Pets

New Stour & Avon, July 9, 2021 Pets Food for thought when it comes to diets

Diet and the right nutrition has come a long way in the pet industry over the last few years and getting it right can often be mind-boggling, particularly when you’re a first time pet owner. Firstly, you need to establish your pet’s ‘life stage’. In other words do you have a puppy or kitten, an adult dog or cat, or a more senior furry friend? What we call ‘life stage’ diets are tailored to your pet’s needs and will provide more of what is needed nutritionally during each stage of their life. For instance, feeding your new pup on specific puppy food will give them a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs for their normal development. Puppies need to eat more in the way of protein (including higher concentrations of specific amino acids), fat, and certain minerals than adult dogs. Growth and development take a lot of energy, so puppies need to take in more calories than adult dogs, even of a similar size Secondly, look at the ingredients. If you’re a bit confused, then have a look at another food. The ingredients list shouldn’t be too confusing and you should be able to work out exactly what’s in the food. Food ingredients will be listed in quantity, so the first ingredient on the list, say it says chicken, will be what it contains most of. Feeding guidelines for all stages of your pet’s life can be a bit confusing and we always recommend having a conversation with the veterinary nurse at your registered vets. They will be able to help and guide you throughout your pet’s life in the diet changes that need to be made. Most vet nurses also run what we call ‘weight clinics’ and can help if you think your dog or cat has perhaps put on little bit of excess that needs to be got under control. It’s important to establish your pet’s ‘body condition score’. Body condition scoring is a management tool designed to assess body reserves or fat accumulation of an animal. Your veterinary nurse will use this as a method of examining the nutritional status of your pet. As we said, it can be a bit overwhelming, but discussing your pet’s diet and any specific needs is always recommended. n Vetsmiths 01202 119988

Can you offer Dave a forever home?

Dave is a 19 month old Mastiff x Lab. He is a large breed and needs an owner that can cope with his size. Experience of mastiffs would be beneficial. Dave is good with all but does not know how big he is, so gets boisterous. He’s learning to walk well on the lead but he is strong and can be distracted by interesting sights on his walk. He loves cuddles, playing with a football and soft toys. Older children only please due to his size. If you are able to offer Dave or one of his lovely friends a forever home or a foster home please contact our office on 01202 875000, email: admin@ waggytails.org.uk or visit our website waggytails.org.uk As summer progresses, we hope to be able to be able to attend more outdoor functions and will publicise these on our website and Facebook page as soon as we have details. Please do follow us and keep up to date with our news. Our shop at Ferndown is fully stocked and our staff and volunteers would love to see you. Do drop by and pick up a bargain! Donations and legacies have been our main source of income over the last year and we are so grateful to everyone who has helped us keep the charity running during these unprecedented months. Thank you all for your continued support. Take care and stay safe. 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, so to find out more you can contact us on the number above or send donations or letters to: For more information, call 01202 875000 or Donations for Waggy Tails can be sent to: Helen’s House Waggy Tails Rescue 143 Magna Road Wimborne BH21 3AW

Members of Wimborne’s University of the Third Age (U3A) have all their fingers and toes crossed for a re-start on Monday, October 4. Many members have kept in touch with each other during the these difficult times, however they ‘cannot wait to get down to the “proper” business of face to face meetings again’. The club has about 700 members and the committee have been hard at work planning for the return of the majority of the 70 or so regular activities, from bridge, art, languages and history to more active groups such as short tennis, table tennis, ballroom dancing and the ever popular Tai Chi. As well as the returning favourites, plans have been made for some exciting new groups – 17th century history, lawn bowls, beginner’s guide to jazz, bridge instruction and making paper models. Wimborne U3A also hosts a monthly lunch club, a wellattended quiz night, pub lunch and skittles, and informative illustrated talks by visiting speakers. Current members will be receiving their registration forms during the second week of July, but if you are not yet a member, not in fulltime employment and simply wishing to find out more about Wimborne u3a, you can apply on 01202 880703, info@wimborneu3a.org.uk or go to wimborneu3a.org.uk

Fare play! Law firm’s grand donation to taxi fundraisers

Legal eagles from a Wimborne law firm were all revved up to support a fundraising drive of a different kind. Ellis Jones Solicitors made a £1,000 donation when Kevin Gunputh from the BC Club pulled up in a black cab decked out with logos and flowers. Members of the fundraising group are taking it in turns to drive the taxi everywhere they go in aid of the Variety Wessex charity. Nigel Smith, managing partner at Ellis Jones, said: “We support many good causes although the BC Club must be the first to be going on a fundraising drive of this kind, quite literally. “It was great to be able to help them raise money in such a fun way for a very deserving charity.” Ellis Jones’ office in Wimborne is in East Street. The BC Club has donated more than £350,000 to charity since being founded by a group of friends and business people in 2011. Its Taxi Challenge has so far raised £12,000 for Variety Wessex, a charity that provides mobility aids, Sunshine Coaches and fun events and days out for children and young people. Kevin, whose day job is managing director of the Luxury Care Group, said: “Many thanks to all at Ellis Jones for the £1,000 ‘fare’. “It will go a long way towards changing the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children.”

TAXI! Driver Kevin Gunputh, centre, stops for Ellis Jones managing partner Nigel Smith, left, and partner and head of banking and finance litigation William Fox Bregman

More info wanted on energy site plans

By Nicci Brown Dorset Council is seeking further information on proposals for an energy recovery facility just beyond the county boundary east of Parley before giving wholehearted support for the scheme at Eco Sustainable Solutions. The application will be decided by Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council, but Dorset Council has been consulted as neighbouring authority. Members of the Strategic Planning Committee agreed with planning officers at their meeting on Monday that further details were needed on the impacts of emissions on protected designations –SSSIs and RAMSARs –surrounding the site, and on the mitigation for impacts of the development within the Green Belt on the landscape. They also sought confirmation that a holding objection from Bournemouth Airport in relation to aerodrome safeguarding had been withdrawn. Told that the deadline for receipt of their response was on Tuesday, they agreed that they were ‘minded to support’ subject to the receipt of satisfactory information. Planning officer Trevor Badley said officers were satisfied with the approach BCP Council was taking on access, amenities, dust and noise issues. Waste management site, green, food and inert waste currently has permission for 360K tons a year, and the proposal will add 60K tons of non-hazardous household and commercial waste to the total – still less than the limit imposed in the Waste Plan. Around 10k tons of recyclable materials will be removed and dealt with separately, but 50k tons will be burnt to provide head and electricity for use on site, with surplus fed into the National Grid or potential to the airport and local housing. Mr Badley said: “It will mean more waste is handled locally, but we are not satisfied with some of the detail of mitigation of potential impacts.” He said they needed to be assured that emissions from the chimney stack falling on the heathland would not make the soil over acidic, and highlighted a detailed response on landscape issues from the Landscape officer Councillor Belinda Ridout proposed the recommended qualified support saying: “Given the proximity of site to designations, Dorset Council is absolutely right to seek more detail”.

As Wimborne’s Slimming World group looks forward to the lifting of lockdown and its return to the Community Learning and Resources Centre in King Street on Tuesdays from July 20, one of its long standing members Sue Preston really does have something to shout about. Louise Seddon, the group’s consultant for the last 13 years, has had the pleasure of Sue’s company in group for the entire time as Sue successfully lost her weight and has kept it off now for 16 and a half years “Sue really is one of our shining stars,” says Louise. “Her journey has been incredible. She helps every week to weigh in the members of the 9am group and everybody totally loves her. She is so inspiring and such a support to everybody too,” Louise added.

Sue’s Story I have always been an emotional eater and when my job became increasingly stressful I found I suddenly turned to food as my comfort and the weight piles on. The stones I started to gain forced me to go out and start buying larger and larger clothes. I got to the point where I hated looking at myself in the mirror and couldn’t bare seeing photographs of myself. I plucked up the courage to join Slimming World in 2004 and my journey began. Everybody was so friendly and welcoming and on my first day the consultant at the time went through the plan with me step by step and surprisingly let me decide how much weight I wanted to lose. I discovered I could still eat all my favourites like pasta, rice, chips, roast potatoes all cooked slimming world way and no food was banned. From that day onwards I learnt that was never any judgement at Slimming World as we just all spoke about positive vibes for the week ahead.

My first week I lost 3.5lbs which was a big deal for me and within eight months I had reached my goal of three stone off and I am proud to have kept that off for the last 16.5yrs.

The reason I have kept it off is I still attend the group weekly, I help out by weighing members in and when appropriate I love chatting to them and encourage them if they need it. This is a way of life for me now and I know with Slimming World Support I will stay the healthy, fit person I am today.

n For more information contact Louise on 07902 566149.

BEFORE, AFTER: Sue’s transformation

TUESDAY MORNING, AFTERNOON AND EVENINGS

Wimborne New Venue from Tue 20th July Community Learning and Resource Centre (Venue in King Street Car Park) Louise 07902 566149

THURSDAY EVENINGS Colehill

St Michaels Church Centre, Colehill Lane Karen 07795 820310

WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, SATURDAY MORNINGS Colehill

The Reef (Next to St Michaels School) Lucy 07749 983274

WEDNESDAY – MORNING, AFTERNOON & EVENINGS Corfe Mullen

St Nicholas Church, Wareham Road Zoe 07866 444488

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON & EVENING, THURSDAY MORNINGS West Moors

Pinehurt Community Church, Pinehurst Road Karen 07795 820310

MONDAY MORNINGS Fordingbridge

Fordingbridge Town Hall, High Street Clare 07779 029015

MONDAY EVENINGS Fordingbridge

Avonway Community Centre, Shaftesbury Street Clare 07779 029015

WEDNESDAY MORNINGS Blandford

The Corn Exchange, Market Place Tracey 07776 309982

FRIDAY MORNINGS Broadstone

Conservative Club, Tudor Road Tracey 07776 309982

If you prefer face-to-face appointments rather than online, then here’s some good news – they have returned in a number of Dorset Council areas. Support with council services in the Stour and Avon area will be available at libraries in Wimborne and at Nordon Lodge, Blandford, where customer services will be able to assist with council enquiries or urgent needs that cannot be supported over the phone or online. Appointments will still need to be pre-booked unless the enquiry requires support due to its complexity or the vulnerability of the customer involved, said the council. Customer services will be able to assist with council enquiries or urgent needs that cannot be supported over the phone or online and all locations will follow the latest covid-19 guidelines and social distancing measures to ensure customers are kept safe. Cllr Jill Haynes, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for customer and community services, said: “Our libraries already offer a range of services and information, with some incorporating Citizens Advice, Skills and Learning, and other voluntary and community network groups, so it makes perfect sense.”

Rotary Club takes to the streets for clean-up operation

Reports that Fordingbridge was looking ‘untidy and unkempt’ have prompted a town-wide cleanup by the local Rotary Club, which took place over June. After noticing dead weeds and claims of ‘unswept pavements’, the club swung into action over a series of Thursday evenings, said a spokesman. “The only official action that seems to have taken place recently is the use of weedkiller which didn’t seem to have solved the problem,” he said. Fordingbridge Rotary made a start on the bridge, the High Street and Salisbury Street last month and continued with the High Street and Roundhill until “the town was done” on July 1. The club said it had received many thanks from townspeople, as well as positive comments online. n If you’d like to help with future clean-ups, contact Fordingbridge Rotary via

fordingbridge-rotary.org.uk TIDY-UP TIME: Rotary Club members working around Fordingbridge

Five-year plan for ‘Natural Health Service’

By Faith Eckersall

Establishing a ‘Natural Health Service’ and fostering more green skills are just two of the initiatives already underway as part of the New Forest National Park Authority’s five-year plan. Now the NPA is drawing up a Partnership Plan to 2026, to secure the future of the prized habitat and champion the recovery of the climate, nature and people, following the pandemic and it wants residents’ views. The NPA says that following a survey earlier this year, it intends to concentrate on the following issues: n Nature Recovery –creating a network of restored and expanded habitats enabling wildlife to thrive n Net Zero with nature –delivering nature-based climate solutions through local partnerships n Thriving Forest –sustaining a living, working landscape with commoning at its heart n An Inclusive National Park – pride in the New Forest and connection with nature for all n Team New Forest –communities, organisations and businesses working together and all contributing, being greater than the sum of our parts. The draft plan builds on initiatives already underway, ranging from restoring wetlands to developing a ‘Natural Health Service’ where people are prescribed nature-based therapies; to creating more green skills and jobs; and new opportunities for volunteering. n Give your views here: newforestnpa.gov.uk/news