MAY 2020, FREE
The Hero Animals of VE Day
PLUS pets - the best antidepressant; 5 ways to exercise your dog at home & more inside Vet Rip the dog with his handler Mr KingPhoto courtesy of PDSA
The Heroic Animals ‘who also served’
To mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, leading vet charity PDSA is paying tribute to the brave hero animals ‘who also served’ and helped save countless lives during World War II. Page 2
Pictured: Rob the para dog with his SAS regiment
PDSA Dickin medal recipient GI George
To mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, leading vet charity PDSA is paying tribute to the brave hero animals ‘who also served’ and helped save countless lives during World War II. The charity is commemorating the milestone by sharing exclusive e-books* which tell the remarkable stories of animal heroes honoured with
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the PDSA Dickin Medal**. These include the story of messenger pigeon, Duke of Normandy, who flew for 27 hours through bullets and bombs to deliver vital, lifesaving intelligence to Allied Forces.
displayed by animals serving with the Armed Forces or Civil Defence units in theatres of war.
The Medal was instituted by the charity’s Founder, Maria Dickin, with the approval of the War Office and Imperial War The prestigious Medal – known Museum, to raise the status of as the animals’ Victoria Cross – animals and acknowledge the recognises outstanding acts of remarkable roles they play in gallantry and devotion to duty society. It was first awarded to
a messenger pigeon named
great way to celebrate the
Winkie on 3 December 1943.
incredible, life-saving role animals have played
Mary Bawn, Head of Press,
throughout history, and
Rip - The ‘World’s first Search and Rescue dog’ (pictured above)
Voice and Brand at PDSA, said: continue to play today.” “Throughout history, animals
Rip, a crossbreed terrier, who is
serving in the Armed Forces
To download the free PDSA
often referred to as the ‘World’s
have made an extraordinary
Dickin Medal e-books visit:
first Search and Rescue dog’.
difference to the lives of so
www.pdsa.org.uk/VE
He was found on the streets of
many, not only the men and
London by a local Air Raid
women who serve, but also
Some of the featured hero
civilians who our military are
stories include:
Warden in 1940.
protecting. Sharing some of
He had a talent for sniffing out
these stories on VE day is a
survivors trapped in the blitz
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rubble and despite never receiving formal training, in
Brian – a parachuting dog
just twelve months he helped save the lives of more than 100
A ‘qualified paratrooper’, Brian
To read the full stories of
people.
(also known as Bing) served
these amazing animal
with the 13th Battalion
heroes and more download
Rip was awarded his PDSA
Airborne Regiment during
the free PDSA Dickin
Dickin Medal in 1945.
WWII. As the D-Day landings
Medal e-books at:
began, Brian was parachuted
www.pdsa.org.uk/VE
into the Normandy and fought
Duke of Normandy (Pigeon No. NURP 41. SBC 219)
side-by-side with his human
Allied paratroopers from the 21st Army Group were dropped behind enemy lines days before D-Day. After their mission ran into numerous problems, the only way to get a message back was a pigeon named Duke of Normandy. His journey home – through bullets and bombs – took almost 27 hours. But he delivered critical intelligence to the Allied Command – and saved many lives. Duke of Normandy received his PDSA Dickin Medal on 8 January 1947.
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allies. He also took part in the final airborne assault of the war. Brian was presented with his PDSA Dickin Medal in March 1947.
Pets Can Help Improve
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Our Mental Health
By MARIE CARTER
During these dark days of Corona and Lockdown, the Cuddle power of pets is more
Formerly love-deprived Nell,
a mental health condition. Dogs
my rescue spaniel, loves her
especially will encourage their
The cuddle power of pets can help see us through difficult times such as we’re all experiencing now
owner to seek exercise and thereby meet other dog walkers, creating vital social connections. A growing raft of studies has shown
important than
that pets can help
ever. So, if
with numerous
you’re lucky
issues linked to
enough to own
mental health
a pet, especially
from depression and PTSD to
a dog or cat, to
addictions, stress
snuggle with,
and feelings of
then as well as
loneliness.
being our best Mental health
friends, they can
campaigner
give us hope
Vanessa Holbrow
even in the very
from Burnham on
depths of
Sea, Somerset has
despair. The comforting padding of feet across the otherwise silent house, the welcoming nudge of wet nose on arm and the soothing sense of unconditional love can make lives tainted by mental health more bearable.
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Loves cuddles: Nell, the rescue Cavalier
been helped on a life-changing level
cuddles, and she ‘asks’ for them by the power of a similar on a daily basis. The strength of connection. Vanessa’s Border her unconditional and innocent Terrier, ‘Sir Jack Spratticus’, a sense of love is palpable and we rescue from Border Terrier both derive comfort and a sense Welfare, won the dog hero of calm from that closeness.
competition, Friends for Life, at
Just by stroking, sitting next to
Crufts 2018. Jack, for short, is
or playing with a pet can help
credited with changing
to relax and calm someone with Vanessa’s life, helping her to
A godsend: Jack the Border Terrier has transformed his owner’s life
live with complex mental health just shows what love and
is my family. I don’t know
illnesses, by giving Vanessa
patience can do. His needs, I
what I would do without him.”
purpose, permission to be and
strongly sensed, mirrored my
find a sense of self,
own to a degree; put simply,
Jack was accepted by the
companionship and stability.
due to inappropriate early life
organisation Canine Generated
experiences.”
Independence in August 2017
Vanessa explains: “Jack had such a bad start in life. It took
and started training to be an Vanessa was determined not to
official assistance dog to
me a year to train him in order give up on Jack, and through
Vanessa. Vanessa chose to go
for us to be able to walk in
long hours of patience and
down the route alone, so Jack is
local dog friendly areas, for
training, Vanessa says: “Jack
now an Owner Trained
example, a 7-mile stretch of
now helps to raise awareness
'Assistance Dog for Mental
beach, on our door step. This
of mental health issues and he
Health', independent of any
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organisation. Wherever they
“Jack has been an integral part Dr David Cliff, a Personal
go, Jack’s status as an
of maintaining my physical
Development Coach at
‘Assistance Dog for Mental
connections to the world,”
Gedanken, explains: “The
Health’, stimulates
Vanessa explains. “He enables
presence of an animal can
conversation, raises awareness, me to go out and meet with
have a supportive and calming
and helps combat prejudice.
other dog owners. Regularity
effect on people. Stroking pets,
Jack is a brilliant advocate for
in seeing people is paramount
induces a sense of well-being,
the crucial role dogs play for those living
An otherwise isolated person can
with mental health
become more a part of their
illnesses. Wherever they go,
community by the simple act of walking their dog or chatting about
Jack’s status as an ‘Assistance Dog for
their pet to another person.
Mental Health’,
often creating blood pressure reduction. The warmth of contact, the brisk dog walk to maintain fitness, the cats calming purr, all of these offer owners’ gifts that are hard to
stimulates conversation, raises
to continuing a friendship and
place a value upon but we
awareness, and helps combat
Jack has made a significant
would be clearly more
prejudice. Jack is a brilliant
difference with this. This has
impoverished without.”
advocate for the crucial role
been an invaluable reminder
dogs play for those living with
that other people are there and A joint Cats Protection and
mental health illnesses.
that they may care about me.
Mental Health Foundation
This is a chronically
study showed how cats can help
unfamiliar concept for me”.
improve mental health. The
Jack has given Vanessa the motivation and passion to
research involved over 600 cat-
speak on local radio, the
An otherwise isolated person
confidence to speak in front of
can become more a part of their respondents, with half of them
the camera for local television,
community by the simple act of describing themselves as
write articles and help
walking their dog or chatting
currently having a mental
organisations including
about their pet to another
health problem.
Rethink and Beat & Time to
person. The responsibility of
The survey found that 87% of
Change. Together, Vanessa and looking after a pet can also give
and non-cat-owning
people who owned a cat felt it
Jack have raised thousands of
a sense of achievement and add had a positive impact on their
pounds for mental health
important routine to a day.
charities.
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wellbeing, while 76% said they
could cope with everyday life
bring meaning to one's
particularly amongst people
much better thanks to the
life, personal enrichment and
who are, for example,
company of their feline friends. has been known to reduce
housebound, geographically
Half of the cat owners felt that
suicidal behaviour and
isolated, have difficulty
their cat's presence and
encourage people to re-work
maintaining adult
companionship was most
their lives.
relationships, have mental
helpful, followed by a third of
health problems, learning
respondents who described
“We live in a world of
disabilities and other
stroking a cat as a calming and
increasingly single person
challenges that limit or qualify
helpful activity.
households and many have
human interpersonal contact.�
described loneliness as almost Dr Cliff explains: “The care of
a disease state in our society.
an animal and the
Pets often offer at least in part, of alcohol or drug rehabilitation an antidote to that, to being a solid support for
companionship it brings can
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From easing in the early stages
those who have
“Sadly, after Tom had
entered addiction
been looking after
recovery, animals have
Tottie for about six
a lot to offer those
years he was unable to
struggling from
care for her properly
addiction. Through all
because he was
stages of treatment and
fighting his own
recovery, pet therapy
demons, alcohol
can be an enormous
addiction. Tottie
help to those in
moved in with mum
recovery.
but Tom visited regularly, walking her
Yet another canine has
– he really did love
inspired a campaign to
her to bits. When Tom
improve addiction
moved back with mum
recovery. Rescue dog
for a spell of support,
Tottie was born in
Special: Tottie the terrier
2003 and was the last of an abandoned litter of puppies to be homed by the
find Tottie lying on the can make such a difference to people’s lives.
Dogs Trust at Roden Shropshire. She died recently one month short of her 15th birthday but will always be remembered for the love and support she gave to her owner who suffered from alcohol addiction.
ago at the age of 29 but the recent death of Tottie has led Tom’s mother Sally and younger brother Henry to raise awareness of how rescue dogs
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bed with him. Tottie played such a large part in Tom’s life and I am sure she helped him
Henry Maybury, Tom’s brother, explains: “We visited the Dogs
in trying to cope with his demons.”
Trust because Tom was adamant he wanted a dog. On seeing this little one with a huge head Tom decided he wanted her, despite us trying to persuade him otherwise.
Tom Maybury died five years
she would frequently
Tom absolutely idolised her, she really was his little girl. She would go to work with
After Tom’s death Henry, a singer/songwriter, came across the songs ‘Lost Days’ and ‘Every Night And Day’ and decided they would be the ideal vehicle to make people aware of alcohol addiction and how easy it is to fall into that trap.
him, riding in the tractor cabin, keeping him company.
“After releasing the videos and travelling all around the UK
visiting schools, prisons and
The Maybury family is now
rehabs Tottie became a star in
working with Community
her own right,” added Henry.
Alcohol Partnerships (CAP), a government funded
“Students would message me
organisation which works to
through Facebook and
tackle the problem of underage
Instagram asking me how
drinking and associated anti-
Tottie was and what she was
social behaviour across the UK.
up to. Prisoners would beg me
Henry is donating 100% of the
to bring her into prisons so
proceeds from his debut single
they could meet her – I wish it
‘Lost Days’ to addiction
had been something I was
charities globally. For further
allowed to do.
information for donations and bookings, visit http://
“Tottie started suffering from
www.henrymaybury.com/.
arthritis and dementia last year and towards Christmas
When mental health takes a
we knew she had come to the
nosedive for whatever reason, if
end, so we all said our
there is one to be found, pets
goodbyes to a very special
from dogs and cats to horses
lady, who is now reunited with and smaller animals can have her best friend Tom.”
remarkable restorative powers. To adapt a well-used and oh so
Tom’s mum Sally says: “I
true phrase, ‘pets’, truly are,
would never have thought that ‘people's’ best friends.’ after the sadness of five years ago of losing my son Tom that I would now feel joy from seeing the amazing response to our addiction programme from students in schools, parents, prisoners and those fighting addiction and in recovery.”
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Top Ways to Exercise your DOG
In these unprecedented circumstances, when many of us are staying in our homes, it’s natural to worry about venturing into public spaces outdoors. If you’re a pet owner, whose companions relies on you for walkies, it’s natural to wonder how best to entertain and exercise them
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from home.
Tricks and indoor games A productive way to entertain your dog is to teach them new tricks. Train them to bark on command, shake hands, play fetch or roll over – the list is endless! There’s no better time to test their intelligence with a few new skills.
Play with toys
In these unprecedented circumstances, when many of us are staying in our homes, it’s natural to worry about venturing into public spaces outdoors. If you’re a pet owner, whose companions relies on you for walkies, it’s natural to wonder how best to entertain and exercise them from home. It’s no secret dogs need daily exercise to boost their physical and mental health, just like us. So why not create an indoor
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environment for them to burn some energy? Don’t worry – this little lifestyle change needn’t cause a mess. It’s just a good way for your companion to receive additional exercise and stimulation for now. Canagan, the grain-free pet food experts, reveal the best ways you can ensure your dog is having just as much fun indoors as they would out on their favourite walk:
There are plenty of indoor activities for dogs which involve toys to keep them entertained for hours. Dog puzzles will allow your dog to figure out where a tasty treat is hidden by manoeuvring different levers which will reveal the delicacy. This game teaches your dog resilience and patience. Use it as a form of ‘positive reinforcement’ to teach them that good behaviour is rewarded. A good old-fashioned game of fetch with a soft ball or toy is a great way to entertain a dog with boundless energy. If you’re lucky enough to have a long corridor or a spacious living room, and valuables are safely stowed away, indoor fetch can make for a fun, energetic afternoon.
Hide-and-Seek
find you, then choose harder spots. This will boost their confidence and stretch their It’s popular among children, instincts with each ‘round’. but hide-and-seek can be Take it in turns to call them. enjoyed by the whole family – Each family member, when including your dog! If your found, must congratulate your companion is trained to ‘stay’ and ‘come’ when you call them, furry friend and show them lots of love. Dogs experience the it’s a great game to keep them same thrills as children, so love entertained. being surprised and receiving attention. Tell your dog to ‘stay’ so they don’t follow you to your hiding Hide-and-seek works because place. If this command is a dogs have a ‘pack’ mentality, so work in progress, wait until will seek out their human they’re distracted then have leader. Your pet will rely on your family members hide visual and voice cues initially. around the house. Choose The game stimulates the brain, somewhere that is not out of sight initially, so they can easily as it encourages them to
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remember their name, while strengthening recall behaviour. They’ll soon reverse their strategy and go back to their primal instinct – scent. Not to mention the physical benefits – the search will give your pup a great workout physically. It’s also a wonderful way to strengthen your bond.
Bubbles Bubbles are a fun, inexpensive way to entertain your pup – and children too! Always check the label before you buy bubbles to ensure they’re safe for dogs. Did you know you can even buy ‘dog bubbles’ in
Make good use
different flavours? There are even dogfriendly bubble machines for when you want to leave them to it.
of the garden If you are fortunate enough to have a lovely garden, make the most of this private space with your dog. A little run-around and game of fetch makes for a fun afternoon and gets your steps up, too. A spot of fresh air, away from the public, will do you both the world of good.
Make changes to your home Ensuring your home is dog-friendly is important when creating an environment for play and exercise with minimal chance of harm or breakages. From here, you can introduce a couple of new sights and experiences to combat boredom, like the following:
Give them a view Dogs have impeccable senses and love exploring the outside world with its diverse sights and smells. Create a snuggly space by the window so your pup can watch the world go by. Whether it’s birds flying by or cars passing, they can keep entertained with activity outside.
Build a doggy den Dogs love to snuggle down in a cosy space. Whether it’s blankets piled with their favourite toys or renovating your spare bedroom into their very own pet pad, your dog will be very grateful of their own little sanctuary to retreat to.
Ensuring your dog is comfortable, entertained and of course safe at this time may be worrying you. But it’s also an opportunity to enjoy new activities and bond with your companion. They’re untouched by the turbulent times we’re currently experiencing, will show you lots of love and relish the extra quality time. So, rest assured that they’ll entertain you too.
Too Much of a Good Thing?
Lockdown has given us more time than ever with our pets. But are we in danger of walking them
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off their feet?
Lockdown has given us more time than ever with our pets. But are we in danger of harming them with too much love? Google Trends data suggests searches for 'exercises for dogs' and 'am I walking my dog too much' were up almost 100% for the second half of April, so it's clear this is becoming an increasing concern for those stuck at home with their pets. That's why a new resource Work Out Your Walkies - has been launched to help dog lovers calculate the amount of exercise their dogs need each day to stay fit and healthy, according to their breed and age.
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The table above, taken from Work Out Your Walkies, shows the distance and time you need to spend walking with the UK's most popular dog breeds, according to leading dog behaviourist Nick Jones MA. As well as the table shown above, Work Out Your Walkies also includes: • A calculator to work out the number of laps you'd need to walk of your garden to give your dog the right amount of exercise - perfect for those self-isolating. • Tips on how to keep your dog mentally active as well as
physically fit. • Games and activities to enjoy with your dog at home. • FAQs around dog walking during Covid-19
A nice walk, but how much is too much?
Salman Haqqi, spokesperson at money.co.uk, the website behind the walk calculator, said: “Over the past few weeks, we have seen heroic physical achievements, made from the comfort of homes across the globe including; Captain Tom Moore’s epic fundraising efforts, garden marathons and stair climbs equivalent to that of Mount Everest, so it’s only fair that your dog gets involved too. “And, while a walk around the garden might not be quite as exciting as a trip to your local park, it is the stimulation you give to them as an owner that’s
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so important at this time, so that we keep them healthy and happy. Vet Zoe Costigan BVSc BSc(hons) Cert AVP MRCVS, said: “Chances are your whole family might each be taking the dog for a walk as a reason to roam outside and leave the house. “There’s a fine balance between too little and too much. It’s a good idea to ensure your dog gets out a couple of times a day, because they don’t have too much to stimulate them in the home.
“For some active breeds, like a collie or spaniel, one hour of exercise a day is negligible for their energy levels.”