Pleasing 4 Pets

Animal lovers grieving for their dead pets are finding comfort in an online memorial garden.

The site has been set up so that broken hearted owners can pay tribute to their much loved animal friends.

The website Gone Too Soon has traditionally been used by the relatives of those killed in accidents or by terminal illnesses but a new section has been added to enable those grieving for their pets to leave tributes such as message, poems and pictures online.

The site currently displays many touching memorials from pet owners in mourning.

One written by the heartbroken owner a 15 year old dog, named Mollie read;_

“Mollie was my pet dog. A dear friend and a faithful companion.

Always kind, loyal and clean, I always joked that she found me, and that is true really.

She was with me during marriage, divorce, remarriage.

I was heartbroken and sobbed inconsolably when she was put to sleep and two years on I still miss her more than words can say.’’

Animal Welfare groups have applauded the site, stating that it highlights the true importance of pets to their owners

A medical technique which has traditionally been used to detect illness and disease in humans is now being used to uncover medical problems in pet in South Wales.

The Bridge Veterinary Group in Caerphilly has the use of a mobile MRI scanner one a month.

The MRI scans are able to produce in depth images of parts of an animal’s body, cost somewhere in the region of £1,000 per scan and take around 40 minutes to complete.

Graham Blow, a partner at the Bridge Veterinary Group revealed that the scans had made a huge difference in the group’s ability to diagnose medical problems in pets.

He said:-

“We had a dog in there with severe neck pain and we had done tests but what was diagnosed probably wouldn’t have been possible without MRI.

Sometimes you might look and see something is inoperable and you wouldn’t put the animal through an operation. It can alleviate unnecessary suffering in that case.”

Before now, any domestic pet needing an MRI scan would have been directed to other veterinary surgeries in England.

Now vets throughout South Wales will be able to send poorly pets to be scanned at Bridge Surgeries car park where the mobile scanner is available once a month.

The scanners have been used previously in many safari parks and zoos, and have helped to diagnose illnesses in animals such as gorillas, lions and even sharks.

There is no doubt that most people would like to own a pet at some point in their life. Many decide to live with many pets all the time and others may just decide to own one pet at any time. While pets are great and fun, as animals always are, they also need looking after as much as you would a child.

If you are thinking of getting a pet for the first time there are a number of precautions you should take before just picking any pet at random. Below are some tips you could follow prior to choosing the pet you want:

• Allergies
  One of the first things you need to be sure of when deciding what pet you would like is allergies. Check you aren’t prone to sneezing around dust and fur. It is common for hay fever sufferers to also suffer from excessive hair/fur. It is also important to make sure you aren’t specifically allergic to cats, dogs, etc. There are allergy testing kits that can help you find out your allergies.
• Space
  Another important factor to take into account is the amount of free space you have in the residence where the pet will be staying. Do you have rooms you don’t mind pets staying in, keeping in mind the fur and dirt that may be spread by them.
• Children
  Many people think pets are the ideal present for young children. But remember some pets aren’t suitable for very small children. Large dogs may accidentally crush or injure a small child. Due to the curiosity of both animals and younger children/babies, there may be trouble when they come together. The child may pull the pets tail or ears, which can provoke the animal.
• Money
  Most pets require a lot of upkeep and care. Like a human child, animals get sick and need looking after. They also need constant feeding and grooming. You have to keep in mind all the bills and costs that your pet might result in. Veterinary fees, food costs, care products and much more needs to be taken into account.

So whether it is allergy testing or making sure you have the budget for a pet. Try to follow the above guidelines to ensure you and your pet will be as happy as possible.

A 42 year old who was made redundant from his inspector’s position at car-makers Jaguar Land Rover has proved to his old colleague at the production plant who are currently facing an indeterminate future that life goes outside of Jaguar Land Rover.

Adrian Cashmore took redundancy from the car plant where he had worked for 7 years and decided to open a Pet Shop in his Castle Bromwich where he lives.

He says his decision was prompted by difficulties he encountered difficulties whilst attempting to purchase supplies for his own pets locally.

Adrian said:-

“I had to travel quite far to get things for my own pets so I thought I should open a local store.

It has been hard work and I am up until two 2am some mornings sorting things out, but even though it is early days, I am getting a steady trade and regular customers.”

He has named his new venture Bromford Pets and stocks a wide range of animal feed and pet accessories as well as traditional pets such as guineas pigs, rabbits and fish.

Although he is extremely happy in his new found vocation, Adrian admits that he still misses his colleagues from Jaguar Land Rover and commended a local campaign which is calling on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to offer much needed financial assistance to the car industry during the current recession.

Everyone loves animals. At some point in their life, most people have owned or looked after a pet. Some pretend they don’t like it for whatever reason and others simply embrace their love for all creatures. Certain pets are more popular than others and others more disliked. Sometimes you are a cat person and sometimes you are a dog person. Regardless of what pet you love, you can’t say no to a good photo of your favourite animal.

I have often been around to the house of my family or friends and seen a picture of their cat, dog or whatever their particular household pet is. These pictures obviously hold a place in their heart and are often professionally done. I saw one particular picture style that stood out and that was canvas photos.

The concept of canvas photos is basically where a photo can be printed on to the blanks surface of a piece of canvas. They come in a range of sizes and look amazing. You don’t need to buy a frame as canvas photos are designed to stick out slightly from the wall, further emphasising the image.

I’m definitely going to get one done for some of my pet photos because I believe they look fantastic. Of course, that’s just my opinion. There are plenty of styles out there for everyone who isn’t as enticed by this one.

Whether it is for financial or health reasons increasing numbers of pet owners in the UK are considering offering their pet a diet of the home made variety.

But what exactly do animals require in their basic diets?

Anne Tebb, a chief veterinary surgeon at Bristol University revealed:-

“Cats and dogs, like all animals, require six components for a healthy diet. These are water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Although cats and dogs are classified as carnivores, their nutritional requirements are different”.

The greatest difference between canines and felines is that cats require a high protein diet, making them poor vegetarians, whereas surprisingly a dog actually requires just 10%.

Both animals also need calories and this should be taken into consideration when preparing pet food at home. In shop bought foods calories are most often added in the form of cereals.

The head of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association advised :-

“Sledge dogs need 10,000-13,000 calories a day, whereas a Yorkie that spends most of the day on someone’s lap would probably need only 1,000. If your pet is gaining weight, then it is either being fed too much or is not getting enough exercise.”

Home made pet food requires careful planning but is perfectly viable with the assistance and advice of a good vet. Recommended ingredients include lean mincemeat, bulgar lecithin, kelp, vegetables in addition to iron and vitamin A,C and E supplements provided by a vet.

The credit crunch has lead to a reduction in spending throughout many households in the UK, and those who haven’t yet curbed their spending are now looking for ways to reduce their outgoings.

According to a study carried out recently the average UK pet owner spends somewhere in the region of £3.50 each week on food for their pets, 50p more than is spent on average per household per person on vegetables and fruit.

From the bog standard meat in jelly ranges to the finest gourmet varieties, the pet food industry in the UK is worth an incredible £1.9billions per year.

It is believed that the further into recession the UK slips, the less likely it is that pet owners will continue to purchase expensive pet foods and will instead offer the pets scraps from the family table and cheaper pet food alternatives.

Many pet owners in the USA, prompted by the dramatic downturn in their economy, and high numbers of pet foods recalled by manufacturers are attempting to produce home made pet foods.

Home produced calorie restricted or organic diets for domestic pets are popular in the United States and there are increasing numbers of pet nutritionists on hand to offer pet owner’s advice on improving their pet’s diet and encouraging the production of home made pet food.

But just how easy is it to produce a good quality home made pet food. One leading vet and pet nutritionist from Bristol University recommended that animal lovers deliberating whether to prepare their own pet food should consult a veterinary surgeon for advice on balancing a their pets diet, and said recently:-

“It is possible to feed pets home-made diets, but there are numerous potential problems that can arise if the diet is not correctly balanced.

In a study of home-made food for dogs, certain nutrients were below recommendations. Ready-prepared, shop-bought food contains the correct amount of nutrients to keep your pet fit.”

Animal welfare charities are warning that dogs can be put at risk of overheating by owners who force them to wear clothes.

The RSPCA has claimed that the practice has the potential to be as dangerous as locking a pet in a hot car during summertime, and could lead to legal action against irresponsible owners.

Some experts and indeed owners also believe that the trend for dressing dogs up in human style clothing is humiliating for the animal and can encourage unpleasant behaviour.

Over the past few years, the manufacture and sale of dog clothing has become a significant and lucrative business. Dog clothing on the market includes doggie hoodie, all in one trouser suits and fancy dress items such as pirate costumes and Elvis Presley styled all in one jump suits.

Many leading designers including Ben De Lisi and Vivienne Westwood have released ranges of dog accessories and items of clothing, and even high street chain BHS offers a range of t-shirts for dogs bearing slogans such as “I’m not fat just fluffy” .

The animal experts are claiming that with the exception of a few tiny sized canines with extremely short hair, or those which have a naturally low ratio of body fat such as the greyhound, doggie clothing is unwarranted and will only serve to get in the way of a dogs natural capacity to control its own body temperature.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said in a statement:-

“Under the Animal Welfare Act, you are obliged to provide appropriate conditions and environments for your dog. So if you are slapping a great big coat on it when it really doesn’t need it, then that could cause it to suffer if it is overheating. It is the same as if you leave a dog in a car in hot weather.

Some breeds have been bred to have less fur, so in some cases it is quite appropriate for a dog to wear a coat in very cold weather. But if an owner is just doing it for a fashion statement I certainly would question that”.

January is traditionally a time when a lot of us feel down in the dumps or are inflicted with the post Christmas blues and the days are short and grey and the nights are long and cold.

But at this time of the year, it isn’t just us that are suffering; apparently our pets feel the effects as much as we do.

Key animal charity the PSDA is advising pet owners that the meagre summer of last summer combined with this winters appalling weather, below average temperatures and prolonged dark nights has resulted in an increase in the numbers of domestics pets enduring the misery of SAD’s - Seasonal Affective Disorder.

A survey carried out recently confirmed that the owners of one in three dogs notice a considerable downturn in the moods of their much loved four legged friends, revealing that they appear dejected and less lively than they would ordinarily be.

Leading vets at the PDSA believe that it is possible for domestic pets to display symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, including fatigue, a decline in levels of activity and a shift in the number of hours slept each day.

The survey also showed that more than 50% of dog owners believed that their pets slept more often and for longer periods of time during the winter months, were less active and appeared to lose interest in walks.

And it would seem that the weather doesn’t just affect dogs, with a third of cat owners confirming that their feline appeared subdued and much les playful in wintertime.

One veterinary surgeon from the PDSA, Elaine Pendlebury said recently:-

“The cause of SAD in people is thought to be linked to the levels of melatonin in the body.

More melatonin is produced when it is dark, which is why it is also called ‘the hormone of darkness’. When this hormone is released into the bloodstream it is thought to make us drowsy and a little down in the dumps.

If this applies to pets too, the recent poor summers, together with the current dark nights, could certainly have an impact on their mood. So, owners need to kick-start their pet’s winter health routine with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet.”

Of course, the change in our pets’ mood may be simply due to the cold weather and fewer opportunities to stretch their legs outside, but diet and exercise can play a big part in perking up your pet. Even if you can’t go out, there are various indoor games that you can play together.”

Animal rights supporters have revealed their concern that a dog stealing ring is in operation in the London area.

The concern comes after two miniature pinschers, regarded as ‘designer’ dogs were stolen shortly after Christmas from their owner’s home in Woodford green, London whilst owner Danielle Ott was out.

.The thieves broke into Danielle’s home and ignored her flatscreen TV, laptop and numerous Christmas gifts but stole her beloved pets Enzo and Minx who are worth around £650 each.

Poor EnZo was discovered four days after he was snatched in Essex, ten miles from his home. His body was covered in scratches and he had been burnt with a cigarette.

Distraught Danielle aged 23, believes that he was abandoned by the cruel thieves after they realised that he had been neutered and therefore worthless when it came to breeding

She said:-

“We’re worried sick that Minx was stolen to order for breeding or to be sold on.

We’ve put up around 1,000 posters across Essex and called every vet’s surgery in the country to see if she has been handed in.”

Animal Charity Dogs Lost has released data confirming that thefts of this kind are rising dramatically in the London area, with the majority of stolen dogs sold in backs street public houses for around £30 to £50.

Jane Hayes, the founder of Dog Lost verified the charity was receiving information on cases like Danielle’s at least twice per week.

She revealed:-

“Burglaries like this are on the increase. Most thefts are opportunist but there are quite a few gangs operating, who often attack owners at knifepoint in a park.

The most popular type to steal are Staffordshire bull terriers because they are seen as a status symbol and can be sold no-questions-asked in the pub.”