Rescue & Animal Care - March/April 2021 - Issue 163 by Rescue and Animal CARE Magazine

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R E S C U E and ANIMAL CARE

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Spring foal born at The Donkey Sanctuary!

What do you do if your pet chokes?

Devil’s Bridge Rum Dog Cassie seeks loving new home

Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Welfare

ISSN 2050-0572

29th March - 29th April 2021 - Issue 163

Dog Thefts Worst affected regions & most popular breeds

FREE TO READ

In s ide .. .

See Mayhew’s Spring issue of tails Magazine! Celebr ate National Pet M o n t h w i t h D o g - Fr i e n d l y Treasure Tr ails

New, revolutionar y product from Hill’s pet nutrition

Cover Image

Archie’s Story Pet remedy

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R ESCUE and ANIMAL CARE

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Spring foal born at The Donkey Sanctuary!

What do you do if your pet chokes?

Devil’s Bridge Rum Dog Cassie seeks loving new home

Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Welfare

ISSN 2050-0572

29th March - 29th April 2021 - Issue 163

Dog Thefts Worst affected regions & most popular breeds

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE MAGAZINE

FREE TO READ

Inside ...

See Mayhew’s Spring issue of taa ils Magazine! Celebr ate National Pet M o n t h w i t h D o g - Fr i e n d l y Treasure Tr ails

New, revolutionar y product from Hill’s pet nutrition

Cover Image

Archie’s Story Pet remedy

ON THE COVER Pet remedy

THE TEAM PUBLISHER: Jennifer Prowse FEATURE CONTRIBUTORS Dean Hart, Animal Behaviourist Mary Lloyd, Bio-Life International Juliet Abrahamson DESIGN Vicki Barnes WEBSITE WDL Website Design Ltd ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHERS. ANY OPINIONS STATED WITHIN THE TEXT OF RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE MAGAZINE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHERS. ANY PRICES QUOTED MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. SOME OF THE ANIMALS FEATURED WITHIN THIS ISSUE MAY NOW HAVE BEEN REHOMED.

Dear Readers I hope the sun is shining for you all especially for Easter Weekend! It is so good that we can do more now that lockdown rules have eased up a bit and I am looking forward to spending a bit of alfresco time with friends. Inside this issue:l Spring has sprung at international animal welfare charity, The Donkey Sanctuary, after they welcomed their first foal of the year! Just take a look at his photo.. l Every year rabbit rescues such as Rabbit Residence Rescue, dread the Easter holidays. Baby bunnies are so easily bought and so often marketed as easy children's pets, when it's really quite the opposite. l In 2020, there was a 250% increase in the incidence of dog thefts. Apparently, the demand for puppies has risen significantly during the Corona Virus pandemic as more and more people looked for company to overcome the loneliness and anxiety during long periods of self-isolation. l Mayhew vets step in to prevent scruffy stray Callum from developing cancer. l Dog-Friendly Treasure Trails.

Read tails Spring Magazine online (see centre pages) 40

Plus many more interesting articles and features! Thank you for reading.

Love Jennifer

Jennifer@jspmedia.co.uk RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE MAGAZINE: JENNIFER PROWSE MEDIA, 21 THE MALTINGS, BURES, SUFFOLK CO8 5EJ Follow us on facebook Rescue and Animal Care www.facebook.com/rescueandanimalcare Troublesome Treacle

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29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

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proud. I didn’t carry it for long though as Mistress took it off me and said it would be far too heavy when it was filled with all the bits and bobs we would put into it. I put my nose into all the pockets and found it was already stocked with hand sanitiser and poo bags. Usually Mistress has the latter falling from her sleeves or her pockets. That will save her from embarrassing me running after them as they are blown away. There is a zip pocket and I had the biggest smile on my face when I found some dog treats in there too! It can carry a water bottle, mini towel, collapsible bowl, ball. ball chucker hanger and other items. There’s even a detachable strap which can double up as a spare dog lead. Barking Bags have thought of everything!

But I want to carry it!

Dear Friends, I’m such a happy girl! It is Spring and I can sniff all the new things that have sprung up from the earth and chew on the abundance of goosegrass along the hedgerows which mistress tells me, along with a few other names is also called sticky willy! Mistress says that the clocks have just gone forward but I swear after staring at the one on the lounge wall until I nearly went cross-eyed, that it had not moved anywhere. What a funny language humans use. Mr. Postman knocked on the door the other day so as usual I made snarling faces at him through the window. Checking Mistress had seen him he left a parcel outside addressed to me. Miss Treacle Prowse. Office Manager! However, on closer scrutiny after I had torn away the wrapping in a frenzy, Mistress said it was for her to carry when we went out for walks. I commented sulkily that it was mine and to prove it I put it over my shoulders. Here I am looking rather stubborn and

This great looking denim canvas dog walking bag came from https://barkingbags.co.uk/collections/canvasbags/products/khaki It’s Bank holiday and Easter any minute, with a forecast of sunshine combined with a small change to lockdown rules, what is there not to like! Mistress and I may have one friend around to have drinkies and treats in the garden. I expect I will invite Jack who apart from yapping a lot is a cute boy and I think I have feelings for him. Mistress says my ears pop up whenever she mentions his name and I have a grin on my face!

Please contact us or visit our website for more information. Heathway, Colton, Rugeley, Staffs WS15 3LY Tel: 01889 577058 www.bordercollietrustgb.org.uk Reg Charity No1053585

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

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Chico getting treatment at The Foundation

Alan when he arrived at Lucy’s UK Donkey Foundation

Alan after Lucy’s loving care is now healed

Small charity does Big work Lucy’s UK Donkey Foundation is a small UK charity set up to help Lucy Fensom run a donkey sanctuary in Israel caring for 53 rescued donkeys and 3 horses. The charity is run entirely by volunteers. At the 4 acre site, Lucy is totally committed and dedicated to rescuing over-worked donkeys from a life of neglect, abuse, even torture. hico was found by a kindly lady on the Israeli/Palestinian border. He had multiple scars, smaller cuts and quite a deep saddle pack wound on his back. At the sanctuary he was immediately treated with antibiotics and a wound healing cream, dressings and bandages to the large wound on his back. He made good progress and soon the wound healed well. Another rescue donkey Alan, had been hit by a car and was left stranded and wounded by a busy roadside. The police called Lucy who found out that Alan had already been there for a good few hours. He had lost a fair amount of blood and was bleeding from the nose as well as multiple wounds to his body and face. He was also extremely dehydrated. Thanks to Lucy’s loving care, he is now healed and settling nicely in the sanctuary. Lucy and her volunteers are often called out at all times of the day or night to deal with emergencies and casualties. As part of her work, Lucy makes every effort to help educate the donkey owners by showing them better handling methods, including correct harnessing, hoof care, dentistry and feeding, in the hope that this in turn will improve their livelihood. Like most charities, covid-19 has hit the sanctuary hard and funds are desperately low. Can you please help Lucy continue with her work by making a donation, however small?

email or post, by sending an email to Erika: webgirl@lucysdonkeyfoundation.org.uk or visit our web site: www.lucysdonkeyfoundation.org.uk

n If you would like to read more rescue stories, you can request a Newsletter sent 4 times a year by www.rescueandanimalcare.com

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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Don’t Panic! Archie’s story On a cold, wet day in October Archie arrived at the rescue centre. We remember his arrival well. The owner who wanted to rehome him had walked him in the pouring rain to the rescue, and when they handed him over, he was dripping wet and looked so sad and dishevelled. He was handed over to kennel staff and surprisingly walked away without looking back. The problems started when he arrived in the kennel block. rchie was taken to a nice dry and warm kennel in a quiet part of the block. He went in without a fuss and the team member spent time to towel him and dry him off. When she went to leave Archie’s behaviour suddenly changed. Archie threw himself against the kennel gate, howled like he was in pain and started shaking and urinating. He was having a full-blown panic attack. Just like humans, dogs can also fall into panic. Archie had just been handed over to a strange person, taken to a strange place and then was about to be left in an environment he had never experienced before. It is no wonder his panic system kicked in. The dogs stress system is so like ours, both neurologically and physiologically, and just like us they can easily become overwhelmed by too much change or too many stressors all happening at once. It was clear Archie was too stressed to cope with the kennel at this point, so he was taken to the office to spend time with the admin team. The main objective for Archie was to help that nervous system decompress, to give him some time to try and settle and feel safe. It was unlikely the team could this without some extra support, so they turned to the Pet Remedy products. Pet Remedy is a great addition when helping an anxious, over aroused dog to decompress. It works by using the natural ability of the active ingredient Valarian to mimic GABA and calm excited neurons in the brain. Valarian has been used for its natural calming qualities for thousands of years. First up was using the wipes. A single wipe is enough to wipe your hands and offer it for the dog to smell, and then to smooth the dog

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Calming Wipes pack of 12 Use the eco-friendly wipe in the same way as you would with the calming spray by gentle rubbing around muzzle, under chin and top of chest of your pet (including horses!). £6.50.

around the neck and chest, transferring the scent from the hands and wipe to the coat. This is a great way to introduce the dog to the product and Archie loved the personal connection this offered, whilst giving him the chance to smell the active ingredients. After some cuddles and then a lie down (Archie was exhausted) they decided to move him to a special kennel called the lodge – which was standalone unit with a doggy sofa, windows instead of bars and had a homely feel to it. To help Archie settle in there they installed a plugin Pet Remedy diffuser and laid out some activities for him, including the Pet Remedy Boredom Buster. This is a great foraging activity product, which has treats hidden in pouches. Archie loved engaging with this, and he was also able to benefit from the calming qualities of Pet Remedy at the same time. The team member stayed with him until he

started to settle and then left him to rest – and he did. No Panic this time. He took to the sofa and slept. Over the following days Archie continued to settle into his new environment. The team made sure they used a Pet Remedy wipe on their hands before entering the Lodge and sprayed some of the product on their workwear, so Archie was able to connect to the scent even when out in the paddocks at walk time. Another big advantage to the product is that it can create a positive olfactory connection for the dog that can be transferred to different locations and scenarios. When the potential new owners came to visit Archie, they were asked to wipe their hands with the wipes before meeting him, and before taking him out for walks. When it was agreed they could adopt him, they were given a Pet Remedy adoption pack, which included the plugin diffuser, spray and wipes. They made sure they had the diffuser plugged in a couple of days before Archie arrived. The olfactory connection between the two environments really helped Archie to settle in, and there was not the panic at his new home that was experienced when coming into the rescue. Archie’s story shows the difference a product like Pet Remedy can make when seeking best outcomes for the animal. It helped Archie to decompress, to create a positive association to the smell and help as he adapted to new environments. Also, by giving the product to the adopters, it was a physical reminder to them of the emotional and wellbeing support Archie would need moving forward. n Pet Remedy works closely with its rescue partners and if you would like to know more please get in touch – www.petremedy.co.uk

Pet Remedy Natural De-Stress and Calming Plug-In Diffuser Plug-in and let the de-stressing properties slow release into the surrounding area. £21.00.

Boredom Buster Foraging Kit

Pet Calming Spray

Hide your dog’s favourite treats in the pockets to encourage their natural instinct to forage, eat and rest. £25.00. Click here to see the video https://petremedy.co.uk/product/boredom-buster-foraging-kit/

A new and natural way of tackling dog anxiety and stress in all pets and animals. £18.50.

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Celebrate National Pet Month with Dog-Friendly Treasure Trails Treasure Trails is adding a dog-friendly section to its list of more than 1,200 nationwide Trails following an influx of enquiries during lockdown.

o celebrate National Pet Month (April), Treasure Trails has added a dog-friendly search filter to its website, enabling customers to browse Trails that have no restrictions for dogs. The popular self-guided walking trails have seen a huge increase in interest in the past 12 months as people seek out safe and fun activities that they can do close to home. Now people are looking at routes that are dog friendly so they can combine walkies with their very own miniadventures. Treasure Trails are themed selfguided walking Trail booklets (only £9.99 each), which take explorers on a circular outdoor route of approximately two miles through villages, towns, cities and other outdoor spaces. En route, you have the added challenge of working together to hunt down clues and solve a puzzling Detective Mystery, Treasure Hunt, or Spy Mission. Each puzzle incorporates clues on landmarks, signs, statues, 8

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

monuments, images, engravings, and other eye-catching features. So, whilst you catch crooks and track down spies or hidden treasure, Treasure Trails showcase your surroundings in a fun and adventurous new light – and your pooch gets to enjoy a new walking route. There are more than 1,200 Treasure Trails across the UK to choose from, and 70% of them are dog-friendly. “Treasure Trails are a great way to get outside and get your steps up, and dogs will benefit from being taken along for the adventure, as most of our 2-mile Trails take between 1.5 to 2 hours to complete,” said Aaron Hutchens, Treasure Trails General Manager. “The pandemic has meant we have all had to adapt our daily activities. For many people, walking the family pet has become a key part of the day-today routine and they’re now looking at fun ways to add a bit of adventure to their dog-walking duties with the help of Treasure Trails.”

Whilst on many Treasure Trails there will be a few clues in a park where you can let your dog off for a good old runaround, the majority of the Trails require a dog to be kept close on a lead as the routes lead through streets where there are people and traffic. None of the Trails enter private land, but clues on some Treasure Trails are hidden in areas that don’t permit dogs – such as some parks and church grounds. To make life easier for dog owners looking to do a Treasure Trail, a new function has been added to the website, which filters all completely restriction-free Trails for dogs, so owners can enjoy every part of the Trail with their four-legged friends. n Treasure Trails are available to buy online at treasuretrails.co.uk. They can be downloaded as a printable PDF or posted as a printed booklet.

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RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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Spring foal born at The Donkey Sanctuary Spring has sprung at international animal welfare charity, The Donkey Sanctuary, after they welcomed their first foal of the year.

Photo credit: The Donkey Sanctuary

he fluffy male foal has been exploring his new surroundings in the spring sunshine with his mother, a mare called Rachel, who was rescued by The Donkey Sanctuary in 2020. The new arrival, who is yet to be named, is light grey in colour with a hint of brown, and has stripes on his legs that resemble long stripy socks. During his first outing, he spent time close to his mother, regularly feeding from her and lying down in the grass for short naps. Rachel was in foal when she came into the care of The Donkey Sanctuary in April 2020. The mare was in a very poor condition and was relinquished along with five other donkeys after their basic welfare needs were not being met by their owner. Like others in the group, her feet were overgrown and needed urgent farrier attention to alleviate the suffering they were causing. After arriving at the charity, further veterinary health checks revealed she was pregnant. Neil Coles, Farm Manager at The Donkey Sanctuary said: “Rachel delivered her foal quickly, and with no complications. Our vet has checked over the mare and foal

New foal and her mum Rachel

and is very happy with how they are both doing. Rachel has been a brilliant mum so far. “It’s really lovely watching them enjoy the spring sunshine together, knowing that they will both have a safe and happy future with The Donkey Sanctuary.” Staff will continued to monitor the mother and foal, who when he is old enough, will be introduced to other younger donkeys and form lasting friendships. The Donkey Sanctuary, which is

currently closed to visitors, has a no breeding policy. Foals born at the sanctuary are born to mares that have arrived already in foal. All are guaranteed a home for life, either at one of the charity’s sanctuaries, or in a Guardian home on The Donkey Sanctuary’s Rehoming scheme. n For more information visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk

The trovan® microchip-ID is recommended worldwide, for its outstanding technology, quality & reliability. Used by rescues and professionals all over the world. Now we also have All-in-Ones! in both sizes

www.pet-detect.com 10

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UNIVERSAL SCANNER Detects ALL microchips

MICROCHIP TRAINING AVAILABLE Tel: 01962 813554 email: info@pet-detect.com www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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What do you do if your pet chokes? We never like to think of our pet being unwell or injured, but sometimes things can happen that are out of our control. It’s always best to seek professional veterinary treatment when your pet gets hurt. However, in some situations, such as choking, drowning and heatstroke, you may need to act immediately or care for them until you can get them to the vet. n an emergency, the most important thing is to keep calm and assess the situation before acting. Your pet may be in pain and is more than likely as frightened as you are. They may react uncharacteristically to anyone who tries to touch them, so try to keep your voice as gentle as possible and approach them slowly, avoiding sudden movements. It’s also best to not offer them food or drink, even when trying to soothe them, in case they need to have an urgent anaesthetic. The last thing you need in a crisis is to be hunting for medical and other supplies, so to save precious time, it’s worth putting all of your pet's first-aid items in one place. St John Ambulance offer a Pet First Aid Kit, but if you are putting together your own it should include the basics such as cotton wool, tweezers, non-adhesive absorbent dressings to cover open wounds, as well as surgical sticky tape and bandage and antiseptic wipes. After administering some first aid, you should see your vet as soon as possible. To help reassure owners, Purely Pets, an award winning pet insurance specialist, is on hand with a 24 hour vet helpline on all policies. Administered by The Vet Connection, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons registered nurses can provide advice to owners who are worried about their pets. Receiving the right treatment is vital and Purely Pets offer pet owners peace of mind from their range of Lifetime policies to suit everyone, with Gold cover levels being 5* Defaqto rated. Additional policy benefits can include vet fees up to £15,000, one of the highest limits in the UK, an excess from as low as £60 and an online management portal which gives greater flexibility in managing a policy or making a claim – saving customers’ time when they most need it. We spoke to the team at The Vet Connection, and below is a rundown of some of the common situations requiring first aid, and how to deal with them:

Choking Common choking hazards for pets include large pieces of food, balls, toys, chews and sticks.

Anything stuck in your pet's airway is a medical emergency and can quickly escalate to breathlessness and death. Signs that your pet is choking include struggling to breathe, pawing at their face and they may open their mouth and lunge forward in an attempt to dislodge the object. If you can see something in the back of their throat, use pliers or tweezers to carefully remove it and if they are unconscious it's okay to open their mouth. Gently sweep your fingers across the back of their throat and remove anything that is lodged there – but don’t attempt this if they’re awake as they may bite.

Drowning Never risk your life attempting to rescue a drowning pet. If you find your pet unconscious in water, wipe away material from the mouth and nose and hold the animal upside down by the hind legs to allow water to drain out. You will need to give resuscitation if they have stopped breathing. It’s important that, even if your pet seems to recover, still take them to the vet for a check-up as complications afterwards are common.

Heatstroke As we head into the summer months, it’s important to know the common signs of heatstroke which include panting, difficulty breathing and collapsing. To help cool them down, wet your pet's feet, ears and coat with tepid water but never use ice or very cold water, as this could cause shock. You could also use a fan or air-conditioning to cool the air around them. Give them cool (not freezing cold) water to drink and keep them cool on the way to the vet. n Visit www.purelypetsinsurance.co.uk or call 0330 102 5748 to see how we can help you today.

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

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Cocker spaniel Photo image: ©Mikkel Bigandt. Adobe Stock

French Bulldog. Photo i

Dog Thefts In 2020, there was a 250% increase in the incidence of dog thefts. Apparently, the demand for puppies has risen significantly during the Corona Virus pandemic as more and more people looked for company to overcome the loneliness and anxiety during long periods of self-isolation. The average price of a puppy has virtually doubled from around £450 to just short of £900. Mary Lloyd tells us more

Worst affected regions & most popular breeds The worst areas for dog-knapping are Northumbria, Devon, Cornwall, Leicestershire, Humberside and Suffolk.

The most popular targets are: Cocker Spaniels Jack Russells Staffordshire Terriers Labradors Pomeranians 14

Springer Spaniels French Bulldogs Chihuahuas Crossbreds English Bulldogs

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Prevention

The best methods of prevention are: • Microchip (required by law in any event) • Collar with identification • Avoid leaving your pet tied up outside a shop • Don’t leave your dog alone in the car • Vary walking times and routes • Take clear photographs that you can distribute if the worst happens • Only use reputable dog walkers or kennels • Secure your garden • Never leave outside unsupervised www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Springer spaniel. Photo image: ©Konstancja. Adobe Stock

The most important feature – ensuring that they are not easily removed. Canary all in one home security device and LEP outdoor security floodlights and sensora also help to secure them.

Photo image: ©5second. Adobe Stock

ulldog. Photo image: ©Raindog Photography. Adobe Stock

Jack Russell

If your dog is stolen Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Photo image: Kate. Adobe Stock You may also like to consider anti-theft systems. There are many approved tracking devices on the market. According to the Blue Cross, the following are along the best: • Garmin Astro 320 Tracking Device • Tagg GPS Pet Tracker • Back2you Guardian Pet Trackers www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Report to the local Council dog warden, the Police, local vets and rescue centres. Losing your dog is a horrible experience especially when you have no idea how they are being treated! Needless to say, PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE! n For further information on any aspect of healthcare,

please do not hesitate to contact Bio-Life by Email on sales@biolife-international.co.uk. What I do not know, I can research for you. Understanding your pets ailments greatly helps you to treat them correctly or visit www.biolife-international.co.uk

Photo images: ©Adobe Stock stock.adobe.com RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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Dogs Trust ‘Changes the Tale’ for elderly terrier who lost his owner to coronavirus A 12-year-old terrier called Dylan is settling into his new home after coming into Dogs Trust as a result of the pandemic.

adly Dylan’s owner passed away from coronavirus and he found himself in the care of Shoreham Rehoming Centre in West Sussex. Dogs Trust Shoreham Rehoming Centre Manager Adel Burnett said: “Dylan was very shut down when he arrived, after such a big change in circumstances, his life as he knew it had been shattered and despite our best efforts to make him feel as comfortable as possible kennel life just wasn’t for him. “Luckily we had just recruited a new foster carer to our Home from Home scheme called Andrea who was now working remotely and found herself in a position to be able to provide temporary care for our dogs. “Dylan was Andrea’s first foster dog and he seemed to feel better almost as soon as he stepped his paws through the door – gobbling up his meals and playing with his toys. “Once Dylan’s confident, cheeky and loving side started to show it took hardly any time at all for us to find a great new home for him. “A foster home can really make a difference and we’re so grateful to each and every one of our carers. If you’d like to become a foster carer please get in touch.” Just 25 days after he came into Dogs Trust Shoreham Rehoming Centre, he was adopted by Alison and her husband Leslie Gibbons who have renamed him Bob Dylan. Alison said: “He’s now been living with us for a month and he’s settled really well. He’s a lovely dog. “We had an elderly Jack Russell before who we adopted from Dogs Trust back in 2013 when he was also 12 years old. Cedric died two years ago and we missed him so much that we decided we wanted a bit of a gap to honour his memory. “It’s lovely going out for long walks with Bob Dylan. He still has so much energy! We go four miles and he’s still go, go, go. He’s a really sharp little chap and knows where his home is.

Dylan in his new home

“He’s very wilful and has a lot of spirit and strength of character, loves his food and being with you, preferably sitting on your knee!” Dogs Trust Shoreham Manager Adel added: “It is so wonderful to know that Bob Dylan has found his forever home, along with many other dogs that we have been able to ‘Change the Tale’ for, thanks to people like the Gibbons family choosing to adopt. “We know that the pandemic, and its economic repercussions, is having devastating effects on some people’s lives and their ability to care for their pets. “Unfortunately, we believe the worst is yet to come and we will do all we can to help those dogs and owners in need of our support.” Dogs Trust provides a range of services to help keep dogs and their owners together where that’s possible, such as support for dog owners without a home and a unique fostering service for dog owners experiencing domestic abuse.

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

Dogs Trust Dog School is also providing easy to follow online videos helping dog owners tackle behaviours they are seeing as a result of lockdown that could eventually result in dogs having to be given up, such as separation anxiety. The charity also offers the Canine Care Card, which guarantees that if an owner should pass away or become very unwell, their dog will be cared for by Dogs Trust. n Together with the support of the public, Dogs Trust is working to ‘Change the Tale’ for dogs in need. If you are struggling and need advice or support to give up your dog, would like to know more about how Dogs Trust is helping keep dogs and owners together or if you would like to donate to Dogs Trust, please visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/changethetale If you would like to volunteer to become a foster carer please email HfHShoreham@dogstrust.org.uk

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Royal Society of British Artists Annual Exhibition

he Royal Society of British Artists boasts just over one hundred of the UK’s top painters, sculptors and printmakers as members, all possessing the highest levels of skill in their chosen styles and media. This year the exhibition includes a collection of work depicting cats, one of the nation's favourite pets. Including works by Martin Leman, one of the most famous cat artists in the world. His works on the subject of cats have appeared in over 20 books. Martin has been a member of the Royal Society of British Artists since 2007. There are of course many other creatures depicted among the over 450 works on display. All of which can also be viewed online https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/royal-society-british-artists-annual-exhibition-2021 Alongside the membership, the exhibition will include works selected from the Society's open call. RBA exhibitions always guarantee that no matter what your preferred subject matter, style, medium, colour palette or budget, you will be sure to find a work of art you would love to own. Most works are for sale, starting from £120. Royal Society of British Artists Annual Exhibition 2021 Exhibition open 15 to 24 April, 11am to 4pm Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1 www.mallgalleries.org uk £5, Free for Friends of Mall Galleries and under 25s. Concessions available.

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New, revolutionary product from Hill’s pet nutrition World’s first clinically proven nutritional solution that tackles both food and environmental sensitivities in dogs Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete is the result of four years of research l Proven for use in 99.6% of dogs with dermatologic disease1 l Visible skin healing in as little as 21 days2 l 82% of dogs with atopic dermatitis experienced significant reduction in scratching following use3 l

ill’s Pet Nutrition has announced the launch of its ground-breaking new Prescription Diet Derm Complete food – the world’s first and only nutritional solution that is clinically proven to tackle both food and

H 20

environmental sensitivities in dogs*. With 40% of vet visits by dogs due to skin issues1, the new product has been developed following four years of research and three clinical trials in an effort to tackle the growing problem. Up to now, dietetic

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

foods have been created specifically for either adverse food reactions (AFR) or environmental sensitivities. Hill’s Derm Complete is formulated with optimal levels of key nutrients to help strengthen the skin's natural barrier against environmental www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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allergens, helping pet parents to manage both types of sensitivities, no matter the trigger. Adverse food reactions and environmental sensitives are a big issue for our furry friends. Not only do they cause excessive itching, but affected dogs can also suffer from a lack of sleep, and painful scratching. There are many causes of skin complaints in dogs – most of which are quite common. Fleas & insects, grass, pollen and seeds can all contribute to environmental sensitivities, while chicken, beef and dairy are the most popular food allergens. The irritation caused can have a significant impact on a dog’s quality of life and can also be hugely upsetting and expensive for dog owners. “Being a pet parent to a dog with skin sensitivities is extremely challenging and stressful. It’s distressing to see your best friend in discomfort, when all you want to do is give them a happy, healthy life,” said Michael Unsworth, Hill’s Vet Affairs Manager, UK & Republic of Ireland. “Our new Prescription Diet Derm Complete is truly a groundbreaking product; the result of years of trials and clinical studies that has seen visible skin healing in dogs with adverse food reactions in as little as 21 days2 and not a single dog showing signs of recurrence after using the product. “We’re really excited that we’re able to introduce this innovative, www.rescueandanimalcare.com

life-changing product to the market, to the benefit of dogs and dogowners everywhere.” Six out of 10 of the UK’s most popular breeds are prone to skin issues*, and include: l l l l

Labrador retrievers Cocker spaniels Jack Russell Terriers Staffordshire Bull Terriers

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Cockapoos French Bulldogs

Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete is currently available via all leading veterinary practices. For more information on common causes and products to help, please visit https://www.hillspet.co.uk/dogfood/pd-canine-derm-complete-dry.

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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Invite you to join “WALKIES AROUND THE WORLD” There are 24,901 miles to walk around the World and we are really excited for you all to achieve this together in 2021! As a combined challenge, you can walk as many or as few sponsored miles with your dog as often as you like for £1 per mile (You can be sponsored for higher amounts of course). 2021 will continue to be a challenge for the animal sector and with the added difficulty from HS2 we really need your help to lift spirits and raise funds. This will be a wonderfully shared experience as we will be able to see the miles adding up along with the sponsorship donations. Anyone can take part – even if you only walk one mile, you will have contributed and will be part of a magnificent huge achievement. You can also join "Walkies Around The World" Facebook Group where you can share your photos and experiences, joining a very special community.

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

To enter, sign up to our "Walkies Around The World" sponsorship page where you can run your own sponsorship section and be guided through your contribution. Visit https://givepenny.com/appeal/walkies-around-theworld to sign up. What an amazing way to start 2021 in so many ways, your dog will love the walk, you'll keep fit, you will be participating in a massive Great British event and raising money... Everyone wins! More details can be found on the "Walkies Around The World" fundraising page and on our website.

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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WATCH NOW

Meet our Video Stars walking around the World!

Border Collie Trust GB To watch our Animated video go to https://vimeo.com/498314778/5a7047c2c0

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Callum pre surgery

Mayhew vets step in to prevent scruffy stray Callum from developing cancer Although many animals who come to us thankfully need nothing more than a safe shelter and lots of love and attention, we are always prepared to go the extra mile for those who require more specialist treatment. e were alerted to the condition of five year old Callum by a member of the public, who called us to report a stray cat who looked more than a little worse for wear. Callum’s white fur was dirty and scruffy, the skin around his ears was scabbed over and looked extremely sore, and he was clearly in a state of distress. Our Animal Welfare Officers took an auto-trap out to where Callum had last been spotted, and luckily managed to catch him and bring him back to Mayhew.

● Given his unkempt appearance and anxious demeanour, we 24

suspect that Callum had been straying for at least two years, and whilst he was apparently known to a local feeder he obviously hadn’t been able to have any sort of medical care or attention in that time. ● As well as the sore-looking skin around his ears, we found that Callum had a series of fighting wounds on his back and neck, and bald patches where his fur had been scratched away. ● Our vets were very worried that the scabs on Callum’s ears indicated skin cancer, as white cats with pale skin are sadly more prone to sun exposure - much like humans, cat

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

skin is delicate and sometimes requires additional protection from strong rays if their fur isn’t thick or dark enough to cover them completely. As soon as we had finished examining him, we settled Callum down in our Cattery for a few days to rest and relax whilst we booked in a series of surgeries to further inspect and treat his skin and teeth issues. Thankfully, a closer investigation revealed that the skin on Callum’s ears wasn’t yet cancerous, but that the redness and soreness was cont. on page 26 www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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cont. from page 24 indeed solar dermatitis (a skin disorder caused by exposure to the sun). In order to prevent the affected area becoming worse and potentially developing into carcinoma type cancer (squamous cell carcinoma), we amputated both ear tips so that the sores and scabs were safely removed. At the same time, we took a more in depth look inside Callum’s mouth, and found that his canine teeth were all broken. Such damage can cause intense dental pain, and so we removed every tooth showing signs of cracks or breaks. As Callum was placed under anaesthetic prior to these surgeries, we also noticed an unusual heart rhythm (arrhythmia), and therefore conducted an ultrasound to see if he was suffering from any kind of heart trouble or heart disease. Luckily for Callum the ultrasound came back clear and he remained stable under the anaesthetic, so our vets put the initial arrhythmia down to an adrenaline stress response which could be expected under the circumstances. During Callum’s surgeries we also neutered and microchipped him, and did a series of blood and glucose tests to ensure that there was nothing else going on that we hadn’t yet spotted. Happily, all of those tests came back clear, and so we returned Callum to a cosy cabin on our Hospital Ward to recover from his various procedures. Although he’d clearly been through a lot prior to coming to us, and had undergone multiple surgeries, Callum’s ordeal sadly still wasn’t over - as we suddenly noticed that his right eye looked a bit watery, and was weeping clear fluid. Our vets took another look to see if his tear ducts required flushing, but determined that they were not blocked and that the weepy eye was likely to be a stress reaction and/or a latent effect of a previous bout of cat flu. Thankfully, it was not threatening Callum’s health nor 26

Callum post surgery

“

Our vets were very worried that the scabs on Callum’s ears indicated skin cancer, as white cats with pale skin are sadly more prone to sun exposure.

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causing him any particular distress, and did not require any further treatment. We were all really thrilled to see Callum’s recovery go smoothly and to plan, and as soon as he was well enough to be up and about we placed him into foster care so that he could familiarise himself with a home environment ahead of being listed for adoption. Whilst Callum might look rather different with his smaller, blunter ears, we are pleased to say that he is already reserved and should hopefully be joining his perfect family very soon. They will be able to continue showing Callum all the love and special care that he needs, including regularly applying pet safe sun-block to his ears and nose to prevent his issues reoccurring.

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As we slowly shift into the summer months and lockdown eases, we also recommend keeping an eye on your own cats and dogs exposed skin - especially lighter coloured animals - and applying pet safe sun-block if your pet is spending extended periods of time outside sunbathing or exploring. Please also get in touch with us directly if you have concerns about a stray cat showing signs of solar dermatitis, as like with Callum, our Animal Welfare Officers and vets may be able to help before it’s too late. n To find out more about our veterinary clinic, and all the different ways in which we support cats and dogs, please take a look at our website https://themayhew.org/*. *we are currently unable to offer some services due to the covid 19 lockdown. More information about how we are adapting to the pandemic can be found here https://themayhew.org/coronavirus-information.

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Issue 13 I Spring 2021 I themayhew.org

In this issue...

Saving lives overseas Beatie Edney talks pets and Poldark Summer plans with a four-legged pal

SPRING 2021

We’re here for you in 2021

ello and welcome to your spring issue of Tails magazine.

Front cover photo of rescue Dora with Mayhew Animal Care Assistant Janet Nobbs by Pooch & Pineapple.

Our vision

A society where people understand the importance and value of animal welfare.

Our mission

To promote animal welfare by delivering a broad range of community-based veterinary, care and education services in the UK and overseas.

Editor: Shelley Warnaby shelley@mayhewanimalhome.org Design: arc, www.arc-cs.com

Many thanks to our contributors and photographers: Charlie Care, Ruth Crafer, Jess Feehan, Audrey Granger, Anne Heslop, Sarah Hastelow, Alissa Johnson, Pooch & Pineapple, Natassja Yoxall. Printed on 100% recycled paper. Please pass on to a friend and recycle after reading.

info@mayhewanimalhome.org 0208 962 8000

Mayhew, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London, NW10 6BJ www.themayhew.org Join us on Facebook

Company limited by guarantee number: 3837732 2 I

We hope that – like us – you’re managing to enjoy the brighter evenings and find some positivity as we head into spring.

At Mayhew, we’re focusing on what we can do, rather than what we can’t. And what we can do is continue to provide expert care and support to cats, dogs and local communities, here at home and abroad. We’re taking inspiration from success stories such as our 15year collaboration with Indian charity HOPE & Animal Trust in Ranchi (see pages 12 and 13) and using our experiences there to work towards similar goals with our teams in Georgia and Afghanistan. After reading our round-up on pages 10 and 11, we hope you’ll want to be part of that too. All the information you need to make a donation can be found in the cover letter included with this issue.

We’re also committed to caring for you, our wonderful supporters. From advice on pet-safe plants (page 6) and tips on dog training (page 20) to what to do when it’s time to say goodbye (page 17), we’re here to make sure you have everything you need to look after your pets through life’s ups and downs. Together, we can weather anything – so bring on 2021!

Contents 04

Mayhew news

Guest chat: Beatie Edney

Coping with the loss of a four-legged friend

Rehoming with a homely touch

Cat curiosities

Happy home, happy pets: the benefits of houseplants

Play and learn with your canine pal

Our life-saving work overseas

Making sure your holiday goes swimmingly

Your letters

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NEWS

SPRING 2021

A big hand for Mayhew students!

ongratulations to Kayleigh Jackson (pictured), Bethan Barefoot and Sylvie Wilcock, three students who have recently completed their apprenticeships at Mayhew and achieved their Level 3 Animal Care Diplomas. They have worked really hard and we’re delighted to have supported them at the start of their careers in animal care. “Mayhew has pushed me to go above and beyond the criteria for my apprenticeship to see me thrive,” says Kayleigh.

Support Mayhew for a chance to win a huge cash prize!

id you know that by playing The Weather Lottery you are also helping the animals in our care? You can take part for as little as £1, and with every entry a donation is made to your nominated charity. The prize draw takes place every Monday, with £25,000 up for grabs each week. Sign up to play at theweatherlottery.com and select ‘Mayhew Animal Home’ as your charity. Good luck!

Thank you, Burns Pet Nutrition

ver the last year, Burns has provided us with all the food needed for our resident cats and dogs, plus rehoming packs for adopters to help welcome their new furry family members. They also donated food towards our winter care packages, which we delivered to pets and owners in need. That’s an awful lot of kibble! We’re so grateful that Burns has helped us during such a difficult year and are delighted to announce that they will be continuing to support Mayhew throughout 2021.

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Happily rehomed Mayhew moggies

n 2020 we rehomed 331 cats, and by mid-February this year we’d already matched 51 lucky cats and kittens with their forever families – like Toby and Arthur, pictured here enjoying a little screen time! If you are interested in offering a home to a feline friend in need, visit themayhew.org/cats.

Rehoming with a homely touch

s we know all too well, dogs find themselves needing a new home for all sorts of reasons. The transition from their existing environment into a shelter and then out to a new family can be hugely stressful for an animal, especially those with separation anxiety. It can also be very hard for their owner, who may have been forced to say goodbye to their beloved pet through no fault of their own.

We know that a lot of owners are tempted to try and rehome unwanted pets through their own networks or via online advertising sites, and we understand the appeal, but with Rehome from Home we are able to make sure the individual needs of both owner and dog are met every step of the way. Our scheme also prevents

unscrupulous responders taking advantage of a desperate owner with a vulnerable animal, which is a real concern.

“Over the past few years, it’s become easier than ever to rehome a pet online and we have seen a significant rise in the number of pets listed on virtual ad sites,” says Zoe Edwards, Head of Animal Welfare.

Through Rehome from “Home, we are able to contact and advise owners about the dangers of selling online and give them peace of mind knowing that any potential adopter has been vetted by Mayhew professionals.

“

Our Rehome from Home scheme* offers an ideal solution to such scenarios by enabling dogs to stay with their current owner while a new home is secured. With our expert support and guidance behind them, owners are able to keep their dog in a safe and familiar environment and can usually meet their pet’s new owner themselves to pass on any advice or settle any worries. As our Dog Adoption Officer Lisa Guiney explains, “Rehome from Home reflects Mayhew’s community approach to animal welfare. By supporting animals and owners in their own homes, we are able to assess dogs in a realistic environment and gain a better understanding of their true needs and personality, which will help us find them a new family. The scheme also allows us to free up space in our kennels for dogs in urgent need.”

Zoe Edwards, Head of Animal Welfare

Dogs that are part of the scheme will also benefit from a full health and behavioural check-up by our Vet and Kennels teams and will be microchipped, vaccinated and neutered for free.

A new home for Dexter

Eighteen-month-old Dexter joined our Rehome from Home scheme last year after his original owners were left unable to cope and could no longer look after him. They cared for Dexter greatly and really appreciated the chance to stay involved in his adoption process and meet his new owners. Dexter is an incredibly friendly and energetic young dog and he benefitted from being able to remain in a familiar home environment throughout. He also suffers from anxiety outdoors, which would have made the transfer into and out of a shelter difficult for him.

Thankfully, Dexter’s new owner reports that now he is used to his brand-new home, he is beginning to overcome his fears and has settled in extremely well. They told us, “Dexter is getting along wonderfully – he is very well behaved and is getting less and less scared of the outside world. The seamless transition worked out perfectly for all of us.” *At the time of going to press, our Rehome from Home scheme is on hold due to Covid-19 restrictions. We plan to restart as soon as we are permitted.

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Happy home, happy pets: the benefits of houseplants

ver the last year, we’ve all had to spend much more time than usual in our flats and houses and, as a result, many of us have looked for ways to create a more relaxing and enriching indoor space within our homes. If you’re missing the outdoor world, one way to deal with this can be to simply bring a little bit of it inside. It’s no secret that plants can boost our wellbeing, from the grounding and calming effect they have on our mental state to their ability to purify the air and reduce the amount of harmful substances that we breathe in. These same benefits can also be felt by our pets: houseplants can provide our four-legged roommates with extra stimulation and enrichment, while also reducing stress and anxiety levels, all of which becomes even more important 6 I

now that their familiar environment includes crowded kitchen tables and noisy video calls! While it’s vital to be careful about the types of plant you bring into your home, as some can be toxic to domestic pets, thankfully there’s a wide variety of pet-approved greenery that is safe to have around your animals at home.

Pooch-safe plants

Areca palm, Chinese money plant, banana

plant and several varieties of fern are a few examples of plants that dog owners can safely keep.

For flowering plants, try lavender: it can be grown indoors and its scent has a soothing, calming effect on both humans and canines. Your dog may enjoy sniffing the plant; however, try and make sure they don’t eat the lavender, as the plant matter can still be harmful in high quantities.

“

Bringing plants indoors can be great for both you and your pet, but do your research to make sure all your plants are safe – lilies, for example, are toxic to cats, whereas cat grass or the catnip plant can bring lots of safe entertainment.

Cat-friendly flora

Catnip, a member of the mint family, is a plant famous for attracting cats and making them hilariously flop over and zone out if sniffed or eaten, but did you know its sedative effects can help reduce a kitty’s anxiety? Pop a pot of catnip on your windowsill and watch your cat go crazy for it! The plant’s effects can vary so monitor your cat to make sure it isn’t making them feel a little sick.

Spider plants are another very popular houseplant that cats seem to love snacking on, and they are non-toxic to both cats and dogs. They can have a similar effect to catnip, so you should keep an eye on your

“

Kayleigh Kilcommons, Head of Cattery

feline friends and consider keeping the plant out of reach if they seem to like it a little too much. Cat grass is something you can easily grow and care for indoors that any cat will be attracted to and love to chow down on. At Mayhew, we place pots of cat grass in the enclosures of our adult cats and vaccinated kittens for them to munch. This plant seems to help increase a cat’s intake of vitamins and minerals and can even help their digestion (it can occasionally make them vomit, but this is natural). Having cat grass in your home might also help protect your other houseplants from being nibbled!

The ones to avoid

Some common houseplants such as lily, aloe vera, asparagus fern, devil’s ivy, philodendron, daffodil, chive and the rubber tree plant are extremely toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. This is not an exhaustive list, so we recommend you take extra care to check that any plants you bring into your home are safe for your pets. If you are worried your pet has eaten something that is making them sick, contact your vet immediately.

The ones to avoid READER OFFER

Stock up on houseplants!

If you’re looking for some plants to brighten up your home, our greenfingered friends at Patch Plants are offering Mayhew supporters a discount of 15% off all orders over £50.* Head to patchplants.com and use the code PETPATCH at checkout. Their website even includes the handy option to filter for ‘Child and Pet Safe’ houseplants. *Excludes P&P. Offer valid until midnight, 31 May 2021.

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Guest chat: Beatie Edney

ctor Beatie Edney has appeared in over 60 film, television and theatre productions, most recently playing Prudie in TV series Poldark. Beatie is known for her love of animals and is a much-valued Mayhew ambassador. She chats with us about animal welfare, her own dogs (Mayhew rescues, naturally) and life during – and after – lockdown.

What sparked your passion for animal welfare?

I think it started when I adopted my dogs, Billie and Button. Our family has always had rescue dogs and cats, but I think it’s my passion for my own dogs that has led to me caring more about animals worldwide – animal welfare is important for a civilised society, isn’t it? 8 I

What for you is key to improving the lives of dogs and cats?

Educating people that animals are sentient beings is a good start. And of course, ‘adopt don’t shop’ is a really important message. There’s a worrying trend of people buying and selling dogs online, when they should be speaking to rescue centres instead. Unfortunately, as long as there is a market for buying dogs there will be people making money from it. Animals are not a fashion accessory or a commodity.

When did you first become involved with Mayhew?

It was really when I decided to get a dog in 2012 and was matched with Billie, a pup who was staying with a wonderful foster family (just one of the things I love about Mayhew is your army of volunteers!). Then, in 2014, my mum [actress Sylvia Syms] adopted Bunny, a Jack Russell terrier, and in 2017 Yorkshire terrier Button joined our family. Between us we now have three rescue dogs, all from the Mayhew – how could I not become a supporter?

Which aspect of our overseas work is of particular interest to you?

What I love about Mayhew is you always look at the bigger picture. You’re brilliant in the local community and then you do all this amazing work overseas. When I hosted an event introducing supporters to Mayhew’s

international work in Georgia, we heard how the team has introduced a spay and neutering programme which is bringing the free-roaming dog population under control and is helping to prevent the suffering that overpopulation causes. You also train overseas vets, contributing massively to the welfare of animals worldwide.

You’ve found some novel ways to fundraise for us. What’s next?

When I was filming Poldark, I thought if I could get signed scripts, books etc, I might be able to auction the items for Mayhew. I pestered all the cast and we ended up with quite a treasure trove of signed items, which we auctioned online, making £3,854. I also recently did the 2.6 Challenge, completing 26,000 steps to raise money for Mayhew. Every little helps, even if I’m just raising £100. I’ve had an idea so watch this space…

Once life returns to normal, what are your tentative plans for 2021?

I had theatre work planned for the whole of last year and was due to start rehearsals for a new play just as lockdown hit last spring, then everything was cancelled. So, in 2021 I need a job, please! That said, one of the joys of lockdown has been being with my dogs. Billie and Button have got rather spoilt as we are never apart, which we all love!

Cat curiosities

ats have lived alongside humans for centuries, so it’s no surprise that history is brimming with fascinating E V E RY B O DY WA N T S TO B E A C AT stories about them. Our Cat Adoption Officer – and feline fact aficionado – Matt Pearson shares some of his pawsome knowledge.

Leonardo Da Vinci once said, “The smallest feline is a masterpiece.” He even painted cats into 11 of his works! It’s hard to argue with a legend, and it got me thinking… Cats have been around forever – we’ve been worshipping them since the time of the Egyptians, after all – so what other curious cat tales and facts are out there? Well, some weird and wacky stuff, that’s for sure! 01

2020

A person who loves cats is called an ailurophile, which is derived from the Greek word for cat. An ailurophobe is someone scared of cats.

We don’t know exactly why cats knead, but scientists believe it’s something called a ‘neotenic behaviour’ (a childhood trait continued in adulthood) because kittens knead their mums when nursing. It might be that they are marking you as their territory.

In the 1870s, authorities in the Belgian city of Liège tried to train cats to deliver letters in waterproof bags tied around the cats’ necks. Needless to say, it was not successful.

One legend claims that cats were created when a lion on Noah’s Ark sneezed and two kittens came out.

In the original Italian version of Cinderella the benevolent fairy godmother figure was a cat.

A cat’s carbon footprint is similar to that of a VW Bug, whereas a dog’s is more like a Hummer.

Some animal shelters in the US don’t allow adoption of black cats in October for fear of them being harmed or used as Halloween accessories.

The reason why kittens sleep a lot is because their growth hormones are only released during this time.

A cat’s brain is 90% similar to a human’s, with the overall structure and the sections that control emotion being almost identical.

The cat-headed Egyptian goddess Bastet was thought to fight a nightly battle with the serpent of darkness (the enemy of the sun). When the sun rose every morning, it proved Bastet had won.

Cats may have a lower social IQ than dogs but research has shown they can solve more difficult cognitive problems. When they feel like it, of course!

Research suggests black cats may be more resistant to some diseases.

Some sources claim that cats have better long-term memory than dogs.

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Mayhew International updates

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Our teams in Afghanistan and Georgia faced many challenges throughout 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Despite these difficulties, Mayhew Afghanistan reached their original target to neuter 10,000 dogs in the first 12 months of their programme in October, and Mayhew Georgia surpassed their target to neuter and vaccinate 1,000 dogs in 2020! As we move into 2021, we caught up with both teams to find out more about their recent work. ATION

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Georgia

n 2020, Mayhew Georgia made incredible progress: they neutered and vaccinated 1,054 free-roaming and community dogs, and provided training for four local vets!

Amid the festivities for Orthodox Christmas (celebrated on 7 January), our Trap, Vaccinate, Neuter, Return programme in Tbilisi was put on hold from the third week in December 2019 until mid-January 2020. There then followed a curfew in Georgia due to strict measures to control the spike in coronavirus cases in the country; however, our vets were able to restart the programme on their return in January and continue their vital work. 10 I

Our team is also working hard to continue its work with mobile veterinary clinic Doggie Doc. Their collaborative programme, which focuses on neutering and vaccinating free-roaming and community-owned dogs in areas with no veterinary provision, has been on hold until spring due to harsh winter conditions which have made the more remote regions less accessible, but we plan to now target five new areas.

Helping dogs in need in Tbilisi

Mayhew Georgia’s Veterinary Surgeon Dr Ana and the team have recently been helping a vulnerable dog owner in the city who was struggling to cope. Local doggy day care provider Barbare contacted us about an

owner with several puppies (including these two pictured above) who were in a severe condition and were diagnosed with canine parvovirus. Luckily, with the help of Barbare and under the guidance of Dr Ana, the puppies were treated in isolation and thankfully have recovered. Most of them have also found new homes, with Mayhew Georgia covering their vaccinations and neutering. This is a sensitive and ongoing case which our team continues to work on. We hope to share an update later in the year.

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Afghanistan

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ayhew Afghanistan also ended the year on a positive note: they neutered 9,193 dogs and vaccinated 12,210 dogs against rabies in total in 2020! We’re so proud of the incredible steps our team has made in spite of work being put on hold due to the coronavirus between March and June 2020.

As we move into 2021, we are hoping to complete the third year of our mass rabies vaccination programme and move into our fourth year. Recently, there have been five confirmed positive cases of rabies in freeroaming dogs in Kabul, so our Community Engagement team has been visiting these areas to raise awareness of rabies and revaccinate dogs to reduce the spread.

Working with the district elders

Tragically, a young boy in District 12, located on the outskirts of Kabul, passed away from dog-mediated rabies in November 2020. The local residents were shaken by the terrible news and felt extremely upset and scared. As a result, a few residents requested for all the dogs in the area to be culled. Dr Abdul-Jalil Mohammadzai (Dr Mo), Country Director for Mayhew Afghanistan, arranged a meeting with local leaders – the district elders – to work out how Mayhew Afghanistan could help. After speaking about our mass rabies vaccination programme and our parallel neutering programme, Dr Mo was able to convince them to drop their request to cull the dogs, and we immediately sent our team to conduct a concentrated vaccination drive in the area.

Our team is implementing new ways of working more closely and effectively with the district elders across all districts in Kabul. Two years ago, they set up a rabies hotline in Kabul and as their work becomes more recognised in the community, the team has started to receive many more calls. In 2020, they received a total of 254 calls about dog bites, sick dogs and concerns regarding high numbers of dogs in an area. As awareness of our work increases, there have also been some calls enquiring about vaccination and neutering. It is essential that we continue to work closely with the communities and district elders in Kabul, and we are delighted to be getting positive feedback from them.

Developing veterinary skills in Kabul

In recent months, Dr Mo has been providing Continued Professional Development (CPD) for the vets at our Animal Birth Control (ABC) Centre to help them develop their skills. One such session included training on wound management and reconstruction in dogs – a vital skill. “In order to continue building [our vets’] skills and confidence, it’s essential that we provide CPD,” says Dr Mo. “Conducting neutering surgeries every day can be repetitive,

and this training is helping to keep them motivated and interested. By providing regular training to vets who will later train others too, we are also helping to pass knowledge down to future generations.”

SUPPORT OUR WORK OVERSEAS

Our achievements in Afghanistan and Georgia have been made possible thanks to your support and generosity. In order to continue our work to improve the lives of dogs, cats and communities over the coming years, we need your help. Please turn to the cover sheet included with this issue of Tails magazine to find out how you can donate to support our work overseas. You can also make a donation via our website: donate.themayhew.org.

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A leap forward for animal welfare in Ranchi, India

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treet and community dogs in India often face a number of challenges – they lack access to resources and are at risk of disease, traffic accidents and, sadly, abuse. For over 15 years, we’ve supported local charity Helping Organisation for People, Environment (HOPE) & Animal Trust to improve the lives of free-roaming dogs and protect communities in Ranchi, northern India. At the end of 2020, we wrapped up our work in Ranchi and will be focusing on our vital programmes in Georgia and Afghanistan. Our collaboration with HOPE & Animal Trust has led to some fantastic achievements, which we are so proud to have been a part of. Since 2008, we’ve been funding HOPE & Animal Trust’s Animal Birth Control and Vaccination programme. Rabies is a deadly disease and India a particular hotspot. Under this programme, thousands of freeroaming and community dogs in Ranchi city have been neutered and vaccinated, helping to break the chain of virus transmission and prevent the spread of rabies, as well as attempting to humanely control the dog population. *Humane Society International Dog Population Survey, 2019.

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Today, Ranchi has a stable dog population, with no growth in the number of dogs on the street.* Almost 100,000 dogs have been neutered and vaccinated, which is over 72% of free-roaming dogs, and there have been no recorded human rabies deaths in the city since 2017.

More achievements to be proud of

We’ve worked hard to support HOPE & Animal Trust with capacity building, which has involved several Mayhew vets spending time in Ranchi over the years. Dr Mo worked with the team at HOPE & Animal Trust to redesign and modernise their veterinary clinic – and the team were so delighted with the results they named the new clinic after him! We’ve helped with training local vets in

the latest neutering techniques, skills and expertise, which have then been passed on to others. In total, 47 local vets have been trained during our collaboration.

We also funded an Education Officer to visit local communities and schools. The education and awareness programme has reached well over 500,000 people and has had a huge impact according to HOPE & Animal Trust founder and CEO Praveen Ohal: “Over a decade of educational activity has helped Ranchi’s population understand the importance of sterilisation, ‘dos and don’ts’ with dogs and how to be kind towards all animals. I think this is making a big difference in helping us to change behaviours and build compassion towards the stray dogs.”

international

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Mayhew International supported animal welfare activities in Ranchi where it was most required. There was not even a single animal welfare group in the northern region prior to 2006, when we introduced the first vaccination and education drive and a good animal shelter was funded in the city.

“

HOPE to the rescue

The team at HOPE & Animal Trust often see free-roaming dogs who are in desperate need of medical intervention. Here are a few recent cases they have dealt with.

Praveen Ohal, founder and CEO, HOPE & Animal Trust

Kalu (above top) was found near a shopping mall. It appeared that his eye had been pierced with a sharp object and he must have been in an excruciating amount of pain. He was rushed to HOPE’s veterinary clinic, but sadly his eye was so badly damaged it couldn’t be saved. Following surgery to remove the eye and a period of recuperation, he made a full recovery and was released back onto the streets.

HELPING OUR WORK IN AFGHANISTAN

The team at HOPE & Animal Trust were an integral part of training of our dog-catching and vaccination teams in Kabul for Mayhew Afghanistan. They generously passed on invaluable advice and expertise in this field, for which we would like to express our sincere thanks.

Last summer, the team came to the aid of a young dog (above bottom) who was found with a wire deeply embedded in his neck – not only extremely painful but leaving him open to life-threatening infection. Luckily, vet Dr Ajoy was able to carefully remove the wire and stitch up the wound and the dog was soon happily back on his paws!

HOPE & Animal Trust have made outstanding progress in improving the lives of both dogs and people. We have enabled them to achieve this through our collaboration, providing funding, support and expertise, and they are now in a strong position to continue their great work. We wish the team the best of luck!

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If a stray dog is injured or needs help, people call us. Lots of local people are even adopting the dogs from the streets and coming forward to get them neutered if they’re not already. The compassion towards stray dogs is definitely improving, and the local communities are starting to see the benefit of living harmoniously alongside the dogs.

“

Praveen Ohal, founder and CEO, HOPE & Animal Trust

A dreadfully sick pup was found suffering from a painful prolapse and parasitic infection. Dr Ajoy operated on the area to help her condition and neutered the pup at the same time. She was treated with parasite control and pain relief and luckily, with the help of the team, she was able to make a full recovery.

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SPRING 2021

Making sure your h liday goes swimmingly

e don’t know about you, but after the last year we’re longing for our next holiday. If you are planning your first trip once restrictions allow, there’s a lot to think about for your pet, whether they’re staying home or packing their suitcase too! And if you’ve become a new pet owner since lockdown, you may be extra unsure about where to start. From purrfect summer breaks to winter va-cat-ions, with the right planning any holiday can go smoothly for you and your four-legged friend. Here are our top tips to consider from Cat and Dog Adoption Officers Matt and Lisa.

To take or not to take?

First thing’s first, you need to decide if bringing your pet on holiday is right for them. For cats, we would generally advise that they will be happier and safer left at home with a trusted sitter, in the environment they are used to. In certain situations, such as if you have a regular holiday home which you want to visit often, and if your cat has become used to travelling from a young age, this can be worked around. Consider your cat’s personality and make the right choice for them.

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Many dogs will love the opportunity to come on holiday with you, be it a UK staycation or further afield. But again, think about your dog’s individual character – if they are nervous of new environments, they might feel more comfortable at home too. While short journeys can be a good part of kitten and puppy development and training, we would not advise planning a holiday while your pet is younger than six months old, or if they have been with you for less than six months if adopted as an adult.

“

Preparation is everything if you do decide to share your holiday with your pet. As long as the whole trip has been thought of from their perspective, you can look forward to creating amazing memories together.

“

Lisa Guiney, Dog Adoption Officer

Staying home

Both dogs and cats will cope better while you are on holiday if they are in familiar surroundings. You can ask your local vet to recommend a trusted pet-sitter in your area to look after your four-legged friend in your home; or if you have family or friends you and your pet trust, that can be even better. If you are using a pet-sitter, or if a neighbour is popping in to care for your pet, it’s a good idea to have them over to your home beforehand to start building a relationship. Catteries and kennels are the alternative if pet-sitting really isn’t an option. Pay a visit to make sure you like the facilities and staff and are happy to leave your pet there. Cats and dogs will need to be fully vaccinated, including for kennel cough for dogs, and it’s a good idea to flea and worm beforehand as well.

Cats and dogs should always stay on the same food and feeding routines, so you should provide supplies and information to the cattery or kennel, or to the people caring for your pet at home. For cats staying at home, pheromone plug-ins are a great tool to use in preparation and during your time away to keep them extra calm – we like Feliway or Pet Remedy.

We’re all going on a summer holiday

When travelling together, you’ll want to think about the destination carefully: a brachycephalic dog such as a pug is unlikely to appreciate a Mediterranean temperature, while a thin-coated Dobermann would need a suitable jacket before joining your alpine trip.

Think about how the change in environment will affect your dog. If they are used to rural life, a city break where they may see lots more dogs and strangers might be a shock to the system, and you will need a plan for managing that. Make sure that not just your accommodation but the activities and locations you will visit are pet-friendly. And find out where the local vet is, save their phone number and note if they are open for emergencies 24 hours a day.

Check that your pet insurance will still be valid if you are going abroad and speak to your vet to understand what vaccinations or other preparation is needed, particularly if heading overseas. It’s a good idea to update your pet’s tag with the details of your holiday home or hotel just in case they go missing.

Travelling abroad with your pet after Brexit

You can no longer use a pet passport issued in England, Wales or Scotland for travel to an EU country or Northern Ireland. You can, however, still use a pet passport that has been issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland as normal. An EU-issued pet passport or Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is now required for travel to the EU and Northern Ireland. Travel outside the EU requires an Export Health Certificate (EHC). Please discuss your pet’s travel at the earliest opportunity with a veterinary surgeon with Official Vet status, who will be able to advise on the requirements and issue the relevant paperwork if appropriate. See gov.uk/taking-your-petabroad for further information.

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SPRING 2021

Wish you were here

A few of our volunteers share their favourite holiday snaps!

“Here is my cat Herman enjoying his second/holiday home in Kent. He loves exploring the fields behind my mum’s house and watching the squirrels and birds.”

Tanya

Are we there yet?

Once you’ve planned and are ready to go, it’s time to make the journey itself comfortable and stress-free for your four-legged companion. If flying, call the airline to see if your pet can travel with you in the cabin – cargo environments can be stressful, with low temperatures, which we would strongly advise against. If you are taking a ferry, never leave your pet in the car unattended. Check the rules for pets travelling with you on deck or in your cabin.

Driving is the safest and most comfortable option. Cats will need a large, oversized carrier that they are used to travelling in. For crate-trained dogs who see it as their safe space, using their crate in the car might be a good option; otherwise, buy a secure dog harness that can attach to a seatbelt. They will need to wear this even if they sit with a human (which can be good for keeping them calm!). Make sure your pet has had a long walk or roam around before setting off. Pack fresh water for the journey, as well as some treats, toys or food in a slow-feed dispenser to keep them entertained. Factor in toilet and rest stops and be very mindful of the car’s temperature getting too warm. Remember: dogs die in hot cars, so never leave them alone in a car on a warm day, even for just a few minutes. 16 I

Bon voyage

Finally – you’ve arrived at your holiday destination! The next couple of days are all about settling your pet in, doing some final safety checks and relaxing into your break. Even if your pet is used to being left alone, we advise spending the first days with them as they adapt to their surroundings. Make a plan for the times you will need to leave them alone – they might not be as calm as they are at home. Bringing their bed from home, familiar toys and treats will help them feel comfortable.

Walk around the gardens or grounds, looking out for any ponds, gaps in fencing or areas where your pet may be able to dig out. If you do decide to let your dog off the lead, don’t leave them unattended. We wouldn’t advise letting cats outside at all unless it is a familiar second home where you are spending several weeks at a time. Once you and your pet are happy, try to keep to your home routine in terms of walks and mealtimes, and it’s a good idea to bring enough cat or dog food for the whole trip. Now you can relax and enjoy making welldeserved happy memories!

“Raf enjoys his (pup-friendly) ice cream on the beach after working up an appetite swimming in the sea in Cornwall!”

Francesca C

“Here is a happy, sandy Tilly at East Portlemouth beach in Devon, which is one of our favourite places.”

Francesca O

Coping with the loss of a four-legged friend

aying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest moments many of us will ever face. Our animals become central to our family and for some people are their only companion, so it isn’t surprising that we can feel overwhelmed by grief when we lose them. Pet loss is something that has recently been discussed in the media after comedian Miranda Hart movingly shared her own experience, but it can be a hard subject to talk about for many. We asked our Veterinary team to share their expert advice to help pet owners.

Time to say goodbye

Many pet owners find themselves having to make the difficult decision to have their pet put down. This can cause feelings of guilt and sadness, and it can be tempting to avoid making the decision in the hope that the pet will pass away on their own. Sadly, in many cases pets will not pass away peacefully in their sleep. Euthanasia literally translates as ‘good death’. Taking responsibility for a pain-free, peaceful death is maybe one of the kindest things an owner can do for a much-loved pet.

What to do when your pet passes away

If you believe your pet has died at home, it’s important to check that they have truly passed away. Place two fingers on their

chest behind the point of the elbow – if your pet has passed, you will be unable to feel a heartbeat. If your pet’s eyes are open, they will not blink when you tap at the corner of the eye. You should always contact your vet so that they can confirm the death. Being unsure what to do with your pet’s remains can add to the distress that you feel. You may wish to bury your pet at home. In the UK it is legal to bury pets on land that you own, but not in the grounds of rented property or public spaces. Another option is to have your pet’s remains cremated. This can either be arranged through your vet or directly with a local pet cremation service.

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SPRING 2021

Assessing your pet’s quality of life

There are some questions that you can ask yourself or discuss with close friends and family to help you decide whether your pet still has a good quality of life. Please check with your vet or veterinary nurse to see if there are any adjustments you can make at home.

Are they showing signs of pain?

These might include being unwilling to get out of bed; panting, shaking or trembling; hiding away; or avoiding being stroked.

Are they eating and drinking normally?

Adequate food and fluid intake is important for your pet’s health and eating food is an activity that pets usually enjoy. If they no longer take any enjoyment in eating, this will have an impact on their overall quality of life.

Are they toileting normally?

Cats may stop using their litter tray. Dogs that are normally housetrained may stop letting you know that they need to go outside to toilet. Sometimes pets may urinate or defecate while they are sleeping.

Do they still enjoy activities that they used to?

It can be helpful to write a list of a few things that your pet enjoys most, such as playing with toys or going for a walk, and review whether they are still able to do these things.

Are they sleeping normally?

Some pets may sleep much more than they used to; others may struggle to sleep and might start barking or meowing during the night.

How well are you and your pet coping with any treatments they need?

If you are struggling with giving medications to your pet, discuss this with your vet or veterinary nurse as there may be alternative options that are easier to administer.

What happens when a pet is put to sleep?

Euthanasia is usually carried out by injecting an overdose of anaesthetic, most commonly into a vein on a front leg, although it can be given in other areas of the body. If a pet is stressed or agitated, they may be given a sedative beforehand to help them feel more relaxed.

As the injection takes effect, the animal will start to feel sleepy and then peacefully fall unconscious within a few seconds. After a short time, their breathing and heart will stop. The vet will confirm that they have passed away by listening with a stethoscope. It may be helpful to discuss with your vet what to expect during the euthanasia procedure so you are as prepared as you can be.

Time to grieve

Losing a pet is very upsetting and people deal with the loss in different ways. Give yourself time to grieve. Pets are an important part of our lives and it is natural to miss them. Feeling shock, anger, sadness or guilt are all normal and there is no right or wrong way to experience grief – how you feel is unique to you. Children, in particular, can find coping with the loss of a pet difficult. It may well be their first experience of death and it can be hard for them to understand. How you explain what has happened will vary depending on the age of the child, but in general it is best to be honest, leaving out any distressing details and using straightforward terms. Try to avoid phrases like ‘put to sleep’ or saying that the pet has gone away as this can be confusing.

Many people find it helpful to talk about how they are feeling with a supportive friend 18 I

or family member. Help is also available from bereavement counsellors or pet bereavement support services.

Helping other pets cope with loss

Whether or not to show the body of your deceased pet to any surviving pets to help them understand what has happened is a really common question. As long as the deceased pet doesn’t pose a risk of infection (check this with your vet if you are unsure) and you are comfortable doing so, then you can. Be aware that animals may not have the

Saying goodbye to Trilby

Mayhew volunteer Pete East shares how he has coped with the loss of his beloved cat.

Trilby was an unwanted stray who found his way into my life – and my heart. I named him Trilby after watching Foyle’s War on TV, where the main character wears a trilby hat. Unfortunately, he started suffering from caudal stomatitis [an extremely painful condition which same awareness of death as people so may not react as calmly and gently as you might expect.

The best thing you can do to help your surviving pet cope is to try to keep their routine as normal as possible to help them adapt to the change. It might be tempting to bring home a new pet so that they have a companion, but this shouldn’t be rushed into and should only be considered if it is the right thing for the whole family.

My vet was very kind and reassured me I was doing the right thing. The procedure was very quick, peaceful and calm, and they allowed me to be with him for a while afterwards. I felt overwhelming guilt and worry (“I shouldn’t have given up”; “Maybe if I’d done something different, he might still be alive”).

Remembering your pet

Once you have taken some time to grieve, you may wish to do something to commemorate your pet’s life. Celebrate the happy memories you had together by displaying photos of your pet around your home or planting a new plant in their favourite spot in the garden. You could also consider sponsoring one of our cat cabins or dog rooms to commemorate your pet’s life in a way that will leave a lasting legacy for other pets in the future.

FINDING SUPPORT

If you are struggling with the loss of a pet, there are organisations that can offer support and advice, including the Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service (call 0800 096 6606 or email pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk) and pet loss support website theralphsite.com.

to manage the disease. I found many different ways of giving the tablets to him – mixing them with hairball paste and getting him to lick it off my finger, mixing them with mashed-up tuna and sprinkling them on wafer-thin chicken. Last summer, Trilby started getting picky with his food, even when I coaxed him with his favourite dishes, and it seemed uncomfortable for him to eat. My vet said we were running out of options. The inside of Trilby’s mouth was very inflamed; he wasn’t interested in food and wasn’t sleeping in his favourite places, preferring to hide away. He had another steroid injection and I tried to coax him to eat in order to give him the oral medication and painkillers, but it seemed to cause him more pain as the days went on. I couldn’t bear to see him like this and felt I had to make the heartbreaking decision that it was in his best interest to have him put to sleep. I’ve never felt so sad.

causes inflamed gums and mouth tissue]. He had dental procedures over the years and most of his teeth were removed, which can often help cats with this condition. However, last year he needed steroid injections and tablets

My friends have been supportive. I’ve also called the Pet Bereavement Service several times and they have been fantastic. I think it’s really helpful to speak to someone who really understands what it is like to lose a pet.

Trilby was a real character, a big softy and such an affectionate cat. I’m so glad that I had him and was able to take care of him when he was poorly. I really do miss him so much.

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SPRING 2021

Play and learn with your canine pal

s we continue to navigate our way through the pandemic, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of pups being bought or adopted. While we have plenty of evidence for how beneficial the human–animal bond can be, owning a dog is a big responsibility and a long-term commitment.

Done right, this time can be really enjoyable for you both, so our team has put together some fun and helpful tips and advice on how to keep your pooch active, healthy and entertained.

You can teach dogs new tricks

Training and socialisation are an important part of your dog’s life. For puppies, training will help your little one develop into a great dog, while also providing mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. This can include anything from teaching your puppy basic commands and recall to toilet training and games to engage their brains – and it doesn’t have to stop once your puppy becomes an adult, as older dogs will benefit greatly from ongoing training too.

Socialisation is the process by which a puppy or dog learns to interact positively with people and other animals. While some elements of socialising your dog will be more challenging during the pandemic, it is a vital stage of development and should not be missed out on. Socialising includes getting your puppy used to new smells, familiarising them with the car and, of course, encouraging them to be confident around people and dogs outside the household.

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Start with the basics

Teaching your dog basic commands will help keep them safe throughout their life. It also helps prevent undesirable behaviours in your house, such as turning your favourite shoe into a chew toy! A command like “leave” or “drop” will help in many situations, and a solid recall will make offlead exercise more relaxing for all.

Have a go at teaching your dog commands like “sit”, “stay” and “leave it”, and see how they get on. If your dog already knows these commands, keep

“

Find out what really motivates your dog – this could be a treat or a toy – and use this during training sessions to get the best out of your pup. Tanya Madden, Deputy Head of Animal Welfare

“

Taking care of a four-legged friend, young or old, requires a lot of hard work, long hours, dedication and training, as you may have already experienced! Your new family member will be totally dependent on you, so you need to be around the home as they settle down and begin to explore life in a new environment.

practising them frequently and try your hand at new ones. Can your dog learn the “down” command? There are plenty of online training resources if you’re stuck for inspiration.

Don’t forget to keep training sessions short and fun. Remember: they should be enjoyable for both you and the dog and always end on a positive note.

Ask an expert

Dog trainers and behaviourists can also be a great help when training your new best friend. It’s important to find a trainer who practises positive reinforcement. We recommend that you use one who is accredited by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (apdt.co.uk), the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (imdt.uk.com) or the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (apbc.org.uk).

Enrichment ideas for your canine companion

You will often hear dog owners, trainers and other specialists talk about enrichment, but what is this and why is it an important aspect of our dogs’ lives? Canine enrichment refers to any form of mental stimulation for your dog. Providing your dog with adequate and appropriate enrichment and entertainment will ensure your dog is healthier, happier and easier to live with.

There are plenty of ways you can incorporate enrichment into your daily routine with your dog, from feeding time to walks – it can even be used to help calm them down. Head to advice. themayhew.org for plenty of tips, tricks and inspiration that will help you enrich your dog’s life.

Be in the know

From microchipping your pooch to picking up their poop, there are laws that will affect you as a pet owner. Here are just a few that are worth familiarising yourself with.

Collar and tag law When in a public place, your dog must wear a collar with your name and address on it or on a tag. As a preventative measure against pet theft, we don’t recommend adding your dog’s name to its collar. Microchipping Since 2016, it has been a legal requirement for your dog to be microchipped – a vital procedure that will help you and your dog be reunited should your dog become lost or be stolen.

Fouling The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 made it a criminal offence for an owner to knowingly allow their dogs to foul and not pick it up. So keep those poo bags at hand, ready to scoop the poop!

Here for you

Getting a bouncy, playful canine companion is thrilling and rewarding, but in all that excitement it is sometimes easy to forget that pet ownership is a lifetime commitment, one that has financial implications too. Sadly, puppies and young dogs get signed over to us all too often, soon after being bought, as families realise they cannot cope. If you are struggling with your dog, please contact Mayhew for help and advice.

Turn to Ma yhew advice hub ’s Head to

our website to check ou new advice t our bran hub and cat own : advice.themahew.org ders can find . Dog helpful hints from our Ve and tips t team and anim from how to toilet train yo al care experts, ur puppy to grooming yo tips for ur pet. If the re are any p topics you’d a rt icular like covered , let us know emailing ta ils@mayhe by wanimalho me.org.

I 21

SPRING 2021

Your letters Turnip

Dear Matt,

Kari (was Carol) Hi Matt,

Just writing to thank you so much for allowing me to adopt Kari. She hardly leaves my side, is extremely affectionate and nudges me if I’m not giving her enough attention. I was even trying to type this with her sitting on my shoulder just now! She is an absolute sweetheart who has been a great companion during the recent lockdown. Many thanks, Lesley

Marly (was Tanna) Dear Lisa,

Marly has settled in straight away and is very calm. She responded to her new name very quickly and really loves her walks in the park, especially chasing squirrels. She goes through a lot of squeaky toys and rawhide bones and she thinks she’s a lapdog, but luckily for me she has lost a bit of weight! I love her so much; she is the perfect dog for me and she is very spoilt. Amanda

Turnip made himself at home immediately – he stepped out of his carrier and straight into our laps for a cuddle. His condition [radial hypoplasia, meaning his front legs haven’t grown to a normal size] doesn’t hold him back at all. He’s found his voice in a big way and likes to chat whilst following us around the house and helping us with work, but ultimately his favourite thing to do will always be snoozing! We’re absolutely besotted with him and are so thankful to Mayhew for bringing him into our lives. Hannah

Rocky (was Armando) Hi Lisa,

As you know, I helped my elderly parents look to rehome a suitable dog after their beloved Jack Russell, who came to them from Mayhew, passed away. Once again, they found the perfect match! Rocky has settled in so well and absolutely adores his new owners. He has such funny little habits and regularly makes us all laugh. He loves nothing more than chasing his squeaky toys and curling up on the laps of both parents. Rocky is a much-loved member of our family and entertains us all – thank you, Mayhew. Denise

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Mill Lane Veterinary Surgery Advanced medical care for your pets Proud to support Mayhew Joshua Rusnak BVSc CertSAS MRCVS 68-70 Mill Lane London NW6 1NJ www.mill-lane-vet.com 020 7794 1777

New clinic now open: Alymer Parade Vet 17 Aylmer Parade London N2 0PH

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Here for you

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Cats Protection calls for air gun licencing over fears lighter days will lead to more cat shootings Cats Protection is renewing its call for the Government to license air guns, with lighter days following the clock change feared to lead to an increase in cats being victims of shootings. he UK’s leading cat charity says its research shows an increase of nearly 50% in the number of air gun attacks on cats in the spring and summer compared to the rest of the year. Katherine Brown’s much-loved cat Alaska died shortly after being shot by an air gun near her home in Bristol last August. She said: “It was the most traumatic experience which I wouldn’t wish on any animal. Alaska was a lovely, friendly young cat and was out near our home on a sunny afternoon. When she staggered into the garden, we could see straight away she was hurt and rushed her to a vet, but she died 20 minutes later. “Until this happened, I had no idea that anyone over the age of 18 could purchase an air gun without the need for a licence. You just assume there must be some kind of restriction over these lethal weapons that can inflict such injuries. Not only was it devastating to lose Alaska in such a horrific way, it’s really worrying that there are people around who use weapons like this in such a nasty and reckless manner.” Cats Protection, the UK's largest cat charity which helps around 200,000 cats every year, has been campaigning for air gun licensing in England and Wales, in line with existing laws in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Cats Protection’s Senior Advocacy & Government Relations Officer Madison Rogers said: “In the past, we've seen nearly 50% more press reports of shootings occurring in the months from April to September compared with the rest of the year. Sadly, warmer weather and longer hours of daylight seems to bring out the worst in people who wish to harm defenceless animals. “Air gun attacks can leave cats with significant, lifechanging injuries. It is not uncommon for them to lose their sight or need to have a limb amputated. Tragically, many cats do not survive their injuries. The misuse of air guns is also a concern for the wider community and the safety of everyone in local neighbourhoods. “Many people are shocked to learn that these lethal weapons can be owned by anyone aged over 18 in England and Wales. This is in contrast with Scotland and Northern Ireland, which both have sensible, modern laws in place that require licensing of air guns. Legislation on air gun ownership is now well overdue in England and Wales. “We’d urge owners to be on their guard for any signs

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

Katherine Brown’s much-loved cat Alaska

of injury in their cat. If your cat has been shot, it’s important to seek veterinary assistance urgently and report it to the police.” In November 2020, the Government announced the outcome of a consultation on air guns which ended in 2018, deciding not to consider the case for licensing air guns any further at this time, but looking at reducing access to air guns for under-18s. Madison added: “Cats Protection welcomes this small positive step but will be pressing for the decision not to introduce licensing of these lethal weapons to be reconsidered. Cats Protection will also continue to raise our concern that unlicensed access to air guns is resulting in countless cats and other animals being shot, injured and killed. “In the meantime, we’d urge any owner whose cat is sadly shot with an air gun to report it to the police. Not enough is known about who the perpetrators of these crimes are, and prosecutions are rare. We monitor shootings through press reports, but not all cases may be reported, so the numbers we see may be the tip of the iceberg.” Cats Protection’s petition calling for air gun licensing in England and Wales has now gathered over 115,000 signatures. To sign the petition, please visit www.cats.org.uk/airgunpetition www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Kayzer

Devil’s Bridge Rum team up with Animal Rescue Cymru to save Welsh dogs Like Kayzer Devil’s Bridge Rum have launched a new initiative to help rescue and rehome dogs in Wales. he rum brand have teamed up with Animal Rescue Cymru to help abandoned, condemned or homeless dogs find new homes – and take care of them until that happens. The premium drinks brand was inspired by the story of the Devil’s Bridge, where a woman tricked the devil with the help of her heroic dog – so we want to help the heroes who save dogs in real life. Yvonne Hazell of Animal Rescue Cymru said: “Covid has hit us quite hard, as our shop is closed, no fundraising events for a year now and the adoptions have dropped off dramatically. The Devil’s Bridge Rum

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

partnership was very appealing and will be a huge help to us, especially as they are a local company. “I think our dream for the charity would be to rehome more animals to suitable homes and to rid the world of puppy farms, having seen so many damaged dogs come into our rescue from these terrible people. “So the wider the coverage and support our rescue gets, the better. The rescue has appeared on both BBC Wales & Channel 4 and hopefully now with our partnership with Devil’s Bridge Rum and exposure on their website and social media that will help us spread our message.” www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Devil’s Bridge Rum Dog – Kayzer, with our help now has a lovely new home! KAYZER is a Staffie cross Labrador, approximately 10 years young and the centre was looking for an experienced, active home. Kayzer is typical of a Staffie – very energetic, despite his age and full of fun! He needed a home where someone could be around most of the time, as he does not do well when left and can be destructive. He needs quite a lot of exercise and mental stimulation and his recall is not always perfect! His new owners weren’t put off by his age since Kayzer is still a young dog at heart. DBR co-founder Gregor Shaw, pictured with his beloved dachshund Pickles, said: “Some of the stories you hear about mistreated or abandoned dogs are simply heart-breaking. “Our brand is built around the notion of this beautiful, cheeky, clever little dog tricking the devil for his owner – and any dog owner knows that is exactly what your pet would do for you.

Devil’s Bridge Rum co-founder Gregor Shaw www.rescueandanimalcare.com

“We want to help real dogs in the real world. We wanted to do this locally by partnering with a small organisation who would REALLY benefit from our help. The big charities are great but our support would be a drop in the ocean to them – lots of people donate to them already. “With Animal Rescue Cymru we feel we can genuinely make a difference to the amazing people who run the charity, and of course to the dogs themselves, whether that’s paying for the roof over their heads, promoting the dogs on our site and getting people to try to adopt them or donate to the rescue. Whatever we can do to help. “We know the support we are giving them makes a massive difference and will hopefully allow them to help even more dogs. That’s our goal. “I’d like to grow this initiative in the coming years as our brand grows. We are starting out small, just like our company, coming out of the heart of Wales. Then as we grow we want to build on what we are doing with Animal Rescue Cymru, with them and with other rescues across Wales. “And then beyond that – who knows where we can go with this. We want to have lots of real-life Devil’s Bridge Dogs, so people can see when they support our brand they’re also helping support real dogs and get them into proper homes. “We are so excited about this and really hope we can make a huge difference to Yvonne and her team of amazing volunteers. I look at Pickles and just can’t bear the thought of anything happening to her, so I and the DBR team want to make sure we do all we can to help as many dogs as possible.” We have been working behind the scenes with the charity for a few months now and cementing a partnership we hope will last for years – and eventually grow across the UK. In fact the first dog we started working with Animal Rescue Cyrmu on, Kali – who starred in our Valentine’s Day animation – has already been rehomed. A win before we even properly got started! Devil’s Bridge Rum is sponsoring the full cost of a kennel for the charity and taking care of its occupant, so whichever dog is in that kennel becomes the Devil’s Bridge Dog. Then when that pooch is rehomed, a new dog will be moved into our kennel and we will take care of them and ask our supporters to help too, through donations or even applying to rehome our dog. We want to give back to Wales and help dogs in our beloved country find the homes they deserve. Yvonne of Animal Rescue Cymru said: “Our rescue was formed in 2010 and became a registered charity in 2011. We are run entirely by volunteers, and have no paid staff, receive no government funding and raise all the funds by adoption donations, fund raising events (shows etc) and through our small charity shop in Cardigan. “Obviously both the events and shop are not RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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Devil’s Bridge Rum Dog Cassie seeks loving new home

CASSIE IS A PATTERDALE CROSS LAKELAND TERRIER, APPROX. 8YRS OLD She is looking for a very experienced & special home. She is very people friendly, although we feel she will need an adult only home, with no visiting young children as she is very excitable. Cassie will also need a home without any other dogs, cats or other small furries as she has quite a high prey drive, which is typical of so many terrier breeds. She will be best suited to a rural home, with no close neighbours or passing people, with plenty of space to run & play, & where she will be less likely to meet other dogs, as she is very

operating at the moment due to Covid restrictions - so any sponsorship is most welcome. “The charity doesn't have its own premises so we use a local Boarding Kennels and Cattery, for which we pay a very much reduced daily rent for each dog and cat. The Kennel Owners are a big part of our volunteer network - in fact we couldn't run the rescue without them! “And now our friends at Devil’s Bridge Rum are part of the team too. We only take animals from within Wales, but we rehome all over the UK.” 32

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unpredictable on walks. For this reason, Cassie will have to wear a muzzle when in any public place. She also has a habit of “guarding” her home & will bark at anyone she can see that passes the home or comes to the door. Cassie will be a challenge, but she is a loving girl who enjoys her home comforts & loves her food. Contact the centre direct with any queries, donations or offers of support www.animalrescuecymru.co.uk

We can’t imagine life without our own Devil’s Bridge Rum Dog – maybe we can help you find yours? Go to devilsbridgerum.com for more info. And for more on our amazing charity partner please see www.animalrescuecymru.co.uk

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Clever Dog

My dog has a very cute way of making me understand that he would very much like a treat. He sits on his hind-legs and looks up at me pathetically then he sticks his tongue out a few times and makes a little noise. I think he is super-intelligent. Actually he just knows how to press my buttons and often gets his reward for doing so. I swear that once he even said “sausages”, but since he never did it again and no-one else heard him it doesn’t count for much. By Juliet Abrahamson

“Intelligent dog!”

It is true that all dogs have some level of intelligence–some more than others depending on the breed – and that man’s best friend does his or her best to get in our good books. Many dogs understand a lot of words or commands, and dogs have been trained and bred over hundreds of years to assist humans in many ways: to hunt, to fish, to herd animals, to track scents, and to be guide dogs or working dogs as well as to be companions. So a dog that can be easily trained to excel in these skills, has good concentration and likes working, is loyal and friendly and talkative is perceived to be an intelligent dog. As well as being man’s best friend, the dog is able to be a support animal in ever-increasing fields. I find it amazing that some dogs can detect cancer and other illnesses with their sense of smell, and the fact that dogs have been used to protect an owner who has a disability such as epilepsy. In this country dogs are used by over 7,000 disabled people to help them: hearing dogs, guide dogs, assistance with mobility, children with autism or people with severe depression. The list is ever-increasing. Specialist dogs for these kinds of disabilities are trained by professionals, but do you know that if your dog has the right temperament he or she could become a Pets as Therapy (PAT dog)? Dogs (or cats) can be assessed by this wonderful scheme to enable you to visit care homes or hospitals, special needs schools or hospices in order to give companionship and improve the lives of people.

The Smart List

There are certain breeds of dogs that are the most intelligent, or the best for a certain purpose. Highest on a list is the border collie who is excellent at herding and is used extensively by farmers, but also is extremely agile and very enthusiastic about learning. But they are also family dogs, and if given enough to do and think about can be brilliant in an environment that has children. Second place on the smartest dog list is the poodle, which surprisingly was once used to find and fetch water. Poodles are energetic, bright little dogs that can easily be trained. The third dog on the list is the German Shepherd dog as they are also easy to train being very loyal and hard-working. German Shepherds are often used as guard dogs or police dogs, but 34

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

they are also wonderful as family dogs and very protective of children. The favourite Golden Retriever is next in the intelligence stakes, and are easily trained to be rescue dogs, or seeing eye dogs because they are devoted to their owners. The Doberman, fifth on the list, matches the Retrievers’ ability for training, and are used as police dogs or guard dogs as they also have amazing strength and speed. Sixth on the intelligent list is the Shetland Sheepdog, and seventh the family-friendly Labrador, with one of the smallest dogs, the happy little Papillon, being eighth. The scenting ability of the Bloodhound gives it the ninth place, and the hard-working Rottweiler comes tenth.

Training the smart dog

All these dogs can be recognized as being animals that respond to training, but even if your dog is not one of these he will most certainly have trainable traits that you can develop. We all try to get our dogs to sit, give a paw, lie down, or fetch on command, and so long as we’re willing to be patient, to give plenty of treats, and to recognize which tricks or abilities your dog masters more easily, your dog will reward you because he loves you and wants to please. Or you give him a reward or a ‘good boy’ which makes him want to please you more. Dogs see their owners as the ‘boss’ who is the pack-leader and must be obeyed. We don’t growl or bark, but they learn through repetition of words and actions what we want from them. When you first start teaching your dog, you may need a pocketful of treats to reinforce your message, or you may find it useful to attend dog-training classes to get ideas and help in training your pup. It is a lot of fun to teach a dog new tricks, and agility training can be a brilliant way to expand your dog’s repertoire if you are looking for new ways to increase his or her abilities. Agility training is a sport that entails negotiating an obstacle course including weave poles, a dog walk, jumps, a table where a dog pauses, a tunnel, tire jump and a teeterboard. But home training can be made from all kinds of obstacles – a low bench to jump or to walk along, and an agility tunnel to run through. All of this can be great fun for a smart and happy dog that loves his owner – why not give it a go! www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Jumping

Naylor Agility manufacture a range of high quality dog agility tunnels. Our dog agility tunnels are handmade using superior heavy duty Fire Resistant PVC materials, making them extremely flexible, durable, robust and easy to wipe clean. They are weather and waterproof and can concertina for easy storage.

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through tunnels with Naylor Agility

Our agility tunnels are available in 600mm diameter with ten standard colours, five different lengths and three weights (Light, Medium and Heavy Duty). We manufacture to order to ensure your exact requirement is supplied considering your specific colours, loops, bags and design. We also manufacture 400mm Small dog/puppy tunnels, 800mm Hooper tunnels and 1000mm fun tunnels in the colour of your choice The lightweight dog agility tunnels are hand sewn and made using a thin wire helix. The helix is enclosed in a polypropylene tape scuff strip. Loops can be attached if required to secure the dog tunnel to the ground. End rings are used at each end of the tunnel for the entrance and exit of the tunnel. The medium weight dog agility tunnels are hand welded and made using a slightly heavier wire helix than the lightweight tunnels. The wire helix is enclosed in a highly durable PVC scuff extrusion. End rings are used at each end of the tunnel for the entrance and exit. To secure the dog tunnels we can supply various styles of sand bag

straps. The sand bag straps can be coloured to match your dog tunnel. The Heavy weight tunnels are more suitable for continual use in harsher environments Prices are available for all of the above and more on our web site, please visit www.nayloragility.co.uk or contact us directly for any other specific requirement n Visit www.nayloragility.co.uk. Call 01709 872574. Email nayloragility@naylor.co.uk

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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How to stop naughty pets destroying your home and costing you a fortune Pet owners tired of their pups and kitties tearing up soft furnishings and making messes are being offered tips to prevent damage to their home. The money saving team at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk are sharing advice on how to protect household items from ruin on a budget. arents of naughty pets can prevent costly damage from cat scratches with spray deterrents and encourage outdoor doggy toilet trips with a loud clap. Because pets are known for being the best company, the number of new owners has increased over lockdown, but they can make more chaos than bargained for. A few home insurance policies cover pet damage and liability, so it is worth checking details of protection with the provider. A spokesperson for NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “They

are cute, funny, and you love them to bits. But, sometimes the furry members of the household can cause the most expensive messes. “Regardless of if you are a new pet owner or if you have just started noticing new destructive behaviours, these tricks will help save money and protect your household items from chewing, scratching and biting. “Animals tend to have very short memories, so they won’t connect their past naughtiness with your current yelling or other punishment, so it is best to take more of a tactical approach to prevent

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damage from happening ahead, saving cash in the long run.”

Tips to prevent animal damage in the home: 1. Chewing

Canines love sinking their teeth into stuff. It is a natural, but annoying habit for dog lovers. To discourage destructive chewing of remote controls, shoes and furniture, owners can make a natural deterrent spray. Dogs will not like the bitter taste of vinegar or citrus oil, but it is harmless to them and will keep them from putting things www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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annoying. If your problematic area for scratches is around doorframes and the wooden legs, consider putting a post made of cedar in their space.

4. Tearing up

coated in it in their mouths. Seeing as chewing is natural, pet parents should make every effort to make DIY chewable toys from old household items. Using materials like old denim, ropes and old t-shirts is a great way to make money go further and give a new lease of life to old items ready for the bin.

2. Inside toilet trips

Puddles of pee and piles of poop are never fun for pet owners. They require lots of time to deep clean and can put costly stains on carpets. A dirty litter box is one of the first things that sends a cat elsewhere to do their business, so make sure your kitty's is kept clean and empty. If it is the dog who always gets caught in the act of doing their business inside the house, try and startle them slightly every time they get caught. A loud clap should stop the pup’s pee mid-stream, allowing

owners to lead them outside gently and in an encouraging way. To prevent repeat offenders, clean accidents with an enzymatic cleanser. It will destroy the odours that are likely to attract your pet back to the same spots.

3. Scratching

Couches and chairs are key targets when kitties want a scratch, but they are often the costliest items in the living area. To prevent damage from scratching cats, special herbal sprays can be bought at a pet store. They replace the scent of a cat’s territorial “markers” with a smell that is unpleasant to them but is barely noticeable to the human nose. If the spray doesn’t work, it might be an idea to use a doubleside sticky tape strip on particularly problematic areas, as paws are extremely sensitive to touch, making sticky surfaces exceptionally

Dogs are known for suffering from separation anxiety and vets advise they shouldn’t be left for more than four hours on their own. Sometimes it is unavoidable, but when dogs are anxious, they are notorious for tearing up anything they can get their paws on or teeth around. The best way to prevent it is by making sure the pup is too tired to cause a mess when no one is in the house. Tire them out by walking and running before they are alone and leave engaging and interactive puzzles, to mentally stimulate and exhaust them.

5. Rule out medical problems

Sometimes, problematic behaviour from a pet can be a cry for help. It is important to rule out any potential medial issues. Dogs are known for soiling indoors as a result of incontinence problems, but also because of a change in diet, new medications, gastrointestinal upset or anxiety issues. Cats often produce more urine and have more accidents when they are suffering from urinary tract infections or even kidney failure.

We are delighted to support the Animal Charities featured in this Magazine Tel: 01952 245330 www.rescueandanimalcare.com

www.dogmatic.org.uk RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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Tetanus survivor prompts reminder from vets The owners of a Labrador Retriever who survived a case of tetanus have asked the vets at Davies Veterinary Specialists (Davies), who treated Archie successfully for severe generalised tetanus, to remind other owners of the dangers of this potentially fatal disease.

rchie, a fit and healthy seven-year-old Labrador Retriever had been limping because of a split nail and was given some painkillers at his local practice. Three days later he started being sick, which was thought to be a reaction to the pain relief medication. He was given a course of antibiotics to treat the infected nail. “We noticed that Archie’s eyes looked smaller, and the muscles in his face were becoming rigid,” recalled Archie’s owner Reshma Bajaj. “So we rushed him straight back to our local vet practice.” Archie was given intravenous fluids but continued to deteriorate so was referred as an emergency to Davies, the Linnaeus-owned practice near Hitchin, Hertfordshire, where he was diagnosed with tetanus and placed in intensive care. Tetanus is caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. This bug is fairly widespread, though dogs have a high natural resistance against it. The disease develops when a wound becomes

infected, allowing bacteria to grow and the toxin to be generated and to seep into the nervous system. Once there, it interferes with nerve cell communication, preventing muscle relaxation and leading to uncontrolled muscle spasms. In some cases, the muscle spasms can be quite localised, perhaps just affecting the leg where the infection has arisen or the face. In more severe cases, the muscle spasms become generalised affecting the entire body. The legs become stiff and walking becomes difficult, the small muscles of the face become tense, pulling the lips into a forced grin, wrinkling the forehead and pulling the ears into an upright position. Because of the muscle spasms dogs can often no longer open their mouth. Treatment of a dog with tetanus involves neutralising toxin that is already in circulation, wound care, stopping further toxin and counteracting the impact of the toxin on the nervous system using muscle relaxants and sedative drugs. Dogs with severe generalised tetanus often need intensive care for a few weeks.

This is the time that the nerves need to recover from the damage caused by the tetanus toxin. The prognosis for dogs with severe generalised tetanus is guarded. Once the dog has survived this difficult period, they can make a complete recovery and go back to their normal doggy life. Archie remained in intensive care at Davies for two weeks until he was well enough to continue his recovery at home. “We can’t thank Davies enough for nursing Archie back to health,” said Reshma. “We don’t want anyone to go through the suffering Archie experienced, so we urge all dog owners to make sure they are aware of the risk of tetanus and the early signs. If in doubt get straight to the vet because early detection is vital.” Emilie Royaux, the Veterinary Neurology Specialist who treated Archie advised that the best way to avoid tetanus infection is to ensure that wounds are clean and to see your local vet if you are at all concerned. n To find out more about Davies visit www.vetspecialists.co.uk

We are delighted to support the Animal Charities featured in this Magazine Tel: 01952 245330 38

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

www.dogmatic.org.uk www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Horses named in honour of NHS Hereos after removal from Animal Sanctuary Nineteen horses saved from an animal sanctuary due to their lack of care and named in honour of our NHS heroes are enjoying new lives at Redwings Horse Sanctuary.

ollowing the recent conviction and sentencing of the former owner of Whispering Willows Sanctuary in Wales, Redwings is finally able to talk about the horses in its care for the first time – almost 18 months after their arrival. In November 2019, a total of 137 horses from Whispering Willows were taken into the care of equine welfare charities across the UK after serious welfare failings were uncovered. After pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals in their care, the sanctuary’s former owner was banned from keeping all horses for 10 years. Redwings offered a new home to 23 of the horses, who arrived in varying states of poor health and some were very fearful. Unfortunately, the charity had to make the difficult decision to put four to sleep shortly after their arrival when it became clear that their health issues were too great to overcome. Each were suffering from severe pain due to lameness and stiffness, and vets were sadly unable to relieve their discomfort. After receiving basic care - including worming, farriery and dental checks - the physical health of the remaining 19 horses recovered well and, as the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK, went onto to be named after NHS hospitals in tribute to the country’s frontline healthcare workers. Their names include Alexandra, Gwent, Radcliffe, Paget, Good Hope and Princess Royal! Due to their previous lack of handling, the majority of the very nervous group are now receiving ongoing care and training at Redwings’ specialist Behaviour Centre in Norfolk. Nic de Brauwere, Redwings’ Head of Welfare & Behaviour who provided support during the horses’ removal from Whispering Willows, said: “One of the saddest things was that people believed the sanctuary was offering a wonderful home, however it was clear that the horses were receiving wholly inadequate levels of care. “There were horses who, due to their age-related ailments – compounded by their lack of care – were needlessly suffering and the kindest and most responsible thing to have done would have been to put them to sleep long before we got involved. “Of the 23 horses Redwings offered a home to, we unfortunately had to say goodbye to four shortly after their arrival because, despite the combined efforts of our vets, farriers and carers, we were sadly unable to make them comfortable enough to stop them from suffering. “On a physical level, the remaining horses have www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Alexandra

Princess Royal Paget

Gwent

Queen Elizabeth

recovered well but most are currently spending time at our specialist Behaviour Centre to undo the neglect of their behavioural needs experienced while at Whispering Willows, which left them fearful of people. It will be some time before any of them are ready to be assessed for possible rehoming in the future, but for now they’re enjoying happy and healthy new lives at the Sanctuary.” Nic, who is also the Chair of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) who helped to co-ordinate the charities involved in the operation, added: “Too many times we’ve seen sanctuaries struggle and fail when owners take on too many animals without the necessary care knowledge, experience or finances, which is why we’ve been calling for the regulation of rescue centres and sanctuaries as a vital next step to protect the welfare of animals in the UK.” n To support the care of the horses now living at Redwings, please call 01508 481000 or visit www.redwings.org.uk/donate RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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Continuing to help pets in need over a year of lockdowns Tuesday 23 March 2021 marked a year of lockdowns and with 11% of households taking on a new pet during the covid crisis*, the need for Blue Cross is higher than ever. The charity looks back on how it changed its entire way of working to continue to help pets and their owners throughout times when pet rehoming and veterinary services were closed or drastically reduced. espite closures, the charity continued to help the pets most desperately in need, taking in almost 3,500 pets since the start of the first lockdown. Demand for Blue Cross pets rose dramatically, in May 2020 alone there was a 515% increase in online applications for dogs. To cope with the demand and to find pets a loving family of their own the charity increased rehoming through a ‘home direct‘ scheme which finds a new home for the pet while they are still with owners who can no longer keep them. The national network of dedicated volunteer pet foster carers also grew through a recruitment campaign and more than 2,000 pets were placed in

foster care over the period, as a result loving new homes were found for over 3,000 cats, dogs, small pets and horses. Sian Sharples, Blue Cross Rehoming Service Delivery Partner said: “We were overwhelmed by offers of support when we put out a call for volunteers to help us care for homeless pets when our centres were forced to close. We minimised staff at sites who were still needed to care for the homeless pets so we are so grateful to all those who came forward to volunteer for us, we simply couldn’t have helped the number of pets we did over this time and we are so grateful for all their support.“ Blue Cross animal hospitals in

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

Grimsby and Victoria remained busy but were only able to admit seriously injured or sick pets for emergency treatment and the remaining two London hospitals closed during lockdowns. The charity had to quickly adapt to continue to help pets needing veterinary care with vets and vet nurses turning to virtual appointments for non-urgent cases to ensure pets continued to receive the medication and care they needed. Over two-thirds of the 70,000+ consults during the last year took place virtually via telephone or video. Any pets urgently needing to see a vet were admitted while their owners waited outside, talking to the vet over the phone. Despite the www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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major disruption to clincial services at the charity’s animal hospitals over the past year provided essential diagnostics, such as x-rays and blood tests , to aid pets in urgent need. Caroline Reay, Blue Cross Head of Veterinary Service said: “We are so proud of the how the teams adapted so quickly from being in a bustling animal hospital environment to working on their own at home to support clients or offer advice to owners of sick or injured pets. We are also immensly grateful to all the volunteers who continued to support us and help pets by delivering essential medicines to owners who were unable to collect themselves.“ Blue Cross was also aware that the vast and sudden changes to a pet’s surroundings and routine, due to families being at home when they would usually be at work or in school, could be confusing and unsettling for them. The charity’s animal behaviour team sprang into action to offer advice to owners who were experiencing problems with their pet and also to support the many owners of new pets looking for help to settle their puppies and kittens into the home. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

The team launched a new animal behaviour line, open to any pet owner in the UK, to support owners needing help and have received over 500 calls so far since the helpline launched last April. Blue Cross also continued to reach children and young people through virtual talks and workshops to promote animal welfare and staying safe around dogs particularly important during a time when owners and their dogs were forced to spend more time together. The charity’s education team reached more than 28,500 children and young people over the period, essential learning for our pet owners of the future. For those facing the loss of a pet, times were even harder during lockdown when owners were not able to be with their pets at the end and struggled to seek comfort from others. The charity’s Pet Bereavement Support Service (PBSS) understood how difficult this was for owners whose grief was further compounded by loneliness, lack of income and mental health issues and the service remained available to offer help, receiving almost 12,500 calls and emails since the start of lockdown. Over

the run up to Christmas in December there was an increase of almost 40% of people seeking help compared to the year before. n Blue Cross is a charty and receives no government income. To help their work caring for sick, injured, homeless and abandoned pets visit www.bluecross.org.uk to make a donation. Visit the website for more information about the work of the charity including its rehoming and clinical services, PBSS and behaviour lines and education and public affairs work to improve the welfare of the nations pets across the UK.

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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Joy and her babies

Hero

I’m not the Easter Bunny!

Every year hundreds of rabbits are bought as Easter gifts.

Rabbit Residence Rescue, based near Royston, is pleading with families not to buy rabbits as gifts over Easter.

he rescue looks after up to 100 rabbits at any one time, many are handed over after families can no longer offer them the care they need. They may be cute, but they can be surprisingly hard work and expensive to keep properly.

her third litter of babies, two of which sadly passed away before the rescue were asked for help. The rescue are now caring for Joy and her seven babies, all of which will be neutered before they are rehomed at a cost to the charity of over £1,000.

Lea Facey, Rabbit Residence’s Manager, says: “Since the first lockdown we have taken in 157 rabbits and just since January 2021 we have already taken in 37, from accidental litters and young unneutered pairs fighting, to underestimating how destructive they can be and how much space they really need.” The rescue recently took in a gorgeous young Rex rabbit boy called Hero. At only five months old, he was the result of an accidental litter due to a breeder misssexing a pair. He had been kept with his brother who had badly injured him and needed emergency surgery on arrival. Now neutered, he is healing and will soon be bonded to a new rabbity friend by the rescue. Just after Christmas the rescue were also asked to take in a beautiful young girl rabbit named Joy, only just a year old herself, she had just given birth to

Lea says: “We wish these stories were rare, but sadly it’s terribly common. Rabbits do best in pairs but both pairs must be neutered or spayed and properly bonded by someone experienced in rabbit behaviour such as a good rabbit rescue. Sadly both pet shops and some breeders will sell baby rabbits as pairs, but once they’re 4 months old their hormones kick in and they are very likely to fight and, if they’re opposite sexes, breed. Female rabbits have a gestation of just four weeks and can even get pregnant only minutes after giving birth. If you would like a pair of rabbits, a good reputable rabbit rescue will have already bonded, already neutered pairs ready for adoption, this saves a lot of heartache.” Rabbits are often portrayed as easy pets for children, and Rabbit Residence is keen to dispel that myth. The rescue

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

encourages potential rabbit owners to have a good look online for up-to-date rabbit care. Lea continues: “We often have to break the bad news to potential owners that the hutch they’ve bought is actually entirely inadequate for the rabbits they would like to adopt. We comply with the Rabbit Welfare Association’s advice and recommend a minimum of 60 square foot as a base for your rabbits. This must be secure and safe for them to play in at all times of the day and night and means you can provide them with lots of toys such as tunnels and digging pits to play in. We also encourage potential owners to read up on the cost of rabbits, as vets bills can be astronomical and they need yearly vaccinations. n If you are thinking of bring rabbits into your family, please do your research and you can also contact the Rabbit Residence Rescue for advice via their website at http://www.rabbitresidence.org.uk

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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www.kennedywildbirdfood.co.uk

Supplying the UK with high-quality wild bird food and bird seed We are a family run wild bird food and wild bird seed supplier based in rural Lincolnshire. We supply only the ﬁnest quality products. SUITABLE FOR ALL YEAR ROUN D FEEDING FROM BIRD TABLES

Ground feed mix Our orginal ground feed mixture that's so adored by Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and all other ground feeding birds. Suitable for all year round feeding. Either scattetered on the ﬂoor or placed on a table or ground feeder. Contains no wheat. £35.90/25kg

SUITABLE FOR ALL SMALL BIRDS

Split Peanuts

Economy wild bird mix

Small blanched, split peanuts (skins removed). Extra rich in both protein and oils, thus making an excellent and essential food for all year feeding. Peanuts are suitable and liked by most species of birds, and have long been the most popular of wild bird feeds. All our peanuts are certiﬁed as nil detectable signs of aﬂatoxin. £42.99/25kg

ADORED BY ROBINS, BLACKBIRDS AND SONG THRUSHES

With our specialised blending of a number of nutritional seeds, this mix is suitable for a large variety of birds. High in black sunﬂower thus providing oil and protein and meeting all essential feeding requirements. Suitable for all year round feeding. £26.25/25kg

Superior high energy mix An extremely high energy mixture blended with the highest quality seeds. Suitable for all small birds and ideal for all year round feeding. Best fed from a seedfeeder or scattered on a bird table. Contains nowheat. £38.25/25kg

ATTRACTIVE TO ROBINS, BLACKBIRDS AND THRUSHES

Dried mealworms Dried mealworms are a tasty treat for garden birds with all the nutrition of live mealworms without the 'worm factor'. Attractive to robins, blackbirds, thrushes and all other insect eating birds. Available in sizes ranging from 250g to 10kg. £33.50/3kg

ALL YEAR ROUND FEEDING

Sunflower hearts Bakery grade premium sunﬂower hearts. No unsightly husk. A food that is loved by most species of birds being high in both protein and oils. Makes a most desirable all year round food. £39.99/25kg

SUITABLE FOR A WIDE RANG E OF WILD BIRDS

Suet special blend mix

Small fatballs The best, fattiest fat balls on the internet. Small Fat balls (no nets) offer a wide range of wild birds a nutritious and important source of energy speciﬁcally during winter and nesting season. Each fatball at approx 95g available in either boxes of 150 or 2 boxes of 150. £45.80/ 2 x 150.

This blended suet mixture is packed full of highIy caloriﬁc ingredients, it is ideal for all year round feeding and will attract a great variety of both small and medium sized birds to your garden. No re-growth under feeding station. Contains no wheat. £47.70/25kg

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info@kennedywildbirdfood.co.uk

Won’t grow mix Blended with 60% bakery grade sunﬂowerhearts, this energy rich mixture has been blended to ensure no re-growth under your feeding station. Suitable for all year round feeding. Best fed from seed feeder, scattered on bird table or from ground feeder. Contains no wheat. £42.75/25kg

Superior finch mix This classic mixture was blended specifically with finches in mind. Contains a wonderful selection of the finest seeds and is suitable for all year round feeding. Best fed from seedfeeder or scattered on a bird table. Contains no wheat. £40.75/25kg

10% off first order for new customers use promo code NEW10 at checkout

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Mercury and his owner Claire

Superstar Dog Mercury helped save the lives of up to 112 other dogs! Superstar dog Mercury wins charity award for outstanding support harity Pet Blood Bank UK has this month announced the winners in their Heart of Pet Blood Bank Awards 2019-20, with dog Mercury taking the top prize. Mercury, who lives with his owner Claire Martin in Birmingham, was recognised with the Bramble Craddock Award for his outstanding contribution to Pet Blood Bank, as well as for making a difference in

C 44

the lives of others by donating blood and working as a therapy dog for children with disabilities. The Heart of Pet Blood Bank Awards seek to recognise inspiring people and dogs who go the extra mile to support the charity. The Bramble Craddock Award is the category which celebrates the wonderful role that dogs play in our lives. It was created in honour

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

Superstar dog Mercury of one of the charity’s highest donating dogs who sadly passed away. Mercury has helped to save many lives by donating blood. He donated 28 times to Pet Blood Bank before taking a well earned retirement. This number of donations means he has helped to save the lives of up to 112 other dogs. He has also donated on several occasions for local www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Runner up Flash

Bramble Craddock winner Mercury with prizes emergencies, helping to save the lives of two more dogs. Mercury works as a therapy dog in a specialist school for children with a range of disabilities. Here, he helps the children to develop their skills and gain confidence around dogs. He is calm, gentle, and loved by all the children. When Mercury first came to owner Claire, he was terrified and scared. But, over time, they worked together and formed a special bond and trust. With Claire’s gentle, kind and loving approach, Mercury blossomed into a gentle and loving dog himself, a far cry from the dog she first brought home. Mercury is a truly outstanding dog who has made a difference in the lives of so many dogs and people. Mercury and Claire were presented with their award at a virtual awards ceremony hosted by Pet Blood Bank on Tuesday 2 March 2021. On receiving Mercury’s award, Claire said, ‘Winning the Bramble Craddock Award was a wonderful and very emotional achievement. Mercury loves people and he truly loved donating every one of his 28 blood donations to Pet Blood Bank. He loved the attention and kindness of the team who cared for him during the donation process.’ www.rescueandanimalcare.com

‘We are incredibly honoured to know one of his emergency blood recipients - a little Italian greyhound called Herbie who is one of Mercury's best doggy friends and who certainly wouldn't have survived without his blood. I could not recommend more strongly that any owners of suitable dogs get in touch with Pet Blood Bank in the certainty that their dogs will be treated like royalty if they become donors.’ Runner up of the Bramble Craddock Award was another wonderful dog, Flash, who lives with his owner Christopher Yates in Northampton. As well as being a donor for Pet Blood Bank, Flash works as a Pets as Therapy dog and a Blue Cross Education dog where he helps people with mental health conditions and children respectively. Pet Blood Bank is the only charity offering a lifesaving blood service for all dogs across the UK. Just like the human blood service, dog owners kindly bring their much loved

Bramble Craddock runner up Flash with prizes

companions to give blood at one of the charity’s many donation sessions across the country. This blood is then processed and stored, ready to be sent out to vets when they need it for a patient. The blood is truly lifesaving with every donation having the potential to help save up to four other dogs.

n More dog donors are always needed to keep up with the increasing demand for blood products. If you have a happy, healthy, and confident dog who is aged between 1 and 8 and over 25kg they could be a lifesaver. To find out more, please visit www.petbloodbankuk.org RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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The Donkey Sanctuary’s Veterinary Surgeon, Jesus Buil. The Donkey Sanctuary

The Donkey Sanctuary’s veterinary team have always played an active role in teaching the next generation of veterinary surgeons. The Donkey Sanctuary

The Donkey Sanctuary supports veterinary students through lockdown Veterinary students from across the world have benefited from online teaching during the Covid-19 lockdown, thanks to experts at international animal welfare charity, The Donkey Sanctuary. he charity’s veterinary team have always played an active role in teaching the next generation of veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, farriers and equine dentists. So, when the team were approached during lockdown, to help students with ‘Extra-Mural Studies’, placements to prepare them for working in clinical environments, The Donkey Sanctuary’s Senior Veterinary Surgeon and education lead, Alex Thiemann was quick to step in and offer support. The team put together a suite of resources suitable for pre-clinical and clinical students. The resources included webinars, fact sheets, narrated power points, web links and case studies. Alex Thiemann, Senior Veterinary Surgeon and education lead at The Donkey Sanctuary said: “In a normal year, we would devote many hours to hands-on teaching at our state-of-the-art donkey hospital or would spend time at universities and colleges in the UK and abroad. “It’s really important to us that we share our expert knowledge on donkey welfare and care with the next generation of veterinary professionals. Covid-19 means we have to work differently to deliver this support, taking our teaching online to reach 1,000s of students.” Requested initially by the University of Nottingham, the free resources were subsequently shared with other leading veterinary schools in the UK. Individual students

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

from as far away as Massey in New Zealand and Guelph in Canada have also benefited from the online resources. Professor Sarah Freeman, from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham, said: “We are hugely grateful to The Donkey Sanctuary for sharing their fantastic resources and expertise. It has been a difficult time for the students with so many opportunities and practical experiences cancelled. Being given access to a range of excellent resources and their staff’s advice and expertise, and learning more about donkeys and the amazing work that The Donkey Sanctuary does has been a real positive experience in challenging times.” Some students attended seminars over Zoom led by The Donkey Sanctuary’s expert veterinary team. The aim of the seminars was for students to gain an understanding of how to treat donkeys and to learn about the important role they have in supporting livelihoods of 500 million people internationally. Thanks to The Donkey Sanctuary’s Spanish Veterinary Surgeon, Jesus Buil, teaching was even extended to students in Spain. The Donkey Sanctuary is a global leader for equine welfare, research and veterinary care. The charity operates programmes worldwide for animals working in agriculture, industry and transportation. n Visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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COULD YOU ADOPT ME? Can you give any of these lovely pets a place in your home and your heart? Availabe to adopt from RSPCA The Danaher Animal Home www.danaheranimalhome.org.uk

Joey

Huntess

Blue

15822 Joey Great big friendly boy full of character and love to give.

15912 Huntess Very intelligent girl who will thrive in the right home with enough stimulation and exercise.

16019 Blue Is a shy girl at first but with a quiet and calm environment you will see her affectionate side.

Dot 16040 Dot Typical shy torti but with patience and trust gained she will become a loving companion.

Stella, Oreo & Biscuit 16086 16088 16089 Stella, Oreo, Biscuit A family trio who are close and need lots of love.

Lily & Peter 16095 & 16096 Lily & Peter A lovely couple who relax and enjoy being held in their handler’s arms.

Availabe to adopt from HorseWorld www.horseworld.org.uk

Davina

Grace

Nova

Davina F20

Grace F12

Nova F6

Prone to laminitis so through the summer months she must be kept on suitable grazing.

She gets on well with other horses and is happy to live out 24/7 with mares and geldings, but does prefer female company!

Nova needs somebody who is understanding of her past and can give her all the confidence that she needs.

We are delighted to support the Animal Charities featured in this Magazine

Tel: 01952 245330 www.dogmatic.org.uk www.rescueandanimalcare.com

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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The same P Boett Blank

Neglected Pony before using the Boett Blanket

Neglected Pony, rescued from ﬁeld and twelve month on- with the use of a Boett Blanket just look at the difference! What is Sweet itch? Approximately five per cent of equines in the UK suffer from sweet itch. It results from hypersensitivity against salivary antigens from biting midges (Culicoides) and, to a lesser extent, the larger Simulium equinum, a member of the black fly family. It is a common and well-described seasonal allergic dermatitis between March and October, reflecting the presence of insects and may affect all equine species. Intervention should begin as early as possible in the season – the climate appears to be playing havoc with our seasons, and our milder and damper winters are allowing the midge breeding season to start earlier (midges were seen in January this year).

Symptoms Typically, sufferers can be observed excessively rubbing and scratching the mane, tail, withers, head, back and belly, or, in severe cases, the whole body. This persistent, self48

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

inflicted trauma can cause damage, such as scaling, excoriation, hair breakage, alopecia, hives and ulcerations. The skin will become thickened and ridged if this pattern is repeated yearly and the risk of secondary infection is high. Other signs include lethargy or agitation, lack of concentration and head shaking. Weight loss is another possible clinical sign in severe cases. It is thought signs will worsen with age.

Prevention It is widely documented there is no cure for sweet itch; the only true prevention is to completely eliminate the insects’ contact with the horse. Culicoides have a short flying distance of 100 metres and their breeding sites are wet soil, moist, decaying vegetation, clay soil and marsh land, so where possible, sufferers should be kept away from muck heaps, old hay, rotting leaves, streams and wet ground. Windy hillsides, chalk-based grassland or coastal areas are unsuitable environments for Culicoides, making them useful turnout environments for sweet itch cases. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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The same Pony after using the Boett Blanket

Boett Blanket Stabling at dawn and dusk is often advised but horses can do themselves more damage whilst stabled, as the environment lends itself to areas they can rub on. A good sweet- itch rug (Boett) with good protection and leaving the horse out in a suitable environment is preferable. Antihistamines may bring some relief, but increasing high doses are required and the effects are variable. They can make the horse drowsy and, therefore, are not ideal for long-term use. A highly successful form of prevention is the Boett Blanket (available from The National Sweet Itch Centre, www.itchyhorse.co.uk) which offers maximum body coverage. Recommended by many Vets and even covered by many insurance companies on the alternative therapy part of their policy. BioPlus capsules have been available for several years based on bacterial protein that are designed to re-educate the immune response (immunotherapy), good results are being reported. (available from The National Sweet Itch Centre, www.itchyhorse.co.uk) The development and science behind this product and the work of Professor Stanford (BioEos) can be seen on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh6lj4D4-f0 www.rescueandanimalcare.com

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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TO SUIT ALL YOUR DOGS’ NEEDS Customisable Whelping boxes. Any colour, Lightweight, Robust, Come pre-assembled, Easy to clean and maintain. Visit www.thedaleskennelcompany.co.uk/whelpingbox

Pet Power!

Great products for you and your Pets

The Catit Senses 2.0 Play Circuit is sure to keep your cat entertained for hours on end! The Circuit consists of a ball that zips around a closed track with special peek-a-boo cover that stimulates cats to chase and swat the ball. Discover more at www.catit.co.uk

Squirrel Buster mini seed wild bird seed feeder Perfect for dispensing sunflower seeds or blended seed mixes. £24.90.Visit www.kennedywildbirdfood.co.uk

Time for a cocktail Devil's Bridge is an outstanding rum that can be enjoyed on its own over ice, served long with a mixer or as a first class kick in any cocktail. Visit www.devilsbdridgerum.com

COLLOIDAL SILVER PETS EAR DROPS Ear infections in dogs are common and most dogs suffer from this condition at some stage. Rubbing and scratching at the ears and shaking the head are common signs of this. Visit www.naturesgreatestsecret.co.uk

Kong Large Fetch Stick Catit Flower Fountain Keeps your cat hydrated with a constant supply of fresh, flowing water. Since cats are picky drinkers, Catit developed the Flower Fountain to feature 3 different settings: a gentle water flow, a bubbling top, or calm streams. Discover more at www.catit.co.uk

Fabric stick with easy grip knotted rope - Lenght 22" Stick 11". (£8.49). Visit www.bordercollietrustgb.org.uk

HAPPY GO LIGHTLY LAMB Happy Go Lightly is ideal for sensitive dogs that struggle on a grain free diet, dogs prone to weight gain, acid reflux and/or occasional sickness as well as older dogs, pancreatic dogs. Visit www.cifood.co.uk

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DOG AGILITY TUNNEL Available in 600mm diameter with ten standard colours, five different lengths and three weights (Light, Medium and Heavy Duty). The lightweight sewn tunnels are available in a camouflage bag cloth option with the additional option of having a mesh panel. Contact us on 01709 872574 or info@naylor.co.uk to discuss your dog tunnel requirements. Visit www.nayloragility.co.uk

Droll Yankee Ring Pull Seed Feeders The Droll Yankee ring pull seed feeder is a best seller. It’s continuing popularity is due to its innovative design. Once you try it, you will love it. It makes cleaning your feeders no chore at all. Visit www.kennedywildbirdfood.co.uk

Labrador Mug This wonderful Labrador ‘Sit!’ mug will brighten up every cup of tea or coffee and would make a lovely gift for any Labrador owner or dog lover. It’s particularly popular with our younger audience! £11.00. Visit www.labrador-lifeline.com

Dogmatic Headcollar The New Luxurious Soft and Lined Leather Dogmatic Headcollar. £37.99. Visit www.dogmatic.org.uk

Football/Rugby Grubbers Kick, Throw, Tug, Fetch, Bounce – Grubber does it all! Great for helping to clean teeth and gums. Tough + Durable. Variety of Colours. 2 shapes – football or rugby. 3 randomly chosen colours, organge, blue or green Visit www.naturalhealthypets.co.uk

RAISED BED This raised trampoline bed is perfect for ‘lounging on’, in a kennel run, garden or house. Great for Dogs that like to be raised off the ground. Visit www.thedaleskennelcompany.co.uk

House Collar 1" wide Jaquard ribbon house collar in a lovely Fleur de Lys design in grey and gold. Adjusts to fit 13" to 19" neck size with a curved side release Acetal Buckle for easy fitting. £7.00. Visit www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk

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Dogs Trust rescues 1,500th smuggled puppy through its pioneering Puppy Pilot scheme The UK’s largest dog welfare charity is demanding that the Government acts now to end the cruel puppy smuggling trade, as demand for dogs continues to soar • In just five years, Dogs Trust has rescued 1,500 puppies who were being illegally imported across UK borders, many in terrible conditions – and this is likely to be the tip of the iceberg • Since the rescue scheme began in late 2015, the street value of the puppies intercepted is more than £3 million1 • In 2020, Dogs Trust saw a 66% increase in dogs coming through the scheme compared to 20192 • The charity is – once again - calling for urgent Government action to end puppy smuggling and for buyers to do their research to avoid inadvertently fuelling this cruel trade ogs Trust is demanding that the Government takes urgent action to end puppy smuggling as the charity reaches the milestone of 1,500 smuggled puppies rescued and rehomed through its Puppy Pilot scheme – with an approximate street value of £3 million1 if they had been sold by their dealers. Dogs Trust is calling for the Government to:

• Raise the minimum age for puppies to enter the UK to six months3 • Increase penalties for those caught illegally importing dogs The Puppy Pilot scheme was originally set up in 2015 to aid the interception of illegally imported puppies by APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) at the ports and provide care and rehabilitation for them prior to finding them new homes. Five years on and the ‘pilot’ scheme is still needed more than ever as demand for dogs during the pandemic continues to fuel the trade. In 2020, Dog Trust saw a 66% increase in dogs rescued through the scheme, compared to the previous year - from 204 in 2019 to 338 in 20202. The average age of puppies being seized in 2020 was around eight weeks, compared to around 11 weeks in 2019. The legal age for puppies to enter the country is 15 weeks from another EU country and the youngest puppies seized were just four weeks old; far too young to have been taken away from their mother let alone transported thousands of miles across borders. In the five years Dogs Trust has been running the programme, the most common breed to be intercepted and 52

cared for through the scheme has been the Dachshund, with around 425 puppies being rehomed since 2015 – over a quarter (28%) of the total number of dogs. The second most popular was the French Bulldog (21%) and the third was the English Bulldog (10%). The puppies that were seized at the border and went into quarantine primarily came from Hungary (16%), Poland (12%), Romania (10%) and Slovakia (5%)4. For more than six years, Dogs Trust has been calling on Government to end puppy smuggling, an illegal practice whereby puppies, generally under the legal minimum of 15 weeks of age, are brought into Great Britain for sale with either no or falsified paperwork and often without having received the necessary treatments, including rabies vaccination. These puppies are forced to travel for long journeys in squalid, cramped conditions with no toilet breaks, no food and insufficient water, so they can be sold to unsuspecting buyers. Another disturbing and increasing trend is heavily pregnant dogs being transported illegally into the country in the late stages of pregnancy, causing significant suffering and health implications to both mum and puppies. Not only will importing one dog attract less suspicion at the border, but as responsible buyers will ask to see the puppies with their mother, this tactic allows criminals to give the impression of being legitimate breeders and avoid being reported to Trading Standards. Since August 2017 Dogs Trust has cared for 41 pregnant mums on the Puppy Pilot. 217 puppies have been born, of which 41 sadly died (to end

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

September 2020). It is illegal to transport a pregnant dog in the last 10% of her pregnancy, and yet this is still happening due to lack of action from the Government. Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust, said: “The 1500th puppy rehomed through the Puppy Pilot is a bittersweet milestone for us to reach. The scheme was originally set up on a trial basis in 2015, because there were not sufficient resources to care for the puppies being seized at the border. Five years on the need for our services is greater than ever as the demand for dogs during lockdown has further exacerbated the problem and, unfortunately, we know that the dogs we care for are just a small proportion of those that make it into the country illegally. “We held our first conference with relevant stakeholders, Defra and APHA representatives to highlight our concerns about the illegal importation of puppies over eight years ago, and our asks remain the same. Now that the UK has left the EU, there has never been a better time for the Government to raise the minimum age for puppies to be imported into the UK to six months to help make them less desirable. We also want to see tougher penalties for smugglers, as only a handful of cases have ever led to a prosecution, with paltry penalties that are no deterrent.” Alongside the clear need for legislative change, Dogs Trust urges consumers and prospective dog owners to be vigilant when it comes to welcoming a dog into their lives. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Case study: Landmark 1,500th puppy cared for by Dogs Trust’s Puppy Pilot In January 2021, Dogs Trust rescued one Dachshund, two Labrador and two Springer Spaniel puppies who were all found hidden in a small cat carrier in the back of a van. The puppies were seized by the authorities at the Port of Dover, after being illegally transported into Great Britain from Eastern Europe before coming into the care of Dogs Trust via the Puppy Pilot. Before they were intercepted, the puppies had been transported thousands of miles across Europe from Slovakia and were due to be delivered to homes in the UK. All five puppies were no older than five weeks old when they were rescued – well under the minimum 15 weeks that puppies must be to legally be imported into the UK. The spaniels weighed around 2kg and the Labradors around 3.7kg. Heartbreakingly, within hours of coming into the safety of the quarantine facility, one of the puppies – Lady Longlegs the Dachshund - was vomiting and had severe diarrhoea. After being rushed to the vet, she was found to be suffering with the potentially deadly parvovirus. She sadly died within 48 hours of entering the country. Shockingly, over a period of three days a further two of the puppies worryingly began showing symptoms of parvovirus. Despite being rushed to the vet and receiving round the clock care, Alla and Arron also died. Shortly after, the black Labrador, Tara, was also found to be suffering from the highly contagious virus, she was hurried to the vet. Luckily, Tara recovered and both she and Befa the Springer Spaniel are now being cared for and rehabilitated before they are responsibly rehomed through Dogs Trust.

Paula Boyden continues: “We want people to understand that buying an illegally imported puppy has huge implications for both the pups who have to travel miles across borders in awful conditions - and the mums who are basically breeding machines. The sellers and importers care little for the dogs’ welfare and just want to make a quick buck – as a nation of dog lovers we can help stem this problem and put a www.rescueandanimalcare.com

All five puppies were likely going on to be sold to new homes in the UK to live with unsuspecting dog lovers. This demonstrates just one of the potential dangers of the illegal importation of puppies. Whilst there is no legal requirement to vaccinate against parvovirus for puppies and dogs coming into the UK from overseas, it is common practice that puppies should be vaccinated against the disease at an early age to try and give them a level of protection. Given the timeframe within which these poor puppies began showing symptoms and passed away, it is highly likely that this was a result of the poor welfare backgrounds they came from before entering the country. Many puppies are bred in appallingly unhygienic conditions in puppy farms overseas, that coupled with an incredibly stressful journey, mixing with other puppies, potentially being unvaccinated, poor breeding practices and their young age is a recipe that leaves imported puppies exposed and vulnerable to potentially fatal disease. People think they are getting a healthy, happy puppy but behind the curtain lurks the dark depths of the puppy smuggling trade. Many of these poor puppies, such as Alla, Lady Longlegs and Arron, suffer significant health conditions or lifelong behavioural challenges, and sadly some don’t survive, leaving their buyers helpless and heartbroken – as well as out of pocket. Luckily, Dogs Trust was there to care for Tara and Befa but the charity fears for the puppies that slip through the net. Befa also happens to be the 1,500th pup that has come through Dogs Trust’s Puppy Pilot.

stop to the suffering of dogs like Tara, Befa and the pups they were imported in with. “We are urging people to be patient when buying a puppy and follow our advice to see the puppy with their mum and siblings more than once even if that is over video call due to current restrictions - check all paperwork carefully and if something doesn’t feel right, walk away and

report it to Trading Standards.” n For more information about Puppy Smuggling and buyer advice on how to avoid fuelling this cruel trade please visit: www.dogstrust.org.uk/puppypilot

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021

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Devon Charity Explains Why Hens Are Squawking More Loudly The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) has seen exponential growth since being established in 2005 and now has 44 volunteer-led teams across the country that have helped over 810,000 hens become family pets rather than face the chop. est known for its rehoming work, the BHWT also campaigns for hen welfare awareness, andthe national flock of 42 million commercial laying hens is gradually being given the freedom to roam outside on pasture, with over 28 million now feeling the sun on their backs and wind ruffling their feathers–a big tick in the welfare box for the charity. However, the charity has its sights set on other aspects of hen welfare too including the size of egg a hen lays. As Founder, Jane Howorth MBE, explains : “Since starting the charity we have always been supportive of the UK egg industry, we have some of the best poultry welfare charters in the world, and it’s only right to collaborate where we can on issues that impact both farmers and hens alike. And one such issue is the size of egg a hen lays! Size matters, at least when it comes to eggs. Consumers may be aware of what being free range means to a hen, but now is the time to give consumers the power to help

hens further by simply switching their thinking on egg size. Over half the eggs laid by commercial laying farms are large or extra-large and these whoppers cause birds increasing welfare issues with prolapsing not uncommon. Mixed weight eggs are currently sold by a handful of supermarkets, but generally shopping habits remain stuck in the outdated ‘big is best’ mindset. Everyone’s a winner if we simply change our thinking. Small or mixed weight eggs provide consumers with a bigger yolk to white ratio (surely most of us agree the yolk is the best bit?), farmers get a fairer price for each egg laid regardless of size and most of all it takes the pressure of our hardworking hens and allows them to do what comes naturally without interference from genetic modification.” Amusing as the issue of size may seem, the BHWT points out that hen welfare is being compromised leading to health problems for hens that lay large eggs, something with which the egg industry itself agrees. Recently invited to give a talk to the

29 MARCH – 29 APRIL 2021 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

prestigious Guild of Food Writers, Howorth took the opportunity to encourage influential food writers and chefs to switch their thinking on size when writing recipes, pointing out that over 42% of eggs are large or extra-large with mediums and small eggs being downgraded for use in the processed food sector, meaning the yolks are not best utilised, the farmer loses out financially as they have less value and the hen has a more demanding daily task of laying a whopper. Ask any hen keeper who listens to their hens after producing an egg and they’ll tell you there’s generally considerable squawking and the squawk seems to increase in decibels the larger the egg! The BHWT asks consumers to buy small, medium or mixed weight eggs to help hens – “you’ll get more yolk for your money if you do, and the farmers and the hens will thank you” Jane Howorth told us. n For further information visit www.bhwt.org.uk www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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DESIGNER KENNELS

ASTROTURF

Designer Kennels Ltd

Prices from £5.oo per sq.mtr.

WHEN IT COMES TO PLASTIC KENNELS AND CATTERIES WE ARE NO.1

No. 1 for service, quality and prices. Our kennels are constructed from tough polypropolene and edged with aluminium to make them virtually indestructable and with so many designs and sizes to choose from its no wonder so many top breeders and boarding kennels now have Designer Kennels. With 1000s of kennels and catteries installed throughout the UK that is why we are No. 1

www.designer-kennels.com 14b Swordfish Way, Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire LS25 6NG Tel/Fax: 01977 685500

Ideal for lawns, patios, garden sports, child and pet friendly. Self fit putting greens. Self draining. Visit us at www.astroman.co.uk or Call 01480 496028 or 07836 325 901

Email: astroman.ray@tiscali.co.uk

RESCUE CENTRES

Tel: 01889 577058 www.bordercollietrustgb.org.uk Reg Charity No:1053585

To place an advert please call 01787 228027

Leicester Animal Aid Association

We are an English registered charity concerned with the plight of greyhounds, especially the Spanish-bred hunting greyhounds (galgos) Please visit our website: www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk Charity No. CI0/1174351

The Huncote Pet Rescue Centre Elmwood Farm Leicester LE9 6LE Tel: 01455 888257 www.leicesteranimalaid.org.uk Email: info@leicesteranimalaid.org.uk

Forest Dog Rescue

Green Gap Kennels, Far Forest Worcestershire DY14 9DX Tel: 01299 269181 www.forest-dog-rescue.org.uk Email: info@forest‐dog‐ rescue.org.uk

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Transport cages Your pets can travel in comfort, safety and style

Our range of transport cages come in a choice of colours and configurations. These are all custom made and tailored to the vehicle and the customer’s needs and requirements. We offer an extensive range of colours and finishes for the panels and drawers, and can colour match the vehicle if required. info@thedaleskennelcompany.co.uk

01969 666063