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Turn your dog into a fundraiser for your local rescue with the Agria Dog Walk he Agria Dog Walk 2019 is set to unite thousands of paws across six countries, all on one day! The aim? To help raise funds for the animals that need it most; those that don’t yet have a forever home. On May 25th 2019, walks will take place simultaneously in Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Sweden, and several beautiful locations in the UK, from Edinburgh to Devon, and many places inbetween! And your dog can make a difference – just by taking part! Each walk is linked to a local rescue, and for every dog that’s walked, Agria Pet Insurance will donate £5 to them. This makes every dog that takes part a fundraiser, directly helping their local rescue and having a great time as they do, at what’s set to be a fabulous family day out! As well as raising as much money as possible, the Agria Dog Walk reminds us of the mutual positive impact dogs and owners have on one another – in particular, by
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getting out into the fresh air and walking together. From tackling dog and human obesity to the significant mental health benefits gained by exercising with your four legged-friend, the evidence is there – dogs change our lives for the better, and we have a responsibility to help those that need it. Robin Hargreaves, former British Veterinary Association President and Vet Panel Lead at Agria, says, “It’s so much more fun to exercise together with your dog – and the fitter you both are the more enjoyment you can both get from being out and about together in the great outdoors. You’ll never have a more enthusiastic exercise partner – make the most of having them there to motivate you!” It’s easy to register for your local walk; simply visit https://www.agriapet.co.uk/agria-dogwalk and find yours. But hurry – numbers on some of the walks are limited, so register now, and have a fantastic time together with your dog as you make a real difference to your local rescue.
For a quote for lifetime insurance and £50 of free veterinary care with new policies taken out before 30th April, visit www.agriapet.co.uk or call 03330 30 82 68 Are you a Rehoming organisation? Agria Pet Insurance provides 5 Weeks Free pet insurance policies for animals rehomed through Rehoming partners, no matter what their age. Find out more at: www.agriapet.co.uk/rehoming Offer for £50 free veterinary care ends 30th April 2019. See website for further details. Agria Pet Insurance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Services Register Number 496160. Agria Pet Insurance is registered and incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 4258783. Registered office: First Floor, Blue Leanie, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7QW. Terms, conditions and excesses apply.
Protect Your Pet Against Theft According to the Missing Pets Bureau, 38% of all dogs reported lost have been stolen and sadly 60% are never recovered. What is more, cat thefts have increased by 40% since 2014 with thieves focusing on valuable breed targets such as Bengals, Russian Blues and Siamese which can be sold on for hundreds of pounds. For most pet owners, it is not the monetary loss that is important but the heartbreak of not knowing what has happened to their beloved companion.
Protection for Your Dog Whilst pedigree dogs are most at risk, even non-pedigree may be stolen as thieves wait for a reward to be offered. Advice from the Blue Cross is quite clear: • Think carefully before leaving your dog tied up outside a shop • Do not leave your dog in a parked car even for a few minutes • Vary the times of your dog walks and vary the routes that you take • Make sure your dog is microchipped from 8 weeks old onwards and remember, this is now a requirement by law • Make sure the contact details are up to date • Never put your dog’s name on the 8
nameplate because it makes it easier for the thief to “befriend” it. Instead, just put on your telephone number • Take regular photographs of your dog so that you can circulate if anything happens to them • Train your dog to come back when called and if you are not certain that they will, walk on an extending lead rather than let them loose • Take extra care if you are taking the dog away from home • If you are using a dog walker, check their credentials carefully beforehand • Do not leave your pet unsupervised in the garden • Make sure your garden is secure If you are unfortunate enough to have your dog stolen, act quickly and report the loss to the local council’s dog
28 MARCH – 28 APRIL 2019 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE
warden and also report to the police and get a crime number Let your veterinary surgeon know because the dog may be returned to them if the microchip is scanned elsewhere and the person in charge cannot account for them. Let local pet rescue centres know in case the dog turns up there. Warn other dog owners in the area so that they can take additional precautions if there are thieves in the area. This will also alert them to helping you find your own. Local newspapers are usually more than happy to publish a pet photograph and local shops will willingly put up posters so that the public can report any sightings. n Article written by Mary Lloyd www.biolife-international.co.uk www.rescueandanimalcare.com
