Pets

With the colder weather, it’s a good idea to let your dog’s fur grow longer. This gives them a bit of added protection and for the shorthaired breeds and puppies, let them wear a coat to keep them snug. Your dog should be wearing a collar and ID tag and be microchipped – it’s important to ensure your personal details are up-to-date on the database. Visibility – for both you and your dog during the cold dark months is important. If it’s snowing keep your dog on a lead – there could be deep patches or holes, or the snow may cover areas that aren’t safe. Wipe after walks – make sure you wipe your dog’s legs, feet and tummy after a walk. Grit from the roads and dampness from rain or snow can irritate their skin and cause problems. Don’t leave your dog in the car – whether it’s a hot or cold day outside, leaving your dog in a car is dangerous due to temperatures rising and falling rapidly. Frozen ponds – don’t let you dog onto frozen ponds as the ice may not be thick enough to take their weight. If your dog does fall through ice, don’t be tempted to go in after them. Try encouraging them back to you and call the emergency services. Antifreeze – this is highly toxic and poisonous to pets, but unfortunately they are tempted by the sweet smell/taste. Keep antifreeze and other chemicals well out of reach and always mop up any spillages. Regularly check your dog’s leads, collars and harnesses – check these are functioning safely and don’t get damaged by winter weather. Wet weather can cause metal clips to rust. Always do up lead clips and carabiners and attach to collars/ harnesses before leaving the house as they can be tricky to do up in the cold.

Top tips for winter walks

Wishing the readers of the New Stour & Avon magazine and all our clients a very Happy Christmas...

...have a safe and happy time with your furry family We’re here if you need us, right up until 1.00pm on Christmas Eve

Vetsmiths 14 West Borough Wimborne BH21 1NF 01202 119988 vetsmiths.co.uk @vetsmiths

£150k fine for puppy farmers

A judge has given a pair of convicted illegal puppy sellers three months to pay more than £150,000 - or face up to 18 months in prison. William Derrick Perriton and Rebecca Heath, of Three Legged Cross, appeared in court in January following several years of investigation by Dorset Council officers regarding animal welfare offences and unlicensed breeding at an illegal puppy farm. The pair pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, failing to take steps to ensure the needs of animals were met and carrying out a dog breeding and selling business for 14 months without a licence. All puppies seized during the investigation were nursed back to full health and successfully rehomed. Last month, Perriton and Heath were each sentenced to 200 hours of community service. However, the confiscation order and court costs faced by the pair were only confirmed by a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court on November 25. For the confiscation order, Perriton was ordered to pay £115,000 or risk 18 months in prison. Heath was ordered to pay £34,840 or risk nine months in prison. Both will also need to pay £4,500 each in prosecution costs, with a victim surcharge of £85 each. Cllr Laura Beddow, Dorset Council portfolio holder for customer and community services, said: “This is a landmark case for Dorset Council, involving an enormous amount of work from officers in our Environmental Health, Legal and Trading Standards teams. “Anyone who truly loves dogs – or animals generally – needs to understand that using an unlicensed breeder to purchase a pet is effectively supporting an illegal business, often without any consideration of the welfare and environmental needs of the animals being sold.”

Delightful Duke is in search of a home

Hello, I am Duke. I am a large very friendly mastiff cross boxer and I am about two years old. I arrived at Waggy Tails from the pound and have not been able to give them my full background but they say it is very evident I came from a home. I am clean in the house and know lots of commands like sit and paw. I love treats and I take them very gently. I love people and I am friendly with other dogs. If you are able to offer me or one of my lovely friends a forever home or a foster home please contact our office on 01202 875000, e-mail: admin@ waggytails.org.uk or visit our website at waggytails.org.uk. We also have lots of other dogs looking for their forever homes. Waggy Tails Rescue are in need of more foster homes. If you are at home most of the time, have a secure garden and experienced with dogs then please give us a ring and discuss fostering for us. It is a very rewarding experience and enables us to continue helping these dogs (no children under 10 in the house please). Waggy Tails Rescue is a registered charity based in Dorset, we rescue and rehome dogs that have been abandoned, neglected or otherwise in need of a new home. We also find homes for other small furries that may be in our care.