Pets

The Blandford & Sturminster Newton Branch of Cats n A Blandford Protection is urging people to cat owner has let them know if you have a cat been reunited regularly visiting your home or your garden that nobody claims to own. The charity reunited one last week that had been missing for over four months. He was microchipped, which enabled thm to reunite him quickly. A spokesman said: “We have a number of people searching high and low for their beloved cats. “We also have cats that have been found, so please check out our Facebook page for up to date information on lost and found cats in our area, or call Big Betha is a tabby and white girl – age unknown but she is an older outside cat looking for a stable or smallholding home without other cats in it. Charlie (2) tabby & white outside boy looking for a farm, stable or smallholding to call his own. To rehome a cat, call The Blandford & Sturminster Newton Branch of Cats Protection on 858644 or go to blandford.cats.org.uk with her pet eight weeks after going missing, thanks to social media. Caroline Townend’s puss Moses disappeared early in September. She appealed for sightings but no joy. However Benjamin Dean’s post on the Blandford Forum Facebook page asking if anyone was looking for the cat caught a friend’s eye and Moses was returned home. Caroline said: “I've missed him so much!” our helpline 01425 858644. These are the most recent cats Shaftesbury – tabby 30/6: b/w boy missing since anywhere by now. that have been lost or found: Homefield, Milborne St January: Sturminster Marshall Found Cats: Penny St, Lost Cats: Chalwell, Child Andrew – b/w fluffy 6/10: – longhaired blue grey & Sturminster Newton – Brindle Okeford – Blue grey tabby Henstridge – grey & white peach calico tortie 19/10 tortie since April. Hazelbury 18/9: Castleman Smith Close, fluffy 18/9: Sturminster Still not been found: Lost Bryan – tabby white cat for Blandford – tabby & white Marshall – black with a little from outside Friars Moors about a year: Maple Close, boy 27/9: Sturminster Newton white on chest 6/10: Westbury Vets Sturminster Newton – Shaftesbury – tabby female blue grey tabby 13/9: Beckett Way, Blandford – fluffy blue black female last seen between not chipped: Downside Close, Close, Blandford – grey & grey boy 28/10: reminder Rixon Close and Green Close Blandford black cat with a peach tortie 30/9: Rickyard, Wiltshire Close, Gillingham – 12/10. Could have moved to little white on his chest. Can I use human remedies for my pet?

It is often tempting to use human medications for our pets because we are so used to using them in ourselves. But many human medications can be toxic, even fatal, to our pets and dose rates of safe drugs vary hugely which can make a relatively safe drug harmful if given in overdose. Drugs that we take such as ibuprofen and paracetamol may appear to be safe because side effects are less common in people. However ibuprofen has a very narrow dose range of safety in dogs and, as such, it is not routinely recommended. Paracetamol at any dose is lethal to cats as they lack the enzyme to break it down. We have many licensed drugs in dogs and cats and we are obliged by law to use these before off-licence drugs. This is because scientific trials 38 have been carried out to clarify safe doses, identify toxic doses and to identify potential side effects or interactions with other drugs. We also use drugs which are licensed in humans but not animals when we have no equivalent available. These drugs are used based on experience but have been less rigorously tested and there is potential for unknown side effects. As such these drugs are used with caution and only when their benefits outweigh side effects. Each species has its own drug doses and some drugs which are safe and beneficial in one may cause death in another. For instance penicillin Vet Lynn given orally can be fatal to

Broom rabbits, guinea pigs and horses because they rely on healthy gut bacteria to survive and penicillin can kill these off and allow others to multiply. Ivermectin is a commonly used wormer and anti-parasitic in many species but is fatal to tortoises. We should also consider the size of our patients. The average cat is around 5kg and the average adult male human in the UK is 84kg – if we gave a human tablet to the cat we could be giving almost 17 times the correct dose, making the potential for toxicity very high. Animals’ metabolic rates vary hugely. In general the smaller the animal the higher their metabolic rate. Different species also have different metabolic rates. This is reflected in the doses needed. For instance birds and rabbits metabolise drugs much faster than dogs and often need a higher and more frequent dose of the same drug. Underdosing can be just as problematic as overdosing. If we give antibiotics at a lower than effective dose then bacterial resistance can develop and infection can progress and become less easy to treat. Overall there are human medications which we can use in our pets but you should speak to your vet before using them as they may cause more harm than good if used inappropriately.

BELLS ON: Wessex Morris Men dancing in public before the 2020 lockdown and covid restrictions Picture: Mike Phelan

Morris men looking to go undercover for the winter

A campaign to make Shaftesbury’s open-air swimming pool a year-round attraction is gaining momentum. The heated Oasis pool managed to open for 10 weeks this summer - with only half its normal precautions in place, including timed slots and a ‘turn-up-andswim’ option to reduce changing room usage. And demand was huge as lockdown eased and the temperature climbed: as a result, as much as it did over 16 weeks last summer. “It has been a true lifesaver in this year of coronavirus, with all its stresses and uncertainty,” says regular user Janice Jackson. “There is a group of hardcore regular swimmers from Oasis who would now like to persuade the council to consider installing a retractable roof.” Oasis is owned by Shaftesbury Town Council and is the only pool in the area after the closure of St Mary’s School in July. It is highly valued by locals and drew in customers from much further afield this summer. Pool manager Ryan Baker said: “The public were incredibly grateful to have the pool open for summer, in particular as it brought some kind or normality. Many regulars were also very passionate about having the pool available all be possible with a fixed or retractable roof due to running costs.” Wessex Morris Men want to go under cover –outdoors – as they hone their traditional dancing skills while obeying covid-19 rules.

They have been practicing outside at team members’ homes to maintain their physique and dance style.

But they need a covered outdoor venue for their In the meantime, essential maintenance and upgrade works also need to be carried out, while a year-round pool would mean extra staffing – all costs that far outstrip an annual council grant and gate income. Yet there is strong interest and the cost of a retractable roof has already been sourced from Italy by Shaftesbury town councillor Phil Proctor. “The council can raise the money if people want it,” he posted on Facebook. Said Ryan: “We have got some passionate swimmers and there a lot of people supporting the idea of a roof. I need to speak to the council in more detail but a lot of things need to be done to improve the place. A roof would be lovely but it is an old fashioned set-up and design and requires a lot of money for a lot of things.” practice sessions to keep in-step during the winter months. “We can’t practice indoors and outside winter training is more likely to be thwarted by the weather over the coming months,” said a team spokesman. If you can help, email bagman@wessexmorris

Support grows for pool roof hopes

capacity – having put covid-19 the pool earned £30,000 – nearly

By Steve Keenan sport@blackmorevale.net year round – but this would only men.co.uk The Oasis had a roof but it collapsed in 2012 during heavy snowfall. Before that the pool was used by several groups – for swimming lessons, scuba diving training, lifesaving and canoe roll training. “It would be a fantastic facility to have in the town, and to have a Lido in summer within walkable distance would be amazing,” said one comment on Facebook. Added Janice Jackson: “The main issue is to convince the council that there is sufficient interest and support within the town. “If you would like to show your support for this then please contact the clerk to the council , Claire Commons (townclerk@ shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk) and copy me in (bathhurst08@ btinternet.com) so I can keep you informed on progress.

Gillingham School Sixth Form “Where you study for your success”

Virtual Open Evening Thursday 26th November 2020

For further information, please see our website or contact Jo Stirk Email: jstirk@gillingham-dorset.co.uk Phone: 01747 822222