The 10th annual Take Your Dog to Work Day will be held on 20 September. Organised by the
Blue Cross, this event encourages pet owners to enjoy more time with their pets by spending a
working day together and raises funds which enable the charity to maintain its centres and
hospitals around the country and, in turn, support animal health and welfare. Participation in the
event can be registered at www.takeyourdogtoworkday.co.uk, which also offers more information
and fundraising suggestions.
Manchester Dogs Home has “reversed the seasonal injunction that a dog is for
life and not just for Christmas.” by calling on animal owners to adopt some of its
older residents, who cope better with changes in circumstances, over the festive
season. Faced with overcrowding due to the number of abandoned dogs the
Home has reported a “fantastic response” from applicants, all of whom will be
checked before any of the placements go ahead. A spokesman for the Dogs
Trust - previously the NCDL which coined the slogan “a dog is for life, not just for
Christmas” - said: “A break from kennel life is important for the dogs and provides
lots of mental stimulation and may eventually aid re-homing. We do urge people
though not to give dogs as presents and remember a dog is for life.” A
spokesperson for the RSPCA added: “In many ways this campaign is likely to
have many positive affects as it may encourage people to choose to adopt dogs
after having them stay in their home for a while.” [The Times - 23 December]
The hospital superbug MRSA has reportedly been found in pets for the first time in Britain.
MRSA, (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), “which kills 5,000 patients a year, is carried
harmlessly by one in three people. But it can prove fatal in the elderly, those recovering from
surgery and those who have a weakened immune system. Newborn babies are also susceptible.
In the last year infection control experts at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in London, who
had received veterinary samples from cats, dogs and a rabbit, found 12 animals carrying the
bug. The matter is being treated with urgency and an investigation is planned for the New Year -
although last night the British Veterinary Association urged the public not to panic and abandon
their pets.” According to the HPA Head of Staphylococcus Research “we have observed MRSA
in some domestic animals. We confirmed this in our laboratories. The cases came from across
Britain so we know it's not one particular cluster. 'We need to know if there is a lot of it out there,
what are the risks? We don't know yet whether animals have acquired the infection from humans
or vice versa. There really is a big question mark over the whole area.'” Meanwhile the BVA
“urged pet owners not to start abandoning their pets. Spokesman Dr Alistair Gibson said 'We
don't want to see a massive scare that will make people get rid of their pets. What we need is for
research to be done into this. Meanwhile, owners should take a sensible approach, wash their
hands regularly and not panic’.” [The Observer - 14 December]
A family spent nearly three hours waiting for rescue after a badger “laid siege” to their
house in mid-afternoon. It had been expected that the animal, which followed the family’s
12-year old son after he got off a bus from school, would retreat to nearby woodland but
instead it “kept trundling around the house, watching us through the patio window and
trying to get in through the cat-flap. It just wouldn’t go away.” The animal was eventually
caged by a member of the Worcestershire Badger Society and then put down by a vet
who said that “it was probably suffering from a brain tumour”. [The Times - 30 October]
The number of stray dogs collected by local authorities and put down fell by 22% according to
the 2003 State of the Nation’s Dogs report, published by the Dogs Trust. It also said the number
of stray dogs had fallen by 6%, although fewer dogs were reunited with their owners than in
2002. [PR Week - 10 October]
A total of 3,467 animals were destroyed in Northern Ireland this year, although statistics show
that the number of animals being destroyed each year is decreasing steadily. The animal welfare
charity, the Dogs' Trust, said the figures showed there was an average of one stray dog for every
147 people in Northern Ireland, compared to a British average of one stray for every 529 people.
The Dogs' Trust's Chief Executive Clarissa Baldwin said: "Three thousand, four hundred and
sixty seven dogs being killed in a year in a country that purports to be a nation of animal lovers is
wholly unacceptable. Dogs Trust will continue fighting for an end to destruction until we reach
the day when the figure is zero." The charity, which was formerly the National Canine Defence
League, said it believed responsible dog owners held the key to winning the battle to stop dogs
being abandoned. The charity spent £2m last year on neutering and microchipping schemes,
allowing 27,000 dogs to be neutered and a further 48,000 to be chipped in order that they could
be traced if lost. [bbc.co.uk - 9 October]
The latest issue of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's online newsletter, MAVIS, reports that
the Scalibor collar has been authorised for use in the UK. According to Dr Bob Killick-Kendrick
“an eminent parasitologist who has studied Canine Leishmaniasis for thirty years” the Scalibor
collar provides the best protection for dogs against sand fly bites, particularly if combined with a
Scalibor shampoo which provides enough deltamethrin in it to maintain protection. For people
travelling abroad under PETS the collar needs to be in place for two weeks to provide protection,
albeit “nobody can guarantee 100% protection against any disease.” For further information visit
http://www.leishmaniasis.info [Our Dogs - 5 September]
LANTRA – the Sector Skills Council for the Environment and Land-based sector – has
developed a fact sheet describing routes into careers in animal care. The sheet includes case
studies of animal care workers and explains the skills and training needed for people considering
working in the sector. More information is available by phoning 0845 707 8007 or e-mailing
connect@lantra.co.uk. [Pet Business World – August 03]
Walkers have been warned to be on their guard against a tiny blood-sucking insect after cases of
a potentially-fatal disease rose dramatically. The Ramblers Association has issued urgent
advice to its members telling them to be on the lookout for parasitic ticks. The tiny insects thrive
in moist, coarse vegetation such as the heather prevalent in the Highlands. They are normally
carried on animals such as sheep, deer and cattle, but can also be transferred to humans
walking through undergrowth. Among the illnesses carried by the ticks is Lyme disease, a rare
illness which in the most severe cases can attack the central nervous system and the heart. An
article on ticks and Lyme disease has been posted on the Ramblers Association’s website and
says the threat "cannot be ignored". Government statistics show that cases of Lyme disease in
Scotland have risen from two in 1992 to 85 last year, although so far nobody has died. The
Highlands has one of the highest rates of the disease in northern Europe, with 16 cases per
100,000 people. Lyme disease can remain in the body for many years and can cause long-term
problems such as paralysis of the facial muscles and chronic arthritis. Early signs of the illness
include a red blotch over the bite area, flu-like symptoms and aching joints. The ticks pose the
highest risk between April and October. [Scotsman.com – 4 Aug]
A goldfish has been granted a special performer’s licence by Coty of Edinburgh Council in order
to appear in a Fringe show. The fish named Daniel appears in Alex Horne’s show Making Fish
Laugh at the Assembly Rooms. But under Edinburgh by-laws performing animals are excluded
from taking part in entertainments within the city’s boundaries. A spokeswoman for the
Assembly Rooms said: "We had to write to the city council to ask for permission to keep the fish
in the building overnight. We have even made a special laminated pass for him." Daniel the
goldfish is an integral part of Making Fish Laugh, which is a show based on the science of
comedy. The fish represents the type of audience member whose facial expressions are
inscrutable, and who are among the most difficult types to make laugh. "The Assembly Rooms
were great about it, but then the council wrote to them and said you can’t have a fish in the
building, it’s a living animal. The Assembly Rooms then wrote to the council and said, ‘he’s not
an animal, he is a performer,’ and the council gave him permission to stay in the building." Mr
Horne said Daniel was not a natural performer, but was growing into his role.” Olaf McKenzie,
who is in charge of safety at the Assembly Rooms, said he was confident the presence of a fish
in the building would not cause any hazards to the public. "The fish understands the rules
involved and has been properly trained in the use of the appropriate equipment," he said.
“Unfortunately, he is not a very good actor." [Scotsman.co.uk – 8 August]
Increasing work and family pressures are resulting in hundreds of dogs being given up to
shelters across the country, according to a study carried out by The Blue Cross. It found that
compared with just 10 years ago, the incidence of owners giving up their pets simply because
they haven’t the time for them or cannot cope with having a pet has doubled. The 10-year study
looked at numbers of animals coming into Blue Cross animal centers across Britain and the
reasons why they were brought in. After cross breed dogs, Jack Russell terriers were the most
common breed of dog to be given up to The Blue Cross in 2001. [Pet Business World – August]
The Kennel Club and the Dobermann Breed Council (DBC) have jointly established a new DNA
testing scheme for vWD in the Dobermann with a Finnish biotechnology company called
Finnzyme. vWD is an inherited condition that results in reduced blood clotting function in
affected animals and in the Dobermann is caused by a single recessive mutation in the von
Willebrand (vW) gene. Furthermore, the degree of clotting can vary greatly in affected dogs.
According to Dr Jeff Sampson from the KC’s Health & Information Executive “knowing the vWD
status of an individual Dobermann will provide invaluable information to its owner. For example,
the owner of a Dobermann shown to be affected will have this information to hand in case it
needs an operation or has an accident, allowing the veterinary surgeon to take appropriate
steps. More importantly, for he breed as a whole, DNA testing all potential breeding stock before
they are mated will enable breeders to plan their breeding programmes so that the frequency of
the vWD mutation in the Dobermann gene pool can be reduced to the point of irrelevance.” [KC
press release - 10 June]
With National Worm Awareness Week having celebrated its 10 th anniversary its organisers,
Sherley’s, launched a new website to coincide with the week [3-11 May],
www.wormawareness.com, offering consumers year-long advice on worming of cats and dogs.
[pbwnews - May]
Miniature Shetland ponies are being trained as an alternative to the traditional guide dog. A
training centre for the ponies has been set up in Nottinghamshire and Rosie, a 27in-high
Shetland, is halfway through a year-long course to become Britain’s first guide horse. While a
guide dog’s working life is about eight to 12 years, a Shetland has a 40-year working life and is
small enough to “fit in the back of a car”. The scheme has been welcomed by RNIB, which
“believes that ponies may be a useful alternative for people who find it hard to get on with dogs
or are allergic to them.” [The Sunday Times - 1 June]
According to scientists at the Moredun Research Institute pets, horses, cows, pigs, and,
“perhaps less worrying for Britons, koalas are among carriers of bacteria that pose an unknown
risk to humans”. They have warned “that far too little is known of the threat posed by bacteria of
the chlamydia family, even though one responsible for the most common sexually transmitted
disease in Britain” C. trachomatis, “is threatening a health crisis”. The researchers warn, in the
Journal of Comparative Pathology that “our proximity to pets, livestock, and wildlife could infect
us with related species. Two animal forms of chlamydia are known to spread to humans. One is
C. abortus, which causes miscarriages and abortions in sheep or goats; pregnant women are at
risk too, and there have been public warnings about contact in the lambing season. C. abortus
has also been linked to occasional cases of respiratory illness in staff in laboratories. C. psittacican spread to humans from the parrot family, turkeys, and seagulls. It causes anything from mild
flu-like symptoms to acute pneumonia. Bird fanciers, staff in aviaries, and vets, have been
infected. This avian chlamydia was responsible for 1,620 cases in Britain over five years to
2001, but the Moredun authors say this is probably an underestimate since psittacosis is difficult
to diagnose. There is laboratory evidence that C. felis can spread from cats and cause
conjunctivitis in people. A Japanese study found that antibodies to the bacteria might be in 1.7%
of the public and in nearly 9% of vets specialising in small animals. Nearly half of stray cats
tested for the same research had C. felis infection, as did more than one in six pets. Other forms
might spread from pigs and cattle, while another human member of the family, C. pneumoniae,
linked to asthma, arthritis and Alzheimer's disease, as well bronchitis, pneumonia, and heart
disease, has been found in frogs, koalas, and horses. originated in animals.” The Moredun
Institute belongs to an international network trying to research the subject and according to one
of the authors, Dr Longbottom “there is such a lack of information. We need to know the full
epidemiological picture across the UK and across Europe. Until we know that, we don't know
how big a problem it is ... if it is one at all." [The Guardian - 12 May]
The Easter Bunny has long been acknowledged as the benevolent bringer of the traditional
Easter Eggs, but recent years have seen an increase in the numbers of real bunnies being
bought for children as an additional Easter treat. Unfortunately, many of these rabbits are
bought without any thought being given to their needs, and sadly the months after Easter see
many of them living a solitary life in a “hutch-bound hell” – or being ‘donated’ to increasingly
hard-pressed rabbit charities. So in the run up to Easter animal-welfare charities are launching a
campaign to stop people buying these animals as Easter gifts, as so many are simply
abandoned at a later date. Pet shops across Britain have already reported a brisk trade in the
fluffy pets and 10,000 of them are expected to be bought as Easter gifts. The rabbit is the third
most popular domestic pet in Britain today but the Rabbit Welfare Association (RWA) says that
sadly some pet owners do not understand just what a rabbit needs to live a healthy, happy life.
Rabbits actually need SECS - Space, Exercise, Companionship and Stimulation. Helen Flack of
the RWA said: “Rabbits are wonderful animals, to keep them in good health they require more
time than people realise. Thousands are left in hutch bound hell, living in hutches far too small
for them to move around. Rabbits in general and especially those who live in dirty hutches are
vulnerable to a condition called ‘Flystrike’ – when flies lay eggs on the body of the rabbit and the
maggots live on the live animal when they hatch. This can be life threatening if not caught in
time. If neglected, rabbits can suffer from various health problems including overgrown teeth and
nails. When a rabbit’s teeth are allowed to become overgrown, eating their food will become
difficult if not impossible. Rabbits have several basic needs but one of the most important is to
always keep them clean and dry, especially in winter months when hutches are exposed to cold
and wet. We are hoping that the RWA campaign will help to get the importance of looking after
rabbits properly to ensure good health and happiness.” For further information visit:
www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk or ring the helpline on 01403 267658. [NFU Countryside Rural News -
14 April]
Tuesday 16 September 2003 is to be the eighth National Take Your Dog to Work
Day. Registration for the event, which is promoted by the Blue Cross, is free but
owners who take part are encouraged to raise money for the Blue Cross. For
further information visit www.bluecross.org.uk. [Dog Training Weekly - 11 April]
Harry, the Harris hawk, is to retire from the limelight after 15 years following a
series of mischievous incidents at Thorp Perrow Arboretum in Yorkshire. The
problems began when Harry, who will start breeding instead, flew off with a
spectator's toupee and tried to eat it, thinking it was live prey. His exploits also
include puncturing a bouncy castle and ruining an ice cream vendor's stock
when he flew into the vehicle and landed in one of the tubs. [BBC Online - 26
March]
A new House of Commons Early Day Motion laid on 24 March reads: “That this House
congratulates the Kennel Club and PRODog's on their joint initiative UKDOG; notes that
restrictions on access to the countryside are becoming a grave concern to many dog owners
who experience a serious problem on nearly every mile of path they try to use when out walking;
notes with concern an increasing anti-dog attitude which prevails; recognises the need for a
nationwide initiative to ensure that the rights for dog owners are protected and represented at
every level of government; and therefore wishes the Kennel Club and PRODog's the best of luck
in achieving their aims, opening the lines of communication between honourable Members and
their constituents.”
Britain’s first automatic dog wash has opened on a service station forecourt at
Wrotham Heath in Kent. Copied, “unsurprisingly, from an American fad, the
stainless steel tank engulfs each user in a brisk, cold shower followed by a blow-dry.”
Each installation costs £13,000 and drivers pay £5 to put their dogs through
the 10-minute cycle. Dog washes are due to be installed on other forecourts
across Britain following the success of exports from the filling station specialist firm
RHI’s Cornish plant to garages in Spain. Forecourts are also being encouraged to
expand “their ever-increasing retail side to include a pet section.” [The Guardian -
13 February]
The Government is expected to support a private member's bill that will put “stronger controls on
the sale and use of fireworks. The loudest fireworks would be banned, while restrictions would
be put on the time of day all types could be set off”, under the bill announced by Bill Tynan, MP.
The Consumer Minister, Melanie Johnson, and the Home Office Minister, John Denham, have
reportedly given the bill their backing. Mr Tynan said: "Misery caused to the public and domestic
and wild animals by misuse of fireworks is a growing problem. Lack of licensing of retail outlets,
periods of sale, and noise levels, together with problems with importation, distribution, and
storage, all contribute to the nuisance use of fireworks." The bill would introduce a two-tier
licensing system for retailers with a tougher vetting procedure and powers to withdraw a licence.
The first tier is likely to cover three weeks before November 5 when 95% of fireworks are sold. A
full-year licence, likely to cost £600, would allow for other celebrations such as the Chinese New
Year, weddings, and birthdays. The ban on setting-off fireworks late at night is not defined, but
could be from 11pm in cities. The bill also includes rules on training for professional displays. Mr
Denham said: "We strongly support this bill. There is growing concern about anti-social and
criminal use of fireworks." [The Guardian - 14 February]
Armed police hunting a mysterious big cat, which is believed to have killed a farmer's dog in west
Wales, say there may be two such animals on the loose. The force is warning the public and
farmers not to search for the cat, which attacked the dog within sight of its owner. The latest
alert comes four months after Gwent Police used two helicopters equipped with thermal-imaging
cameras to search for a similar beast reported on farmland near Newport. “Farmers working
near the latest alarm are being urged to patrol in pairs and carry powerful torches as a way of
protecting themselves from possible attack. The animal which killed the dog … made no attempt
to attack the dog's owner but police are urging caution in any case. The farmer saw the wild cat
while checking his sheep. His dog attacked the animal, which turned and killed it. The cat then
began to start eating the dog before another cat appeared, which is when the farmer called the
police” and at least one officer reported seeing a Puma-like animal at the site. The dog's carcass
has been taken away for veterinary examination by the Welsh Assembly's wildlife advisory unit.
“Last August, the British Big Cats Society said it had received more than 800 reports of animals
including pumas, black panthers, leopards and so-called Fen tigers over a 12-month period.
Experts believe big cats in the UK are the offspring of beasts released by owners in the 1970s,
after the introduction of stringent new laws governing wild and dangerous animals.” [BBC News
Online - 6 January]
The nation's vets have reported a “dramatic rise last year in dogs and cats being
named after characters from Tolkien and the Harry Potter films. While some opted for
Hobbit, Gandalf and Harry, others preferred television soap and celebrity chef
names. Cats, rather than dogs, tended to be called Nigella, Delia and Oliver. Some
drinkers' cats were called Guinness, Stella and Vodka.” The survey of 10,000 vets
nevertheless found that Charlie remained the most popular name for dogs, and
Tigger for cats. [The Daily Telegraph - 6 January]
“A Which? investigation has raised serious concerns about the conditions in pet shops in the UK.
10 of the 42 visited pet shops were providing substandard care, such as keeping animals in
overcrowded or dirty conditions. Three of the shops were so appalling that Which? has called for
their licenses to sell animals to be revoked. Which? arranged for six vets to make undercover
visits to 42 randomly chosen pet shops throughout the UK. The vets assessed the conditions in
which animals were kept, according to the Model Standards for Pet Shop Licence Conditions.
These guidelines are meant to help local authorities - they are not a legal requirement. Three
independent pet shops were so bad that Which? has reported them to the RSPCA and
the respective local authorities. Seven more also caused concern and the inspectors felt that
these outlets should not have their annual licenses renewed unless they made big
improvements. Only 24 of the 42 pet shops visited made the grade. 13 Pets at Home outlets
(part of the UK’s largest national chain) were inspected and only one came in for any criticism.
Most of the small chains also received a clean bill of health. Worst by far were the independents,
with only half making the grade.
Reptile enthusiast Rhys Jones has urged Harry Potter fans not to ask for snakes for Christmas,
after the creatures “took a lead role in the junior wizard's latest movie”. Mr Jones, who recently
organised a special evening at Cardiff University in which experts showed off venomous - but not
deadly - snakes to the public, hopes to correct the public image of snakes and encourage people
to handle them correctly but stresses that he doesn’t want “people seeing snakes as gifts."
Many of the snakes featured in the show at the Reptile World evening were rescue animals -
unwanted pets or passed on from British Customs. [BBC News Online - 5 December]
It has been reported that “hundreds of cat-owners have been inadvertently poisoning their pets
by giving them a flea treatment designed for dogs”. The products, which contain the insecticide
Permethrin and which can be bought at supermarkets, while safe for dogs, can kill a cat in a
matter of hours and have created “one of the most common and significant problems" among
vets in recent years, according to an animal poisons expert. Although the Government earlier
this year ordered manufacturers to include warnings against using the products on cats, the
number of cases shows few signs of decreasing. A vet in Bolton has reported more than 15
cases in the past year, while an animal hospital in Southampton has recently reported about two
cases a week. [The Daily Telegraph - 25 November]
Sniffer dogs at an English port reacted so enthusiastically to a consignment of nearly
a tonne of dog dental treats that officials feared it was a drugs shipment and held it
up for checking for two months. The treats were developed by a veterinary
nutritionist and an agricultural specialist in the USA. [pbw news - November]
In what has been described as a possible “landmark case” a Bradford woman has been
prosecuted for allowing cats to defecate in her neighbours’ gardens. The lady in question runs a
“cat rescue” in a residential cul-de-sac, keeping “up to 50 cats in a purpose built cattery. She
also kept up to 19 cats as pets.” Magistrates ruled that keeping so many cats “inevitably led to a
statutory nuisance”, the neighbours having signed a petition “saying that the huge amounts of
faeces were causing odour and flies”. Despite an abatement notice having been served in
January 2001, under Section 80 of the Environment Protection Act 1990, and despite the woman
having put fencing around her back garden and dug up her front lawn, filling it with gravel to act
as a “cat litter” the nuisance continued. [ehn - 8 November]
Veterinary scientists at Cambridge University are seeking funds for a project to train dogs to
identify prostate cancer by smelling urine samples. The decision follows research at Florida
State University’s Sensory Research Institute that has found that “dogs can locate odours at far
lower levels than had been recorded” raising hopes that dogs can be trained to sniff out human
cancers. Tests are already underway in America with one project involving training a poodle to
detect lung cancer by sniffing human breath. The dog has an 85% success rate. At the Sensory
Research Institute, scientists have studied earlier experiments in which two dogs identified
melanoma tissue samples hidden on the skin of healthy volunteers. One of the dogs also
“confirmed” diagnoses of suspected skin cancer, later proved by biopsy, in five patients. In a
sixth case, the animal responded to a part of the skin that had tested negative for cancer on
initial examination. Later tests found melanoma in a tiny fraction of the cells. Dr John Church of
Cambridge University referred to six cases in Britain where cancer had been diagnosed in
patients whose dogs had shown a particular interest in a certain part of their body. One animal
had tried to bite off a mole, later shown to be a malignant growth, on its owner’s leg. [The Times
- 27 August
According to Epoq Software owners can now legally protect their dog from cruelty under
“enforceable sale conditions”. The company has produced a new legal precedent for the sale of
a dog or puppy, at a cost of £20, which is available directly from their website
(www.desktoplawyer.co.uk <http://www.desktoplawyer.co.uk>) which includes in its conditions of
sale the basic health and training requirements of puppies and dogs. According to Epoq the
precedent is designed for use in two general situations:
- the sale and purchase of a new puppy from a breeder or dealer as a family pet; and
- the sale and purchase of a puppy or a grown dog from its' private owner.
The precedent also includes provisions relating to microchipping and the UK Pet Passport
scheme. “Unusually Epoq have used the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties)
Act 1999 to make the RSPCA beneficiaries under the contracts drafted using their Desktop
Lawyer precedent: "Good dog breeders and sellers are very concerned about the welfare of
puppies and dogs. However most contracts of sale of dogs or puppies contain no provisions for
the animal's welfare. And lawyers have conventionally expressed doubts about the enforceability
of such provisions" said Alistair Kelman, barrister and head of Legal Content Origination at
Epoq. "We have recently been reviewing this position and found that under the Contracts (Rights
of Third Parties) Act 1999 it was possible to make organisations, such as the RSPCA,
beneficiaries under any agreement. What this means is that if a breeder sells a puppy to an
owner using a contract drawn up using our new Desktop Lawyer precedent and subsequently
the owner is cruel to the animal not only can the owner be prosecuted by the RSPCA for cruelty
to the animal but the RSPCA can recover damages from the owner for breach of the welfare
provisions contained in the original contract of sale."
The precedent includes provisions for the seller to tick from a standard list which diseases the
animal has been vaccinated for, when its booster shots are due, whether the dog or puppy is
eligible under the Regulations of the Kennel Club (and all the relevant Kennel Club details),
microchip and Pet Passport details, and whether the dog is the result of selective mating of
parents with certified hip, elbow and eye scores. It also allows the seller to list health problems or
potential genetic problems. Under the precedent the buyer can be required to give enforceable
promises in many areas including undertakings that a dog will not be used as a guard dog, will
not be allowed to roam, will not be used to fight dogs or other animals, will be socialised and
appropriately obedience trained and will receive appropriate veterinary attention. [Epoq Group
press release - 16 August]
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International Rabbit Day takes place on 28 September with the theme ‘Happy Bunnies’. The Rabbit
Charity will be giving advice on how to keep rabbits healthy and happy including the need for
exercise every day. For further information visit www.bunny.org.uk.
The PDSA has announced the launch of a “free national PetCheck Programme … after worrying
statistics reveal that more pets are overweight and are also suffering from serious dental
problems than ever before”. According to the survey, carried out amongst the charity’s vets “who
treat over 4,500 pets free every working day, there has been an extraordinary rise in the number
of overweight and obese pets over the past 10 years. Today, it’s estimated that more than 50%
of cats and dogs in the UK are overweight, with the highest number of cases amongst dogs.”
[PDSA press release - 18 July]
It has been reported that people will no longer be able to bury their deceased pets in the garden
‘if a new EU directive is sanctioned by the Government’. According to the report the directive will
reclassify dead animals as waste, restricting where their remains can be left. According to one
pet crematorium owner ‘we are still in discussion with DEFRA’ since ‘if it goes ahead we will
have to reclassify the pet crematorium as a waste landfill site and pay for a licence to operate’.
[Your Cat - June]
23 May in response to a Parliamentary Question concerning what recent representations she
has received from Eurostar on pet passports and guide dogs DEFRA Minister Elliot Morley said:
‘Eurostar has been in touch with the Department about the Pet Travel Scheme in the light of
representations that it has received from, amongst others, the Royal National Institute for The
Blind. Eurostar has made it clear that while it has not been its policy to date to permit the animals
of any kind on its trains, it is keenly aware of the assistance that guide dogs bring to visually
impaired passengers. The company has, for some time, been considering whether, and how, it
might allow the carriage of assistance dogs on its trains. The Department is ready to advise it on
how the company could meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme.
On 14 May DEFRA Minister Elliot Morley attended a meeting of the House of Commons
European Standing Committee A in order to provide a briefing on European Union proposals
(document No. 7947/02 dated 17 April 2002) which are, in turn, based on the UK PETS. In
introducing the discussion the Minister noted that: ‘The scheme is modelled on the UK scheme,
so we very much agree with it, but two main differences arose in the discussions about the
changes. The first is to do with blood testing - there was some debate about whether our
measures are acceptable. The other difference is on the tick and tapeworm treatments that we
insist on for animals coming to the UK. Several pathogens and parasites are not found in the UK,
and it is important that we protect the health of animals and humans in this country. The proposal
allows us to keep our tick treatment, unchanged, for five years. The treatment will be reviewed at
the end of that time. In effect, the EU proposals will result in little change to what we are already
doing. All cats and dogs - the scheme now also applies to ferrets - coming to the UK must be
identified by a microchip. The regulation temporarily allows the continued use of tattooing for
those countries such as France that continue to use that system. We do not use tattooing as part
of our pet travel scheme, and we do not propose to change that. In the UK, identification will
continue to be based on microchips. However, French animals coming to the UK, even though
they may be tattooed, also have to be identified by a microchip to meet our standards. That will
continue to be the case. Animals must also be vaccinated against rabies. That, too, is a current
requirement. If the animal is coming to the UK from another member state or a country listed in Annex II,
part B, which is in the documents that members of the Committee have, a blood sample has to be taken
and sent for analysis. If a satisfactory result is obtained, the animal can enter the UK six months after the
blood sample is taken, not six months after the result is provided. Again, that is exactly the same as at
present. Currently, under the pet travel scheme there are 51 qualifying countries, including rabies-free
islands such as Australia, Cyprus and the Falklands, from which cats and dogs that meet
the scheme's requirements—identification, vaccination, a blood test and a six-month wait—can
enter the UK without going into quarantine. Exactly the same is true under the EU regulations.
The draft regulations lay down in article 9 the criteria that countries must meet to be considered
for addition to the list. The criteria are very similar to those used in the UK, with the main
difference being that the UK requires countries to have been free from indigenous rabies for the
previous two years. The EU regulations do not require that because, although the EU is mostly
rabies free, there are pockets of the disease, so the regulations could hardly require qualifying
countries to be totally rabies free when the EU is not yet in that position. The rabies eradication
programme in mainland Europe has been successful, and rabies is now found only on the
eastern edge of Europe - there is a concentration on the German-Polish border. The list of
favoured countries will be decided by the European Standing Committee on the Food Chain and
Animal Health - previously the Standing Veterinary Committee - and will be published in a
Commission regulation before the Council regulation comes into force. Overall, the EU has
accepted that the UK, Ireland and Sweden are free from the echinococcus tapeworm, and the
regulation provides for current controls to continue. That is covered in article 15 of the proposal.
The UK and Ireland argued that they are also free from certain cat and dog diseases that are
transmitted by ticks. We argued that article 15 should be extended to allow us to continue our
requirement that dogs and cats coming to the UK should be treated against ticks. The Council
agreed to that on 22 April, and we expect a suitable amendment to appear in the next version of
the text. I am happy to take questions on the proposals. The introduction of the pet travel
scheme has been popular and has dealt with many concerns of people who had been separated
from their animals, not just about expense, but about the effect on their families and on animal
welfare. We have always understood those issues. I was pleased to see in one of the Sundays
that the pet travel scheme has been included in a list of great recent innovations. The scheme is
developing, and it is compatible with the EU scheme, which is modelled on our experience.
Debate continues over the number of countries that should be on the candidate list. That will be
given careful consideration. The scheme has been successful overall, and I am pleased that an
agreement with the EU has been reached that meets our requirement and which is subject to the
Committee's scrutiny.’
According to a survey by Cats Protection the cat is now man’s best friend with 7.5m kept
throughout the UK compared with 6.1m dogs. In the survey nearly 40% of people named cats as
their favourite pet with 57% saying they liked cats because they were affectionate, 49% liked
them for their independence and 46% preferred them because they were clean. Nearly two-thirds
of cat owners said ‘curling up with their pet was the best way to beat stress’ and almost
half of both men and women said they would ‘rather wake up with their cat than their partner’.
[news.bbc.co.uk - 6 May]
The Kennel Club has pointed out that as a result of its regulation restricting the breeding of a
second litter within 12 months from the same bitch, many breeders who are not legally required
to be licensed under the Breeding & Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 have experienced
difficulties, not least because of the uncertain ovulation cycle of a bitch, combined with the time
necessarily taken to apply for exemption. While noting that ‘it is still strongly recommended that
a bitch should not normally be bred from in successive seasons, and certainly not without prior
examination and approval by a veterinary surgeon’ the KC have confirmed that for the reasons
stated and in view of the high success rate of applications received for exemption from the
Regulation, the General Committee has decided that the relevant Regulation (B22d) should be
deleted. This means that it is no longer necessary, for those breeders who are not required to
be licensed under the Act, to apply to the Kennel Club for permission to do so if they wish to
breed a second litter from a bitch in a twelve-month period. The KC stress, however, that it is
‘still of course unlawful under the Act for licensed breeders to breed a second litter from a bitch in
a twelve month period.’ The KC has also approved a change to Regulation B22c(2) regarding
the breeding of bitches over the age of eight. The Regulation now reads that:
‘The General Committee will not accept an application to register a litter when:-
(1) The dam has already whelped six litters, or
(2) The dam has already reached the age of eight years at the date of whelping, or
(3) The dam was under 12 months at the time of mating.
Relief from the restriction set out in 22c(2) may be considered by the General Committee
normally provided application is made prior to the mating, and the proposed dam has previously
whelped at least one other registered litter. Any such application must be supported by
veterinary evidence as to the suitability of the bitch involved in the proposed whelping.’
The KC have stressed that these changes were effected after consultation with the veterinary
profession and that it is intended that applications for relief will be considered sympathetically
‘always provided that veterinary evidence is satisfactory and that the other circumstances of the
case are favourable.’ [Kennel Club press release - 9 April]
The AA’s guide Pet Friendly Places to Stay 2002 has just been published. It is available from
high street booksellers or online from www.theAA.com priced £8.99. [Our Dogs - 19 April]
Research just published by two psychologists from the University of Warwick suggests that ‘the
days of ferret owning as the preserve of northern men in cloth caps could be numbered’.
Instead, they are becoming popular, as are rabbits, with young, single women, which the
researchers put down to more young people remaining childless. In a survey of 142 male and
female ferret owners across the Midlands most owners were aged 26-45, while more than 77%
were childless. Some 82% had not owned ferrets before but were attracted to them as ‘suitable
pets for their lifestyle’. While reluctant to suggest that ferrets were the ‘ultimate yuppie pet’ one
of the researchers pointed out that ‘there are websites springing up devoted to ferrets and the
range of toys you can buy for them is amazing. You can seriously spoil these creatures …’. [The
Independent - 9 April]
The Pet Food Manufacturer’s Association’s latest annual report indicates that there are now 7.5
million pet cats as opposed to 6.1 million pet dogs owned in the UK. Some 24.7 million fish are
kept as pets (made up of told 14.7, tropical 9.3 and marine 0.7), 1.1. million rabbits, 0.75 million
budgerigars, 0.26 million canaries and 1.06 million ‘other birds’, 0.73 million guinea pigs, and
0.86 million hamsters. The PFMA annual report is published online at www.pfma.com [Our
Dogs - 12 April]
INCREASE IN RABBIT NEGLECT
The Blue Cross has seen a worrying increase in the number of pet rabbits being abandoned or released into the wild by owners who no longer want to care for them.
The Blue Cross centre in Oxfordshire has reported the biggest increae, with approximately 50 per cent more dumped and stray rabbits needing rehoming and medical treatment compared to the number being handed over to the charity two years ago.
"People are under the mistaken impression that rabbits need very little attention, live short lives and can make ideal pets for children. In reality, they are complex animals who need just as much attention and commitment as a dog or cat," said Lynn Rogers, manager of the Blue Cross centre in
Burford, Oxon.
----------------------------------------------------
A survey conducted on behalf of The Blue Cross has shown that 86% of homeless people have
been refused accommodation because they owned a dog. The survey also revealed that a dog
is the only good thing in many homeless people’s lives with 88% saying that the companionship
was paramount. With statistics showing that pet owners on the streets were significantly less
likely to suffer from depression or drug abuse than those without animals The Blue Cross has
launched a campaign to encourage housing providers to review their policies and to break the
‘vicious circle which pet-owning homeless people find themselves in.’ [Dog World - 5 April]
Guide dog experts have launched "Safer Streets", a new campaign calling for the removal of
unnecessary street furniture responsible for injuring scores of blind people each year. Bollards,
overhanging vegetation and cafe chairs are among the items which endanger Britain's 1.4 million
registered blind population, according to the Guide Dogs for the Blind. [epxNews - 25 March]
As with humans, increasing number of dogs and cats are suffering from diabetes
{Diabetic Medicine 2002;19:77-80}. Factors such as increasing weight, decreasing physical activity,
increasing psychological stress and increased life expectancy are thought to be the main
reasons and the authors have called for the implementation of evidence based guidelines and for
more education of animal owners. [British Medical Journal - 23 March]
DRINK UP AND SUPPORT GUIDE DOGS
On Saturday 5 October 2002 , real coffee experts Douwe Egberts is sponsoring Guide Dogs' National Coffee Morning.All over the country people are being encouraged to raise a cup of quality coffee in support of Guide Dogs. It is hoped that the fundraising total of £120,000 (gross) achieved last year will be beaten in 2002.
For more information on this year's Douwe Egberts National Coffee Morning, register online at
www.coffeemorning.org.uk
........................................................................................................................................................................................
The Report of the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) Working Group on Feline and Canine
Vaccination (the Working Group) has been published. Set up in 1999 by the VPC in response to
concern in both the public domain and the scientific community about possible health risks
related to the routine vaccination of cats and dogs, the Working Group has concluded that
vaccination plays a very valuable role in the prevention and control of major infectious diseases
in cats and dogs. Although adverse reactions to vaccination, including lack of efficacy,
occasionally occur, the Working Group concluded that the overall risk/benefit analysis strongly
supports their continued use. The Government will carefully consider the Working Group's
recommendations before publishing its interim response for consultation later in 2002.
[VPC press release - 1 February: ]
Self-service, coin-operated public pet cleaning stations are likely to become the latest additions
to UK store fronts, service areas and petrol station forecourts following their successful launch in
Spain. The stainless steel system, which provides warm water showers, shampoo dispenser, hot
air hair-dryer and a self-disinfection facility all within a secure wash area has proved highly
popular in Spain with owners pointing out ‘the advantages of cleaning their pet in the open air:
no more towels piling up, no more bathrooms flooded and no trace of hairs everywhere’.
[pbw News - January]
THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS WITH PETS URGED TO SHOW MORE RESTRAINT
Over 2.5 million drivers allow their pets to move around freely in their car whilst driving despite the increased risk of having an accident according to a recent MORI survey by Direct Line Pet Insurance.
The findings showed that of those drivers who own a pet, around 7 out of 10 (69%) regularly travel with their pet in their car and over a quarter of those (28%) do not take steps to ensure that their pet is safely secured.
Medium sized dogs can weigh the equivalent of a child. Therefore, based on recent government campaigns, in a 30 mph impact crash an unsecured dog in the back would be thrown forward with the force of around three tonnes, sustaining serious injuries and potentially severely hurting the driver or passenger in front of them.
Furthermore Section 43 of the Highway Code states that when in a vehicle, dogs and other animals must be suitably restrained so that they cannot distract you when you are driving or injure you when you stop quickly.
Some of the worst offenders are found in Yorkshire and Tyne Tees where over a third of drivers travelling with pets (35%) allowed their four legged friends to roam around the car.
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The first underwater treadmill for dogs has been installed at Amberco Canine Hydrotherapy in
Somerset. The Water Walker is a computer-controlled treadmill that can run at speeds from
0.5mph to 8mph and can be filled with water to whatever depth is required. For details visit
www.amberco-canine-centres.co.uk. [Dogs Today - November 2001]
A short-sighed greyhound has been fitted with contact lenses to enable
him to see the electric hare properly. The dog, however, remains anonymous in order to avoid his odds being cut by bookies reports The
Sun. [The Guardian’s Wrap - 18 October]
A website has been launched giving information and support for owners of deaf dogs.
The site includes a rehoming section for those trying to find homes for deaf dogs or those
looking to adopt; a gallery of pictures; a section describing experiences with teaching
sign language to deaf dogs; information on training with links to recommended trainers;
news items; relevant reading material; and links to other deaf dog-related sites and pages.
The address is www.deafk9.com. [Dog World - 5 October]
A new charity, The Pet Allergy Association, has been established to help ‘the thousands of animals who
suffer from the misery of allergy’. In addition to some 700,000 dogs and 800,000 cats affected by
allergy, horses, rabbits, guinea-pigs and even birds can also suffer. All advice and information
provided by the PAA will be tailored to meet the individual needs of the pet concerned. Fact sheets on
a range of allergies are available to both members of the public and veterinary surgeries and a helpline
operates from 11am - 3 pm Monday to Friday. In addition to advice and establishing a network of
support contacts for pet owners, the PAA aims to raise funds to provide educational initiatives in allergy
for practising veterinary surgeons and to fund research into the causes of allergies. It also intends
working closely with vets in practice and ‘experts in the field of veterinary studies to develop
treatments’. For further information please ring 0208 301 5558. [PAA press release - 3 October]
A hamster has been rescued after being seen running along the hard
shoulder of the M6 inside a plastic exercise ball. It is thought that the hamster, named ‘Roly’ by the RSPCA, was probably thrown out of the
car by accident. Neither the hamster nor the exercise ball was damaged. [news.telegraph.co.uk - 17 September]
Referring to an edition of BBC Radio 4's Today programme containing two items that were
juxtaposed - one relating to the shortage of doctors and of lecturers and professors to train them
and the other to the redundancy of a large number of veterinary surgeons as a result of FMD andthe ensuing perception that farmers were reluctant to return to livestock farming - a
correspondent recalled an acquaintance who was a well respected consultant physician who,
when faced with an apparently insoluble problem, would call upon his son, a veterinary surgeon.
'As they explained … a veterinary surgeon is permitted to treat human beings, but a doctor is not
allowed to treat animals! If this case is so, why not set up short courses to enable vets to switch
to human practice and also change some of the veterinary colleges into schools of medicine?
Having seen the care and attention given by vets to animals giving birth, I've no doubt that some
would make excellent obstetricians.' [The Lancet - 15 September]
Several British police forces are to start trials next year with a view to
dogs being used to identify suspected criminals and juries even being
asked to convict on canine evidence. Scientific research and practical experience gathered by police around the world (e.g. getting dogs to sniff
items touched by a criminal at the scene of a crime and then allowing it
to pick out the suspect from a group) has shown that trained dogs have a
higher success rate in collaring criminals than many fingerprint experts.
According to researchers from Cambridge University's department of
clinical veterinary medicine, dogs can even distinguish between identical twins. [The Sunday Times - 16 September]
Nine animal welfare and veterinary organisations have formed The Cat Group, an association designed to ensure co-operation and exchange of information between those working with cats.
The founding members are the Animal Health Trust, Blue Cross, BSAVA, European Society of Feline Medicine, Feline Advisory Bureau, Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, PDSA, RSPCA and UFAW. The group aims to provide an authoritative information resource on feline health
and welfare issues and intends to make its findings available on an Internet site by the end of 2001. [Animal Pharm - 3 August]
Vets held out little hope for two-year-old Archie when he was presented riddled with 50 shotgun pellets but the black tom, although blind in one eye and facing losing one of his legs, seems likely to survive his injuries, provided he does not succumb to lead poisoning. Police have yet to
find the person responsible for the horrific attack. [The Times - 2 August]
INTERVET FORGES THE LINK BETWEEN ANIMAL AND DOMESTIC ABUSE
In response to an article in Animal Pharm (see UK News Digest 14-20 May, section 2.4) the Pet
Health Council, of which both BVA and BSAVA are members, has produced a holding
statement which reiterates the sensible hygiene routine that pet owners should always follow
(washing hands are handling pets and gardening; keeping pets away from food preparation areas
and equipment; ensuring their pet follows a preventative health routine with regular visits to the
vet; clearing up after the pet; and throughly washing fruit and vegetables before eating) and
stressing that 'it cannot be emphasised strongly enough that sick animals must be taken to a vet
as soon as possible, not only for the welfare of the animal but to protect the health of the family
with which the pet lives.' [PHC statement - 31 May]
WORKING DOGS – UNSEEN VICTIMS OF FOOT & MOUTH
"Border Collie Rescue", a charity based at Richmond, North Yorkshire, has set up a registration system for sheepdogs which face being destroyed following the loss of flocks. Dogs will be disinfected, quarantined for 3 weeks, assessed and then offered for re-homing. If you are aware of any working dogs that face an uncertain future as a consequence of Foot and Mouth disease please raise awareness of this. For further information contact 01748 850025 or email hq@bordercollierescue.org.
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In a bid to raise awareness of the unspoken links between animal abuse, child abuse and domestic
violence, leading animal health company, Intervet UK Ltd, announces a major initiative to place this important subject at the forefront of people's minds.
The company is funding a conference - called Forging the Link - on November 22nd 2001 in London, which will bring together some of the world's leading experts from child welfare groups, women's support agencies, police forces, domestic violence units and animal charities to debate this subject.
"By making individuals, agencies and charities aware of this link, we hope to help everyone take the first step in breaking the cycle of violence in this country," explains Holly Cook, product manager at Intervet. "The more you delve into the subject, the more horrifying the findings.
"A study carried out by the RSPCA found that 83% of families with a history of animal abuse had been identified by social services as at-risk for child abuse or neglect. We're bringing together a number of experts from the UK and abroad to present a platform for everyone involved to share information and experiences in the hope that we can address these problems and, ultimately, reduce these incidences."
Among the speakers taking part in the one-day conference are America's Phil Arkow of the Latham Foundation in Philadelphia; Dr Jean Herbison - Consultant Paediatrician (Special Responsibility in Child Protection) from Yorkhill NHS Trust, Glasgow; Helen Munro - Forensic Veterinary Pathologist, Royal School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh; Doreen Graham of the SSPCA (instigator of the First Strike Scotland programme); DCI Jim Cameron from the Tayside Police and Carole Marsden, Development Officer from UK charity Paws for Kids.
As part of Intervet's initiative, the SSPCA will also be launching its new information booklet - 'Animal Cruelty: Family Violence - What you need to know' during Crufts. This booklet covers topics within the subject such as First Strike Scotland - the story so far and a summary of Dr Lorna Bell's research into animal cruelty and family violence.
Pet exports
Certain regional authorities in Italy have placed restrictions on the entry of pets from the UK because of foot and mouth disease. On arrival, pets must go into quarantine for 5 days. These measures are in place for at least the next 2 weeks.
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Animal lovers are being invited to join TV vet Joe Inglis and former blue Peter presenter, Valerie Singleton on a trek through Tuscany and Umbria to raise money for the Blue Cross animal welfare charity.
Inspired by the patron saint of animals, St Francis of Assisi, the Tuscany Trail will take trekkers on a breathtaking journey through some of the most beautiful Italian countryside. Walking around six to seven hours each day the party will be guided through vineyards and olive groves until they reach Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis.
Each walker will need to register with a deposit of £200 and then raise a minimum of £1750 in sponsorship. A total of eight days will be spent away, including travel and preparation.
For more information on the Tuscany Trail which runs from 15-22 September, call 01993 825502.
DAD IS PIGEON MONITOR
Cardiff's new £124 million Millennium Stadium has appointed a member of staff with special responsibility for keeping the pigeons away. He is Dad, a Harris Hawk, who has been trained to scare the birds away rather than killing them, for fear of an outcry from animal lovers. Will he, do you suppose, have to carry a red card if he transgresses?
(dunlops.com)
A six-month-old 18-inch collie/terrier cross, presented at the PDSA for 'not being his normal self' was found to have swallowed a 15-inch long serrated bread knife. The knife had lodged, handle first, the entire length of the puppy's abdomen, with the blade reaching up to his throat but just hidden from checks on his mouth. Apart from a little post-operative swelling Kyle has had few side effects: he's bouncing around and his eating is back to normal. [The Guardian - 26 January]
An article published in Dog World (12 January 2001) highlighted the four recommendations on the dangerous dogs issue made by the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE). These are:
- promote education and training of dogs, dog owners and dog professionals such as vets and trainers;
- postpone the adoption of further breed-specific legislation or the amendment of existing legislation until a proper risk analysis has been carried out;
- introduce mandatory identification for all dogs, which is compatible across the EU;
- encourage research in the field of dog behaviour and its genetic, neuro-physiological and ethological background; and dog bites surveillance
The FVE position on dangerous dogs can be found on the Internet at: www.fve.org/papers/pdf/00_039.pdf
According to recent research by doctors at Bradford Royal Infirmary, animals bite people more when the moon is full. A study of patients over two years produced 1,541 dog bites, 56 cat bites, 13 horse bites and 11 rat bites. Incidents rose in the two or three days before a full moon and peaked when the moon was fullest, with twice the number of animal bites occurring on full moon days. [Dog World - 29 December]
Stephen Hoy, a Michigan inventor, has patented 'edible animal greeting cards' made of delicacies appropriate for the species of pet. Horses get cards made of rolled oats, cats seem to be fond of yellow maize mixed with poultry by-products, while canines get rawhide. [New Scientist - 23/30 December]
Mice and child asthma
1.3 According to US researchers, mice may be partly to blame for the childhood asthma epidemic. Mouse urine and skin flakes, which can trigger allergies, were found in every house visited in the American city of Baltimore. The researchers found a strong link between mouse allergies and asthma among children in cities, suspecting mice could be more potent triggers of asthma in urban areas than cats, dogs, or house dust mites. [Metro (London) - 12 December 2000]
New Scientist (16 December 2000) reported that researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, have found that dogs behave differently when they are being watched. For example, they found that dogs stole twice as much food when the person was not looking directly at them. It was suggested that "dogs may have flexible minds that can piece together past experiences and rules to produce solutions to new problems".