth to just 4 pups, which is a standard litter for the breed, but surprised her owner Debi Young, when she gave birth to 9 healthy Komondors, boosting the total UK population of the breed from 40 to 49.

The rarity of the breed also makes each pup highly valued, at around £1,000 each.

The Komondor is a livestock guardian dog, originating from Hungary and is completely unique in its appearance, featuring natural dreadlocks, providing them with a ‘corded’ type look, and laying claim to the breed being dubbed the hairiest dogs in the world.

All of Kyra’s pups are identical in appearance so each has been daubed a different colour, which they have been named after temporarily.

Owner Debi, who plans to keep one of the puppies and sell the remaining 8 spoke of her amazement at the size of the new litter:-

“We were amazed when she produced a litter of nine - a typical litter is around four. I’ve never heard of such a high number. Komondors are fantastic animals - very loyal and sociable. They are quite a handful though.

They’re all doing well though and are an adorable little rabble. Looking after them is a full-time job at the moment. I think the dogs are so rare because they are very hard to breed, and are also quite a lot of work.

You have to maintain their coats, which grow as a mass of matted dreadlocks. I think generally people are often put off by all the effort.”

A group which campaigns for animal rights are going to the European Commission to petition an end to what they claim is the greatest abuse of horses in Europe.

The group, World Horse Welfare have alleged that more than 100,000 horses are forced to live out the last part of their lives in unacceptably cramped and pitiful conditions, as they are transported across the continent to be killed.

The charity believes that the horses should be slaughtered prior to being shipped in order to avoid what they consider ‘ injury, stress and cruelty’.

World Horse Welfare has composed a report abound with evidence and research obtained over the past 7 years, illustrating the appalling conditions which arise from transportation over long distances.

The director of the charity told a national new group:-

“This dossier of evidence along with our list of recommendations is the culmination of many years’ hard work and I’m confident that by providing such a strong case to the European Commission we will see a positive change to current laws.

Our evidence of injury, extreme exhaustion, dehydration and stress demonstrates that existing safeguards are not sufficient in protecting horses from suffering and in addition, they are not being effectively enforced.

We want a journey limit to be implemented and for the European Commission to put in place a more rigorous enforcement structure.”

World Horse Welfare has the backing of the British government and claims that the majority of their concern is focussed in Eastern Europe and in Mediterranean countries.

A disabled bunny Ethel has been provided with the chance to enjoy an active and mobile life thanks to a specially made wheelchair.

When her veterinary surgeon advised owner Zoë Holbourne to send her beloved pet rabbit Ethel to the rabbit hutch in the sky, she refused point blank. Poor Ethel was rendered immobile after she suffered from an unidentified virus a few months ago which left her unable to move her back legs.

On discovering that she was paralysed, vet recommended that she be put down, but instead owner Zoë, scoured the internet tirelessly for a way to help Ethel back to mobility.

Zoë, aged 46, discovered a small US business which builds bespoke mini-carts for small animals such as Ethel for around £80, so she placed an order to be shipped directly to her in the UK.

Now Ethel is enthusiastically wheeling around in the contraption, which was constructed from feather light plastic tubing and toy wheels.

Zoë said:-

“It looks bizarre but it is just amazing. It has given Ethel a new lease of life.

At first she struggled to keep her balance and kept tipping over, but she soon got to grips with it, especially on flat surfaces.

Now she loves it. The wheelchair is very effective and it stops moving as soon as she wants it to. It doesn’t roll along when she is standing still.

As soon as we put her in it, she starts hopping around and really enjoys it.”

Sadly, as a result of the illness Ethel lost the ability to control her bladder and bowels as well as her hind legs and now has to sleep in specially made nappies.

British scientists have recently revealed that elderly felines are at risk of suffering from a form of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists discovered abnormal proteins which were similar to those found in humans suffering from the disease, in the brain matter of cats whilst carrying our routine feline autopsies.

But the threat of the disorder can be lessened by means of a healthy diet, good mental stimulation and regular companionship.

Alzheimer disease is the primary cause of dementia in aged humans, and affects an estimated 12million people globally. There are around 9million domestic cats in the UK and one third of them are considered to be old-aged.

Initial indications of the disease include changes in behaviour, loss of the ability to use their litter tray and changes in sleeping patterns.

Danielle Gunn-Moore a spokesperson for the University of Edinburgh’s Royal School of Veterinary Studies said:-

“We now know that our old cats, like old people, are at risk of developing these conditions.

I suspect that a lot of animals simply never get that old. If they are in the wild it would be very unusual for an animal to still be alive to the point it could develop Alzheimer’s.

But we are keeping our pet cats alive longer and longer.”

She began her investigation with colleagues in both Scotland and California subsequent to becoming aware of behaviours indicating senility in her then eight year old pet cat.

Felines age at much faster rate than their human owners and could offer scientists crucial information in relation to the ageing process, including the development and progression of dementia and prospective cures for animals and humans alike.

After 44 years of dedicated sponsorship, pet food company Pedigree has decided to terminate its support of the Crufts dog show.

TV and media ads for Pedigrees popular dog food often featured prize winning canines from the competition in addition to featuring the slogan “top breeders recommend it”

It is estimated that the move will cost the Crufts organisation a whopping £1.5million per year, and comes following allegations that the dogs involved in the show are enduring a range a genetic diseases as a result of inbreeding over the course of many years.

The Kennel Club who organise the annual event first came under attack in August when the BBC broadcast a documentary claiming that the dogs involved in the show are riddled with genetic health problems after prolonged inbreeding to advance certain physical qualities required by the club.

The documentary featured spaniels with brains too large for the sizes of their skulls and boxer dogs suffering from epilepsy.

British charities The Dogs Trust and the RSPCA immediately withdrew their support of the show after the claims came to light.

The club is said to be reassessing its rules and regulations regarding the criteria for entrants in addition to reworking breed standards, although they remain insistent that Crufts 2009 will go ahead in March as planned.

A spokesperson for Pedigree said in a statement:-

“After careful consideration, Pedigree has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Crufts.

The Pedigree brand has evolved and we are prioritising initiatives that support the broadest possible community of dog owners such as our successful programme to help homeless dogs - The Pedigree Adoption Drive - and our online service for breeders.

We look forward to working with The Kennel Club on other projects in the future.”

The Kennel Club has insisted next year’s show in March, at the NEC in Birmingham, will go ahead as planned.

The governments’ environmental secretary Hilary Benn has introduced an eight week period of consultation on codes of conduct for the nations owners of dogs, cats and horses, which will provide practical guidelines on the responsibilities that pet owners are required to adhere to under the Animal welfare act of 2006.

He commented:-

“These three new codes of practice will outline the responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act and give practical advice on how to fulfil them.

“This means no one will be able to claim ignorance as an excuse for mistreating any animal.”

Despite the fact that there are no financial penalties recommended for those who do not adhere to the code of conduct, the fact that pet owners break the code could be used against them in cases of animal cruelty.

Although criminal convictions dropped by 20% throughout 2006, there was an acute rise in the number of complaints investigated and there were nearly 1,700 convictions, many of which were for acts judged as ’shocking’ cruelty by the RSPCA.

The new code of practice states that pet owners are expected to provide their pets with both mental and physical stimulation and include dietary advice, stating:-

“It is your responsibility to provide opportunities for your pet to satisfy all of its behavioural needs, such as play and companionship.”

The RSPCA is requesting that families take in pets in an effort to bring down domestic violence in Wales.

Violent abusers are believed to further terrorize their victims with threats of cruelty or violence against their pets.

A new scheme run by the RSPCA - the Pet Retreat scheme endeavours to remove pets from situations where abuse is prominent and attempts to re-house them, which in turn helps their owners to leave violent or abusive relationships earlier than they otherwise might.

As part of national ongoing domestic abuse research, the government has asked that caring families who are in the position to offer a foster home to a pet to come forward.

The Pet Retreat programme, which was previously known as PetSafe, began in the summer of 2002 as a scheme which worked in conjunction with domestic abuse shelters in Western England and was later launched throughout Wales during 2007.

The programme endeavours to end the cycle of violent behaviour and terrorization related to abuse by removing pets from the home.

Official research has confirmed that abusers often exploit the love between their victims and a pet to prevent their victims from ending the relationship, by intimidating animals and in many instances subjecting them to cruel acts of violence. This behaviour often sees a victim reluctant to leave the animal in the care of their abuser and often prolongs violent relationships. Many shelters and refuges for the victims of domestic abuse are unable to provide refuge for victims’ pets.

Social justice minister Brian Gibbons said recently:-

“Pets are often cherished by victims of domestic abuse, but this often makes the pet a target of abuse.

If the victim seeks help the abuser may threaten or hurt the pet. This is another barrier preventing them from escaping.

A vital part of this scheme is the volunteer foster families. People are needed to open their homes to these pets while families are in transition.

By helping these pets, volunteers enable victims of domestic abuse to get help.”

Earlier this year the province of Sichuan, just east of Tibet in Western China was devastated when an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale shook the ground, sending 70,000 inhabitants to their graves and leaving more than 5million homeless.

In the refugee camps that have arisen, offering makeshift homes to many thousands, the people of Sichuan are slowly attempting to rebuild their fractured lives.

But nearby, in the refugee camps where tens of thousands of people live in temporary housing, people are slowly putting themselves back together.

However, inhabitants of the province weren’t the only ones who’s lives came crashing down around them when the quake hit, many domestic pets found themselves injured and alone.

But one of citizens in the earthquake zone took it upon herself to care of the displaced animals and to this day continues in her efforts to re-house them.

Known locally as Auntie Chen, she manages a dog rescue centre which she affectionately refers to as the ‘Home of Love’, where she care for all manner of canines from Alsatians to Shih Tzu’s.

One of the centres residents is Lulu, a 3 year old Pekinese who was left permanently disabled after her legs were crushed by a falling building, in which her owners and their entire family lost their lives.

Now Lulu and over a hundred other dogs are fed and cared for by Auntie Chen, who funds the centre from her own sparse savings and occasional donations from locals. From sets of rollers, she even fashions make-shift wheelchairs to enable paraplegic pooches to dash around with their more able-bodied companions.

Auntie Chen was recently quoted as saying

“These dogs are heroes. Some of them led rescue teams to people trapped under rubble after the earthquake.

After what happened, we need everyone to love each other more. We need people to visit these dogs whose owners have died, and to help mend their broken hearts.”

Many hundreds of exotic animals were recently discovered by police officers who stormed two neighbouring houses in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

In addition to the animals, a hoard of drugs, various items of jewellery and a machete were unearthed at the houses located in the Fitton Hill area of Oldham.

Startled police officers stumbled on massive swarms of black beetles before confiscating hundred of other animals, including 14 Gecko lizards, 4 snakes, a number of snapping turtles and some chickens.

One of the officers involved in the raid carried out by Greater Manchester police revealed that the house was ‘like a zoo’.

Other animals removed from the properties included an 18ft boa constrictor, a number of Macaw parrots and hundreds of lizards, mice, beetles and various other insects.

Another of the officers involved said:-

“The boa constrictor was as thick as a rolled up carpet and there were thousands of insects, they were the worst.

All the insects were running around, large black beetles, big horrible things with antennas, two to three inches long. The noise was horrendous, swarms of them. It was like searching in jungle conditions”.

After the search Greater Manchester environmental health officers and a local vet were drafted in to look after the animals and began the mammoth task of attempting to re-house them.