Rescue and Animal Care Magazine 9th May-29th June 2020-Issue 155

RESCUE and ANIMAL CARE

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29th May - 29th June 2020 - Issue 155

ISSN 2050-0572

FREE COPY Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Welfare

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Cover Image

Anxiety and stress in our Cats and Dogs Pet Remedy natural de-stress & calming See page 6

Boris’ popularity up 350% - when it comes to dogs’ names

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Pet-Friendly Houseplants to keep Cats and Dogs Safe

Diagnosis – Critical 10 most endangered species facing extinction Lucky black cat Wilfey Kicks off Cats Protection's hands-free homing

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Boris’ popularity up 350% – when it comes to dogs’ names Now that Boris Johnson has relaxed the rules giving us more time out and about, it’s likely that while we’re enjoying more exercise, we’ll hear his name more, too.

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gria Pet Insurance has seen a significant rise in puppies named Boris since the news broke that Boris Johnson was diagnosed with COVID-19. And, as our Prime Minister became progressively ill,

and the numbers of cases in the UK continued to rise, so has the popularity of the name among the nation’s puppies.

In fact, compared with the same period last year, there has been a 350% increase in dogs being insured with Agria Pet Insurance named Boris.

Fittingly, to tie in with Boris Johnson’s ‘bulldog spirit’, the top dogs to be named in his honour were Bulldogs.

The specialist pet insurer has also reported Boxers, Labradors and Jack Russells were some of the other top breeds being insured with them following the trend.

A kitten called ‘Corona’ and several dogs named ‘Covi’ have also appeared for the first time.

Tom Vaughan, Head of Marketing at Agria Pet Insurance, says, “Changes in the popularity of the names of the

nation’s dogs is always fascinating.

Seeing so many little Boris’ registered with us recently, as well as the breeds that are most likely to be named after the Prime Minister, is a great marker of the impact of this time.”

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. n Visit www.agriapet.co.uk Photos credit: ©Adobe stock

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29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

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Dear Furries, I Want To Break Free!

I do hope that you are all well and getting lots of exercise and love.

Some of you who find your owners furloughed or now working from home during lockdown, will be getting far more attention and company than you may be used to.

When your humans go back out to work again , it is possible that you may suffer a bit from Separation Anxiety. Please tell them to read about how to keep you calm and occupied during this transition (from page 6).

Although I am getting lots of walks and hugs from Mistress and Little Mistress there are certain things I miss doing. This frustration has resulted in my doing a few naughty things!

I dug up Mistress’s one and only tomato plant and purposely pushed my ball under the shed and then howled until Mistress had to get on her hands and knees holding a broom handle to get it out.

Then I did it again and my ball was confiscated! I sulked on my bed and thought about the things I miss during lockdown restrictions.

I haven’t seen Jack, my furry handsome friend for ages! I want to visit him in his house and have his owners make a fuss of me and tickle me behind my ears. When I go to the park, I am not allowed now to go up to all the kids on the swings and slides in the park and drop my ball at their feet. All the playground equipment is out of bounds at the moment to keep little humans safe. I miss their smiles and calling out my name.

I want to break free and visit the beach to chase the surf and shake my wet fur on sunbathers and help build sand castles.

But I am a responsible dog and like humans have to wait until Boris our Prime Minister, tells us we can safely start going to more places and socialising again.

In her spare time, Mistress has been trying her hand at gardening. She says she doesn’t have green fingers (I am glad about that as would look odd) but to her credit she has planted a few things that are actually growing!

I THINK THIS TOWEL SUITS ME PERFECTLY!

She is for ever exclaiming ‘ Look at this!’ but since nothing has been labelled and her memory is bad she has no idea what ‘this’ is!

Little Mistress is hoping to go back to work soon having spent most of her time in bed glued to her mobile. Even though Mistress has told her she will get bed sores and lose muscle tone it has made no difference.

I tried to pull her duvet off her the other morning but she just tugged it back and continued chatting to her friends on ‘Facetime’ I would quite like a phone myself but fat chance of me getting one. I could do ‘Dogtime’ and get my buddies on the screen for a catch up!

It’s late afternoon now so I will be taken for a walk soon. The sun has been far too hot up until now.

Keep Safe and Be Aware

Follow us on facebook Rescue and Animal Care www.facebook.com/rescueandanimalcare Troublesome Treacle

Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

Heathway, Colton, Rugeley, Staffs WS15 3LY Tel: 01889 577058 www.bordercollietrustgb.org.uk Reg Charity No1053585

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Dear Readers,

On this Month’s Cover

Pet Remedy

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE MAGAZINE

Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Welfare PUBLISHER: Jennifer Prowse ADVERTISING MANAGER: Glen Jackson FEATURE CoNTRIBUToRS: Dean Hart, Animal Behaviourist Mary Lloyd, Bio-Life International Juliet Abrahamson DESIGN: Vicki Barnes WEBSITE: Crosland Digital

Jennifer Prowse I hope you are all enjoying the lovely Director and Publisher sunshine as much as possible.

It certainly makes Lockdown more tolerable!

Now that Boris Johnson has relaxed the rules to give us more time out and about it’s likely that while we are enjoying more exercise - we will hear his name more now!

When it comes to dogs’ names ‘Boris’ popularity is up 350%.

We have all heard jokes about an impending Lockdown baby boom but Redwings Horse Sanctuary is already in the middle of one!

Blue Cross is appealing for help from the public to find stolen pony Basil. We hope he is found safe and well.

Why not get out your camera and take pictures of your Cat? International Cat Care (iCatCare) is on the hunt for the best feline photographers with the 2020 launch of its annual photo competition.

Learn how to de stress your Dogs and Cats particularly with separation anxiety post lock down.

We have many more interesting articles inside your latest Free to read issue so hope you enjoy them.

Be Aware and stay safe

Love Jennifer

x

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHERS. ANY OPINIONS STATED WITHIN THE TEXT OF RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE MAGAZINE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHERS. ANY PRICES QUOTED MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. SOME OF THE ANIMALS FEATURED WITHIN THIS ISSUE MAY NOW HAVE BEEN REHOMED.

Contact us (01787) 228027 Jennifer@jspmedia.co.uk RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE MAGAZINE: JENNIFER PROWSE MEDIA, 21 THE MALTINGS, BURES, SUFFOLK CO8 5EJ Follow us on facebook Rescue and Animal Care www.facebook.com/rescueandanimalcare Troublesome Treacle

Visit www.dermopt.com

www.rescueandanimalcare.com www.rescueandanimalcare.com

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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COVER STORY

Anxiety and stress in our Cats and Dogs

What it looks like and what we can do about it.

By Andrew Hale BSc

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any of the behaviours we perceive as problematic in our dogs and cats, those we often label ‘bad’ or ‘naughty’, can actually be their way of letting us know they are anxious or stressed.

Interestingly, their stress system is remarkably like ours, so whilst it can be difficult to know what our pet is thinking, we can have a sense of what they might be feeling. We all know what it feels like to be fearful, excited, frustrated, anxious etc. The neurological, physiological, and hormonal responses that create these emotions are similar in the human, cat or dog. When we get scared, angry, lose our temper, or say or do things we might regret later, this is because our nervous system has taken over and rational control becomes more difficult. The same processes are at work for our dog and cat when they get anxious and stressed, and many of their behaviours are a physical representation of that nervous system acting.

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Often, our first reaction to an animals unwanted behaviour is to tell it off or challenge them. This is totally understandable if we have perceived the behaviour merely as ‘bad’ and is something we find irritating or upsetting. However, if the unwanted behaviour was being caused by a stress response (and most are) all we have done is make the animal stop doing the behaviour, we have not tried to understand why they were giving that behaviour or what they were trying to communicate. Therefore, it is often the case that whilst the behaviour might stop if we tell them off, they will repeat the behaviour later when the circumstances are repeated.

So, to try and work out what our pet might be struggling with, we need to do two important things. Firstly, where it is safe to do so, we need to observe and monitor our pet’s behaviour without judgement and avoiding labels. This can be so difficult as many of the behaviours will be ones we do not want, find annoying or trigger an emotional response in ourselves, but without good observations it can be difficult to identify the root cause of the behaviour. Secondly, we need to learn more about how our dog or cat communicates. Learning about body language and stress signals is vital if we are to listen when our pets try to tell us things. Putting these two together – getting as much information about the behaviour as possible, and knowing how our animals communicates, we can start to get an idea about what is stressing them.

Let’s take a look at the case of Rex, the Jack Russell. Rex is a young dog who barks, and the owner has had complaints from the neighbours. The context is that when they leave Rex for more than an hour, he is likely to start barking. Previously the owners have tried using an anti-bark citronella collar, which sprayed unpleasant liquid each time it detected Rex barking. This seemed to work at first, but then his barking returned. This is a good example of where the behaviour (the barking) was the only focus and seen as the problem, where the real problem was how Rex felt about being home alone for long periods. When more information was gathered using a WiFi web cam it was clear he showed sings of increased anxiety after being left for more than an hour, shown through pacing to and from the lounge window. The barking was

triggered when he spotted people passing the house through the front window. So, from this extra information, it became clear that the barking was not the real problem but a symptom of the problem. The problem being that Rex became increasingly anxious the longer he was left, and in that anxious state people passing by the home were enough to trigger the barking. With hindsight the addition on the citronella collar would have just added to his anxiety.

So now that we have more information to work with a supportive plan can be put together. First step was to find extra ‘dog care’ whilst owners were at work, and in Rex case this was him being dropped off at a family members house.

This gave them time to start working on building his confidence when left (here is a good article for some general guidance https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/howto-help-a-dog-with-separation-anxiety/) The owners also put some frosted glass privacy film on the bottom of the front window, so Rex didn’t have the extra stress of seeing people pass by the house. It is important to seek professional support to help you with severe cases and your Vet should be able to advise a good local professional. Using products such as Pet Remedy can be really helpful (www.petremedy.co.uk) Pet Remedy has been proven to support the animals nervous system, helping to reduce the level of anxiety. Used along side behavioural support, it can make a huge difference to the animal’s ability to cope.

In summary I really urge all pet parents to re consider what they might see as their pets ‘bad’ behaviour and consider thinking about what anxiety or stress might be triggering it!

Andrew Hale BSc is a Certified Animal Behaviourist who is passionate about animal welfare and supporting animal rescue. Andrew is a trustee at the Association of INTODogs (www.intodogs.org), Behaviour consultant at Pet Remedy and Behaviour and Training advisor for Animals in Distress.

DOGS TRUST STATEMENT ON SEPARATION ANXIETY TICKING TIME BOMB FOR DOGS If your dog is used to being left alone, then try to make sure you continue to leave them for periods during the day, so they don't 'lose' the ability to cope.

For puppies and dogs that are anxious when left, use the following tips to help them cope alone: n Make sure your dog has a comfy bed or den, where they can relax in peace. n Give them something fun to occupy them, such as a long-lasting treat or puzzle toy. n While your dog is enjoying their treat, take a couple of steps to the other side of the room. If your dog stays where they are, wait a moment, then go back and reward them with an extra treat. n Increase the distance you move away and the time you wait before returning with the extra treat. n You should soon be able to leave the room and close the door or gate. n Progress to spending more time in a different room. Build this into the daily routine. n It's important that your dog remains relaxed. If they show signs of distress, leave them for a shorter period, or don’t move as far away, next time.

Rachel Casey, Director of Canine Behaviour and Research at Dogs Trust, said: “For many of us it has been great to spend so much time with our dogs during lockdown and mostly our dogs love us being around too. But all this extra attention could potentially create a ticking time bomb of separation anxiety for our dogs. If they expect us to be about all the time, it will be more difficult for them to cope once we go back to our normal lives and aren’t in the house 24/7.

“Now is the time to act to avoid future problems – and it’s easy to do. Just make sure that you factor in time apart from your dog each day to help them be able to cope when alone – this could be separated from you by a door or child gate for an hour or two whilst you’re working or home schooling the kids.

By organizing your dog’s day, with time apart, play times, exercise, other activity sessions (like giving them a food filled toy) and quiet times, you can make sure that your dog maintains their ability to cope with the different aspects of ‘normal’ life when we get back to it.”

For more ideas on how to keep your dog occupied visit www.dogstrust.org.uk

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Chris Packham Sid and Nancy

Claire and Akira

Pet charity braced for hordes of homeless hounds post lockdown • New puppies at risk if owners don’t take measures to show them the old normal • Risk of undersocialised dogs being abandoned in future months • Be the best puppy parent to puppies born in lockdown by following advice of Blue Cross • Video: Puppy in foster care featured in new vlog series ‘Puppies in lockdown’ https://we.tl/t-9ibKXFJ6Pm Puppies taken on during lockdown have missed out on everyday life and a normal routine. Without taking action to prepare them now they may be in danger of being overwhelmed by their new world. As measures start to ease, Blue Cross is offering puppy owners video advice during lockdown to help young pets grow into confident, happy adult dogs and prepare them for the many changes ahead.

Usually, new puppy owners would socialise their pet by meeting lots of people, attending puppy classes and exposing them safely to a wide range of situations and environments – all almost impossible under lockdown.

Without these key experiences, training and guidance from a young age, puppies can develop behavioural problems as adult dogs and Blue Cross is concerned many will become abandoned by the time they reach adolescence if their owners cannot cope with their ‘bad’ behaviour.

In 2019 81 dogs under 18 months old were handed over to Blue Cross after owners could no longer cope with the behavioural issues. The charity fears that with puppies in lockdown this figure could soar.

Claire Haynes, Blue Cross Animal Behaviourist, is fostering Chihuahua 8

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puppy Akira during lockdown and presents the new vlog series. She said: “It is vital to prepare a puppy for adult life both inside and outside the home.

For a happy, confident adult dog, owners need to introduce them to all sorts of places, people and other animals – especially now we can take them on new adventures and days out further afield.”

The essential advice is backed by TV presenter Chris Packham and Capital radio DJ Lauren Layfield, who has a new puppy herself. Help featured in the vlogs includes: • Socialising puppies indoors during lockdown and beyond • Preventing separation anxiety before owners return to work • Recall training for off the lead trips to parks and beaches • Basic training • Mouthing and how to stop it • Getting used to all the smells, surfaces and noises within the home • Being handled by the vet • When it’s time for bed at night Claire added: “If you are planning on taking your puppy on a day trip make sure they are already used to travelling in the car and avoid a lengthy long journey if they have only been on short trips. Make sure you have plenty of clean water for them, if they aren’t

vaccinated don’t let them run about and never leave them in the car alone – even for a short time.”

Despite lockdown, there remains a high number of puppies available to buy online with over 400 adverts placed daily. The market for puppies remains strong with popular breeds like French bulldogs prices have risen over 40% from an average of £1750 in 20171 compared to staggering prices today of an average of £25002.

Becky Thwaites, Head of Public Affairs at Blue Cross said: “We are keeping a close eye on adverts for puppies being sold online and it seems breeders and sellers are taking advantage of people looking for a pet during lockdown as prices have soared. With more travel allowed we fear that now, and in the future, more people may be tempted to buy new pets from unscrupulous sellers.” n For more information visit https://www.bluecross.org.uk/puppiesinlockdown For pet behaviour advice during lockdown contact the Blue Cross team on 0300 777 1950. #puppiesinlockdown

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Hope

Hero

Rainbow

Sunny

Joy

Thousands vote in rescue puppy naming poll, with “Lockdown” almost making the cut More than 15,000 people gave their vote to name a litter of five puppies that were born at Dogs Trust during the current Coronavirus pandemic. The naming poll, which was launched on Dogs Trust’s social media channels last week, received an overwhelming response from the public and the puppies now all have names, as well as new homes.

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he names chosen for the puppies by the public were: Hope, Hero, Sunny, Rainbow and Joy. Considering recent times, one of the stranger names to be suggested by the public included “Lockdown”. The team at Glasgow received hundreds of requests to give the puppies homes, and even had to halt any new enquiries due to the volume of applications.

As the team have now gone through all the applications and picked suitable adopters, the puppies are waiting patiently until it is time to go home with their new owners.

Sandra Lawton, Rehoming Centre Manager at Dogs Trust Glasgow, said: “It is great the public got so actively involved in the poll and I’m thrilled the pups have all been given such positive names, as we need a little optimism during the current crisis. We are fortunate to have such passionate supporters; and although not everyone who expressed an interest in the puppies has been able to get one, we ask that they be patient as their perfect canine companion could be right around the corner.”

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The litter of five Terrier pups were born at the Uddingston centre six weeks ago, after their mother was found as a stray by local authorities, while heavily pregnant. The mother, who was named Linda by staff at Dogs Trust, has been receiving lots of TLC and is fully recovered from her ordeal. The charity’s Canine carers have also been giving the puppies round the clock care, to make sure they remain as healthy as possible. This has all been happening while adhering to the government’s social distancing restrictions, as the charity’s rehoming centres are currently closed to the public. n During these difficult times, almost 1,400 stray and abandoned dogs are currently in Dogs Trust’s care. To make a donation to help us make sure that all our dogs continue getting the care, exercise, snuggles, food and medical treatment they need, until we can find them all the loving homes that they deserve, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/donation www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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Amur Leopard

Diagnosis – Critical!

Last month, we highlighted the plight of the Pangolin and its potential link to the Coronavirus pandemic. It remains the number 1 most persecuted species on earth but alas, it is by no means alone. On average, 785 species per year become extinct and over 14,000 are listed as endangered, Today, we look at the 10 most endangered species on earth that face extinction if humans cannot be persuaded to change their habits and recognise the value and beauty of nature’s wildlife.

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The Top 10 Most Endangered Species The following are classed as critically endangered: • Ivory Billed Woodpecker • The Amur Leopard • Javan Rhino • Lemur • Northern Right Whale • Vaquita • Black Rhino • Mountain Guerrilla

Ivory Billed Woodpecker

Native to the hardwood forests of South East America and Cuba, it was once thought to be extinct but a few pairs were re-discovered in Arkansas in 2004. There have been no further sightings since. This species, like many others, has suffererd from the destruction of their forest habitat and hunted for their bills. Their continued existence is now in doubt.

The Amur Leopard

Native to S E Asia and Northern Russia, only around 19-26 are believed to have survived in the wild with a further 60 in captivity. Hunted for its beautiful fur, it is an elusive and shy big cat that is in a grave situation.

logging, charcoal production and mining have destroyed their natural habitat.

They are also hunted for human food served in some Asian restaurants and some are even sold as pets.

North Atlantic Right Whale

Native to Atlantic Canada and New England, a mature North Atlantic Right Whale whale weighs between 40 and 70 tonnes. During the breeding season, they migrate to calve in the waters of Southern Carolina, Georgia and Florida. This whale is a carnivore feeding on fish that it hunts. The slow demise of this species is the result of vessel traffic, fishing ropes and other marine equipment especially from the American lobster fishing. In addition, ship strikes and oil and gas exploration play their part. Conservationist have tried to prosecute NMFS for violating the Endangered Species Act and Marine Protection Act but so far without success.

Vaquita

The Vaquita are porpoises living in the Gulf of California. Less than 19 individuals remain. These beautiful mammals are endangered by illegal fishing for Totoabo using gill nets. The Totoabo, also endangered, are fished for their swim bladder for use in Chinese medicine.

Black Rhinos

Javan Rhino

With only around 67 left in the wild, these rhinos inhabit the Ujung Kulou National Park in Indonesia, Weighing up to 2.3 tonnes when it is mature, it lives for 30-45 years in the wild.

Herbivorous and solitary except for mating or as mother and young, this extraordinary animal communicates by scraping it s hooves on the groud. The species is endangered by poachers who can earn vast sums of money Lemur from ground up rhino horn used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Lemurs

These delightful little creatures are native to Madagascar. There are around 15 different species but only around 100 currently survive. Illegal ree

Along with elephants, the Black Rhino are an emblem of Africa. Sadly poached for their horn, they are left to die with horrific injuries. There are around 5600 left thanks to conservation efforts but sadly, Coronavirus has lead to the collapse of the ravel industry which means less money is available to pay for Wardens to protect them. Conservationists expect to lose $3 million to $4 million this year and poachers see this as an opportunity.

If you are keen to protect these wonderful animals that are at risk, please do not hesitate to donate to the WWF or the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. Future generations will thank you! n For further information, please do not hesitate to call the Bio-Life Helpline on 01608 686626 (open 8am to 8 pm, 7 days per week) or visit www.biolife-international.co.uk

Javan Rhino

Vaquita

Black Rhino

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Summer safety tips for cats Outdoor cats tend to spend longer outside in the summer, basking in the warm sunshine. Although completely natural and good for your cat’s wellbeing, it can often mean that more dangers and hazards present themselves. To help keep your cat safe and to prevent trips to the emergency vet, here are Vitalin’s top summer hazards to look out for Heat stroke and sun burn Signs of heatstroke include restlessness, excessive panting and drool. Treat heatstroke quickly to avoid your cat falling into a coma.

Light coloured cats are particularly prone to sunburn which can lead to more serious issues such as cancer.

Protect your cat with animal safe sunscreen.

Insecticide and insect repellent poisoning Cats are prone to the toxicity of human insect repellent. If your cat shows signs of weariness and vomiting, quick treatment is essential.

Insect stings Insect stings shouldn’t be life threatening unless your cat is allergic or has been stung in the throat or mouth. If

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their airway starts to swell, take them to the vet immediately.

Fleas and ticks Regular treatment is the best way to keep these under control. If an infestation occurs remember to treat both your cat and their bedding.

BBQ coals and BBQ scraps Both of these can be dangerous to your cat, causing burns, stomach upsets or choking hazards.

Good health starts with good nutrition. Vitalin’s cat and kitten food provides your cat with a well-balanced diet, to keep them healthy all year around.

Visit www.vitalinpetfood.co.uk to find out more.

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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www.rescueandanimalcare.com

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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We provide High Quality, well priced food supplies for RAW and BARF diet

Support and Help in changing animals over to a Natural Raw Diet l Raw Meats/Fish/ Bones/Offal/Whole Prey

Suitable for Cats, Dogs, Ferrets, Reptiles and Raptors

A High Quality Range of Natural Supplements, Health Aids, Remedies and Natural Healthy Treats which Enhance Your Pets’ Diet.

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29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

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Tel: 07590 621636/01763 243533 www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Vet advises pet owners to avoid feeding dogs and cats BBQ scraps An expert is warning pet owners against the potential dangers for dogs and cats eating food from the barbecue, this National BBQ Week.

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ccording to a 2019 study, one in three Brits feed their pets food directly from the dinner table but barbecue foods in particular can be extremely unhealthy and even dangerous for animals.

Leticia Fidalgo Buron, vet and technical manager at Webbox, said: “While many of us love a barbecue, it’s important that people don’t leave food unattended or feed their pets scraps - even if they look like they’re enjoying it.

“Not only can the high salt levels in most barbecue foods make them very thirsty but it can, in serious cases, cause high temperatures and even seizures.

“What’s more, barbecuing often does not properly cook the meat all the way through, meaning animals can get all kinds of nasty bacteria from the raw meat, including salmonella and listeria. At the very least, this can cause some digestive upset such as diarrhoea or vomiting but can sometimes lead to something even more serious.

“It is a common misconception that you can feed dogs bones when, in fact, this is highly dangerous. Every year, I see hundreds of cases of dogs with severe gastrointestinal problems or internal damage whose owners have given them the small T-Bones from a

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steak, thinking it will not be an issue.

“Bones, especially chicken bones, can get stuck in their intestines and stomach, causing all kinds of internal damage or can cause the dog to choke if it gets stuck in their oesophagus.

“Lastly, the carbonisation on the outside of burnt meat can cause vomiting or other stomach upset for our pets, with some experts citing it as a cause of cancer.”

Webbox dog and cat treats are a tasty accompaniment to barbecues and are also great for distracting pets from what’s happening on the grill, helping to stop them begging for more.

Lick-e-Lix - the nutritious soft yoghurt-like cat treat - are a great way to interact with your cat or reward them for good behaviour.

Coming in a variety of flavours including salmon and chicken, they are a nutritious snack and they can even be frozen and given as a cooling treat.

New Webbox Duo Bites in Chicken and Peanut Butter flavour, made from 100% natural chicken, launched in April 2020.

They are 100% wheat free so will not upset even the most sensitive tummies.

Both treats are a great way to make your pets stay involved in the fun and feel part of the family - without damaging their health. n For further information visit www.webbox.co.uk

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...

Belle, on arrival in March

Belle. pictured yesterday

in the sunshine.

Recently Rescued Pregnant Mare is Recovering Well...

This pregnant mare, who we have named Belle, came to us a few weeks ago with nine other ponies and foals from a stray horse pound. As you can see above, she arrived in terrible condition. Lots of you have asked how she is getting on and we are pleased to tell you that,with some basic love and care, she has been recovering well. She is feeling so much happier

and healthier and we are now awaiting for her to give birth.

What a difference a few weeks of good feed and T.L.C can make! n For further information visit www.hillside.org.uk

A solution for every horse that suffers as a result of Sweet Itch

The Boett® Veterinary Blanket The blanket provides a totally effective barrier against insect attack and prevents the typical symptoms of this allergy.

The Boett® Veterinary Hood

The Boett Hood is made from the same tough breathable fabric as the Boett Blanket, the eyes are protected with a mesh that has excellent visibility.

Bio-Plus capsules for horses

These improve general health, reduced stress, stronger immune systems and resistance to disease.

National Sweet Itch Centre Advice Line: 01352 840333 / 01352 771718 / 07825 152490

www.itchyhorse.co.uk 20

email: info@itchyhorse.co.uk

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

Blue Cross is appealing for help from the public to find stolen pony Basil Basil was stolen from his loan home in Gloucestershire on the evening of Thursday 21 May. Please help us make Basil too hot to handle. We really want him back home safe and sound with his borrower, who is absolute devastated as you can imagine.

Basil only has one eye. He is 10hh, piebald (black and white), is a gelding (neutered) with distinctive markings, and is microchipped.

If you see Basil, or have any information on his theft, please call Gloucestershire Police/Avon and Somerset Police on 101, quoting crime reference number 497.

Basil can be nervous, so if you think you see him please do not approach him but do call the police.

You can also contact Blue Cross on 07827 897255.

Let’s get this lovely boy home as soon as possible. Please share his photo and information as widely as you can. https://www.bluecross.org.uk/plea-help-find-stolen-bluecross-pony www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Left: Rescued horse, Buddy was unable to stand for two weeks when he arrived at HorseWorld.

Below: HorseWorld Isolation Unit.

Horse rescue charity’s hospital facilities in urgent need of refurbishment Bristol-based horse rescue charity, HorseWorld are appealing to raise the funds to refurbish part of their essential hospital facilities.

n To find out more and support HorseWorld's urgent appeal, please visit www.horseworld.org.uk/hospital or call 01275 832425. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

H

orseWorld’s Isolation Unit is the first port of call for rescued horses to be quarantined and receive potentially life-saving treatment on arrival at the charity.

It is vital in nursing sick and injured horses back to health.

The unit was built 16 years ago, and rubber mats were fitted but almost two decades of wear and tear nursing sick horses back to health has taken its toll.

Despite taking as much care as possible over the years, the mats are now badly worn.

The resulting cracks and gaps mean the laborious and time-consuming task of lifting and disinfecting them must be done regularly as waste from the horses collects underneath. This takes time away from caring for the rescued horses.

“Rubber matting is more important than ever in the Isolation unit as some horses are unable to stand at the time of their rescue.”

Said HorseWorld’s Fundraising Officer, Amy Williams. “The rubber mats provide warmth and help to prevent sores on a horse that is spending most of its time lying down.

“Rescued horses often arrive in poor conditions with low immune systems. They need an environment as clean and hygienic as possible. Some horses will have foot conditions, injuries or neurological problems causing instability which may mean they could fall. Some are too weak to stand at all.

The rubber matting is essential for horses like these.

“The current mats have reached a point where they could be hazardous to both horses and staff. If we are unable to purchase and install new safer flooring, within a year we would be looking at removing the mats completely and the horses having to stand and lie on concrete floors.

“We have launched an urgent appeal to purchase cushioned rubber flooring that is expertly fitted to each of the three stables and barn, attached to the floor with resin adhesive and sealed all round. All perimeters and doorways would be sealed similarly with heavy duty doorway strips fixed down. We have trialled this system in our veterinary area and it has proved a great success.

“During the Covid-19 health crisis, we find that donations have greatly reduced and we've lost all the income from our Open Days. We still however have our horses to care for and seek support to help us cover this essential element of their welfare costs.

This flooring project is currently one of our most urgent and we need to raise £5,300 which will make a huge difference to newly admitted horses, ponies and donkeys who are at a time when their life hangs in the balance. Our hospital facilities mean the difference between life and death.”

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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Images: Copyright Adobe Stock

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Compassion and Care, especially at the end of life We get so many years of undivided loyalty and love from our pets, we never want that to end but unfortunately it always does and usually much sooner than we would wish, regardless of the age of our pet.

22

T

his is the part of pet companionship we usually try to avoid thinking about, it is rare in the Western World that we openly face up to or talk about our own mortality, so not wanting to consider your own pet’s end of life is an understandable state of mind. When our pets do become terminally ill or maybe old age ailments just mean that their quality of life is not as they or we would want, the time has arrived to consider what is best for our pet’s welfare. Changes in behaviour are often accompanied with end of life issues, cats often hide away not wanting to show us they’re ill, dogs usually just stare us in the eye and say “I am getting tired of this!”

Reading these signs, combined with expert veterinary advice will help you to save your pet from pain or distress as they reach the autumn of their life.

Whilst difficult, it is important to plan and consider the most caring and compassionate way to say a peaceful goodbye to your much-loved and loyal companions. There can be no more loving environment than your own home, the familiarity and security of your home reduces the likelihood of any stress or distress that you or your pet may experience. When starting to plan such an

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

emotional event, even making the first phone call to discuss end of life is just so hard. You need to speak to someone who will treat your call with compassion, with understanding and someone who will give you the time to discuss the issues that are causing you concern. Talking to someone who is experienced in end of life issues makes such a difference.

We are currently living through deadly pandemic with the UK being one of the worst hit counties in the world. The lockdown regulations have meant major changes to the way we live and work and the way we receive and access healthcare. It is no different for our pets, many veterinary practices have been forced to limit hours, the government regulations have even restricted the range of services offered. In the case of euthanasia, it is often extremely difficult to be with your pet when they are put to sleep, which, whilst understandable is absolutely heart-breaking. Finding ways to ensure your pet’s end of life is caring and compassionate, even during the covid19 crisis, whilst ensuring safety and security is a demanding task. An at home euthanasia is always a more personal way to say a loving goodbye, somehow it is far more comforting www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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that your pet leaves you rather that you leaving your pet in an environment they may not have been happy with even when they were reasonably healthy. Using safety measures, such as being outdoors and restricting the number of people that attend the euthanasia as well as maintaining safe distancing, can significantly reduce any contagion. The objective being to strive toward proving a caring and compassionate goodbye but so essentially providing protection and protecting safety.

We often have discussions with pet owners who compare their own impermanence with that of their pet, when we consider where we would like our own life to end, it is often in the safety and comfort of our home, possibly with friend or relatives saying an emotional but tender “bon voyage”, is it not logical and loving that we would want the same for our treasured pet companions? Many pet owners are not even aware that this is possible, that a skilled and compassionate vet can make an unhurried home visit, taking away our pets suffering, tenderly and peacefully. We will grieve for our pet and we will miss them terribly, but there is great comfort in knowing we gave them that final act of love, in their own home. What’s more, it is more comforting to release our own grief when we are at home.

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

When our pets come to the end of their life the sadness is hard to contain, we need to remember all the happiness they have given us, the loyalty, love and companionship. The happy times should be celebrated, remembering that we always did our best for them, even at the very end, when they passed away in a dignified and respectful manner, this is also part of that celebration of life and a peaceful goodbye following a caring companionship is incalculable.

“

Whilst difficult, it is important to plan and consider the most caring and compassionate way to say a peaceful goodbye to your much-loved and loyal companions.

n For more information on home visit euthanasia and the service provided by Cloud 9 Vets, you can visit their website at cloud9vets.co.uk or call the Care Coordinators on 08000 354 999.

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

”

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Wilfey and Cooper

Lucky black cat Wilfey kicks off Cats Protection’s hands-free homing scheme Lucky black cat Wilfey is one of the first cats to be rehomed under Cats Protection’s new Hands-Free Homing scheme.

Cats Protection is piloting the contactless scheme as part of its carefully controlled response to lockdown restrictions and the impact on the national charity’s ability to safely home cats.

Seven-year-old Wilfey was resident at Cats Protection’s Mitcham Homing Centre, where his online profile was spotted by Claire Blekkenhorst and her son Cooper, aged 11, of Sutton, Surrey.

Claire said: “We are so in love with our Wilfey. He has bonded so specially with my son and follows him everywhere, including the bathroom. They have become very firm friends and sleep together every night. I’m sure Wilfey thinks Cooper’s room is actually their room now.

“For a seven-year-old cat he is super playful and inquisitive. He loves watching the hands go round on the clock goes crazy playing with his

24

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

beloved ball. He has loads of toys but, to be honest, his favourite game is to chase his own tail!

“He always wants to hang out with us and will sit with us if we are working at the table, which is a lot of the time during lockdown. We’ve let him in the garden a couple of times with us for a bit and he loves the sun in his face.

“We are so very grateful to Cats Protection for matching us with our boy Wilfey. We lost our first cat in January and I honestly couldn’t imagine another cat coming in to our lives and being adored so much, but it turns out it is possible. Thank you so much for matching us with him. Wilfey is absolutely worshiped by us all.”

Photos, videos and descriptions of cats available to rehome as part of the Hands-Free Homing scheme are posted online: https://www.cats.org.uk/mitcham/ado pt-a-cat If a match is made, Cats Protection will arrange a virtual meet-up via phone or video call to confirm suitability with a simple welfare questionnaire and undertake the necessary checks.

Once the adoption fee has been paid, the cat will be delivered to its new home in a Cats Protection van, with social distancing rules strictly observed at all times. Cats available to rehome are

vaccinated and microchipped and a special aftercare package includes follow-up calls in the first weeks to ensure that the cat and its owner are both happy.

Hands Free Homing is being rolled out to other Cats Protection centres and branches nationwide in coming weeks, to help cats waiting for homes and give prospective owners a chance to adopt and enjoy feline company as the lockdown continues. All other homing activity from branches and centres outside the trial will remain on hold.

Cats Protection Director of Operations Mark Beazley said: “Hands-Free Homing has been such a success, with cats being reserved soon after their profiles are live. Clearly we have hit upon a desire among many people who would like to rehome a cat but have been prevented from doing so due to the restrictions.

“Our scheme not only helps us to find loving homes for the cats in our care, but also provides much needed companionship for people. These times demand that we all find new ways of working to remain #HereForTheCats.” n If you think you could be the purrfect match for one of Cats Protection’s lovely moggies, visit www.cats.org.uk/hands-free-homing www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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The Six Stages of Cats:

Take a snapshot of your cat’s life for charity photo competition International Cat Care (iCatCare) is on the hunt for the best feline photographers with the 2020 launch of its annual photography competition.

For the competition this year, the charity is exploring the six different life stages of cats, from kitten to super senior, with the theme ‘The Six Stages of Cat’. This means that all cats are suitable subject matter and it’s a great opportunity for photographers to get creative with their pictures. The iCatCare judges would like to see some behaviour you might not associate with the life stage, for example super senior cats playing with toys, but entries are by no means limited to this.

Pictures of cats from all six life stages, kitten, junior, adult, mature, senior and super senior, are requested and entrants are asked to enter the life stage of the cat in the photo, or at least an estimate, when submitting their pictures. To help in determining the life stages of cats, iCatCare has created a poster that shows the life stage alongside the cat’s age and the equivalent human age. The poster can be viewed and downloaded from the iCatCare website at: https://icatcare.org/advice/how-to-tell-your-cats-age-inhuman-years/ The charity’s annual photography competition was launched in 2013, and since then it has attracted tens of thousands of entries. Previous themes have included ‘Cat-human relationships’, ‘Kittenhood’, ‘Street cats’, ‘Cat naps’, ‘The beauty of cats’ and ‘Cats for all seasons’. This year’s theme allows for a much broader spread of ideas from entrants and the judges are looking forward to seeing how it’s interpreted.

There will be twelve winning images, with one overall winner who will receive £500 in prize money. All twelve winners will have their images feature on charity merchandise (such as greetings cards, postcards, calendars) which will be sold to raise funds for the charity’s work. n To find out more and to enter, visit: icatcare.org/photography-competition. The competition is now open for

entries and will run until 10 am (BST) on 1 July 2020. Winners will be announced on iCatCare’s social media accounts shortly after.

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Wotsit

Pringles

Saving lives in a storm

Mayhew rush to help two cats dumped outside during bad weather Before the lockdown, and whilst the majority of people and pets across the country were cosied up inside during Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis earlier this year, a couple of cats found themselves abandoned on the street inside two old crisp boxes. They had nothing but the flimsy cardboard walls to protect them from the elements.

n To find out more please visit our website www.themayhew.org 26

● Three year old Wotsit and his sister Pringles, also three, were discovered outside Mayhew, each taped up in a small cardboard box. ● Neither of the boxes had air holes, and both cats could easily have suffocated. ● The boxes also contained no food, water or blankets, and were being battered on all sides by strong winds and rain.

Luckily for the siblings, our Animal Welfare Officers spotted the abandoned boxes as soon as they arrived at work, and brought them straight inside.

Zoe Edwards, Head of Animal Welfare, carefully cut through the tape on each box and freed both cats, before doing a full health assessment on each of them.

Thankfully, apart from being a bit hot and bothered, neither Wotsit nor Pringles showed any signs of being hurt or injured – and so we settled them down in a warm and cosy cabin in our Cattery to help them recover from their ordeal.

They are just two of the animals to have been abandoned near our shelter so far this year alone, and as none of them were microchipped, we have no way of knowing where they originally came from or why they were given up.

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

Thankfully, both Wotsit and Pringle were rehomed shortly after they recovered, and are now finally enjoying their lives with two new loving owners.

Since then, we have had to wind down a large majority of our operations due to the coronavirus pandemic - but our animal welfare team are still out on the front line, rescuing animals and saving their lives every day.

It costs over £6,000 a day to run Mayhew, and we are entirely funded by public donations. We desperately need your help, now more than ever, to ensure we can continue to rescue and rehome animals just like Wotsit and Pringles - both during this ongoing pandemic and long afterwards.

We want to make sure we will always be around to give unwanted and abandoned animals a brand new start in life, and so if you’re able to, please visit our website www.themayhew.org and donate £5 today.

Your donation will make a huge difference to those in need, and will enable us to care for, support and treat animals and their owners during this crisis.

Thank you for your support.

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Paw Print Cap Lovely unisex adjustable cap featuring a paw print design. 100% cotton. Colour Brown/tan. £12.00+p&p.

Visit www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk

Dog Bowl in wooden stand Raised dog bowl in wooden stand. Prevents the bowl from sliding over the floor. £19.99. Visit www.labrador-lifeline.com

Shop Pet products online Great accessories for your pets

Ipad Case – Hare by Sophie Allport Protect your technology and keep your tablet safe from knocks and scratches with this stylish ipad case in our Hare design. £17.00.

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Tartan Martingale collars Lovely tartan design 2" wide Martingale collars, fully adjustable to fit greyhounds with neck sizes 13" to 18".Available in turquoise, caramel, blue, pink and royal blue. £10.00 +p&p. Visit www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk

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29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Davies adapts to lockdown and believes it may enhance future function Davies Veterinary Specialists (Davies), has revealed that by adapting practice processes during lockdown, clinicians are continuing to help numerous pets, and that new methods may result in even better hospital function in the future.

T

o maintain a balance between keeping clinicians safe and the unavoidable need for emergency veterinary procedures during the pandemic, Davies, the small animal veterinary referral hospital based in Hertfordshire, made substantial changes across the entire hospital. The lynchpin is video consultations, which have allowed vets to continue to see patients in need whilst protecting both clinicians and clients.

Many of the service teams were immediately split into two when lockdown commenced. They now alternate on a weekly basis between consulting remotely from home and operating on-site. Continual communication between the two teams has enabled the efficient triage of referred cases, ensuring that pets in need of an urgent treatment can be seen as soon as possible. The ongoing management of less urgent cases is discussed with clients and referring vets until the patient can be seen on site once restrictions have been lifted.

The new system has been particularly effective for Davies’ orthopaedics service

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29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

who have seen an increasing demand for orthopaedic video consultations, resulting in further consultation slots being added to meet the requirement.

“Every challenge is an opportunity,” says Jan Janovec, European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery and Head of orthopaedics.

“The current adverse circumstances are forcing us to re-evaluate the ways we have traditionally worked, and I believe that this “audit” will result in new and better ways of delivering care to our patients.”

Given that pets don’t understand the implications of the Covid-19 situation the orthopaedics service at Davies has also been performing emergency surgery on an almost daily basis. These patients are seen within 24 hours of the initial contact.

“Despite lockdown cats continue to explore outdoors and get injured and dogs continue to chase squirrels and birds!” explains Jan. “Puppies and small dogs continue to get sat on or stepped on by their family members and so they keep us busy mending broken legs, fixing dislocated joints, and so on.”

On-site, Davies is ensuring minimal risk and maximum safety of clients and staff at all times. ”We are fortunate with the amount of space we have at Davies, not only for clients bringing their pets to the hospital but also for the hospital staff,” says Jan. “This makes social distancing relatively easy to achieve. In situations where working closely is unavoidable, such as obtaining blood samples, administration of some medications, induction of general anaesthetic, or performing some surgical procedures, careful planning, time-efficiency, and judicious use of PPE have been the key.”

Once lockdown has ended Jan and his team intend to review what they have learnt and re-evaluate all aspects of the orthopaedic service process to make the clinician, client, patient and referring vet interactions even better.

Jan leads the orthopaedics team and works alongside Vincent Guerin, Ellie Cockburn, Rufus Hammerton and Alex Krekis. n To find out more please visit https://vetspecialists.co.uk/meet-the-team/orthopaedics/ or call Davies on 01582 883950. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Glascoed Retreat

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Unit 1 ABC, Whitestone Business Park, Whitestone, Hereford HR1 3SE

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www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Tel: 01432 345388 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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Ann Rees FP advert.qxp_Layout 1 28/05/2020 15:20 Page 32

Ann Rees – home of the handmade and the fabulous.

Every product is handcrafted by our very own skilled artisans who draw on years of specialist experience, a love of creativity, a passion for quality and a huge appreciation for functionality ... but with flair.

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Leather Collar & Lead sets

Padded Cotton Web Clip

Soft Leather Clip Leads

Towelling Coats

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www.annrees.co.uk

Tel: 07774 626677

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Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is well, I’m sure we all know of someone or a family that has been affected by the coronavirus. I certainly have and our thoughts go to everyone affected.

It has certainly been an unusual few weeks here at Border Collie Trust. As concerns grew about the worldwide situation we introduced an appointment only system in mid-March to limit the numbers of people on site at any one time. That was followed of course by the lockdown and on the 20th March we closed to all visitors both for rescue and boarding.

We also introduced a shift pattern to reduce the risk of contamination between staff. By splitting our team into three, and the same people always working together we have been able to continue with the level of care so important to our guests.

As restrictions began to be lifted in May we moved to a system of rehoming very different to our normal process and although it presented many challenges we are now starting to again find homes for some of the dogs in our care. Assuming not much will have changed by the time you are reading this you can keep right up to date with how we are operating by visiting the Coronavirus Updates page of the website which explains all.

The impact of social media at such times has been very apparent. Early in lockdown I did a very simple video of a walk around the centre and it was an amazing hit with over 40,000 views so far. Some quick Facebook Live videos have also attracted a lot of interest as well as bringing a bit of good news and fun to all our lives.

Like all animal charities we have been hit financially. Three of our busiest months in our boarding kennels have seen them empty and it may be some time yet before we see them in use again and even then I suspect this year will see a very different income from the boarding side which last year raised over £45,000. Of course with no dogs being rehomed there is no income from that aspect

Ben Wilkes - Tr ustee either. We would expect in the region of £5,000 a month at least. Everyone was of course affected by this pandemic and so I’m sure when we compare figures, we will find donations for this period and perhaps beyond will reflect the general trend.

Fortunately, after many years of hardwork we do have the reserves to face this challenge for some time yet, but the looming HS2 situation remains and we fully expected that these reserves would be desperately needed as and when we find a suitable relocation. On that subject – still no news I’m afraid!

In conclusion we are better placed than some rescues to meet the challenges the next few months will bring us. Some may struggle to last the course.

Funding from the various government grants has of yet failed to reach many of us as we seem to keep being “not eligible” but we remain hopefully. Animal rescues do seem to have been forgotten amongst all the various grants that have been announced and many of us have had applications rejected by Local Authorities as don’t meet the criteria. The battle on that front continues…..

For now, stay safe and enjoy whatever you can in these difficult times.

Best wishes Ben Wilkes

We're sure things will change and evolve as time goes by please check back here for updates or of course call us on 01889 577058 or email info@bordercollietrustgb.org.uk www.bordercollietrustgb.org.uk

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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Photos credit: ©Adobe stock

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Goats get the point of human gestures Goats can interpret human cues, such as the pointing gesture, to gather information about their environment, according to a new study.

n To learn more about Farm Sanctuary, visit www.farmsanctuary.org 34

LONDON - Goats can interpret human cues, such as the pointing gesture, to gather information about their environment, according to a new study in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. The study provides the first evidence of how goats follow human cues and implies that the ability of animals to perceive human-given cues is not limited to those with a long history of domestication as companions, such as dogs and horses.

The study, which was carried out at Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats in Kent, UK, involved researchers setting up an object-choice task, where an experimenter surreptitiously hid food in one of two buckets. Goats first had to pass a pre-test where the experimenter indicated the location of the food to the goat by a proximal pointing gesture. Goats that succeeded in interpreting this gesture were transferred to the actual test. In these subsequent test trials, goats were confronted with a condition that differed in appearance and was displayed at a similar distance to the target (testing for generalization of pointing gesture), and a condition that looked similar to the initial proximal pointing gestures but was administered from an increased distance to the target (testing for comprehension of referentiality).

Goats succeeded in locating the correct location when the pointing gestures were presented in proximity to the correct location compared to when the experimenter was further away from the rewarded location (asymmetric), indicating that goats can generalize their use of the human pointing

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

gesture but might rely on stimulus/local enhancement rather than referential information.

First author Dr. Christian Nawroth from Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Germany said: “We already knew that goats are very attuned to human body language, but we did not know if they could follow a human cue such as a pointing gesture in the same way that dogs and horses do to locate a treat. This study has important implications for how we interact with farm animals and other species, because the abilities of animals to perceive human cues might be widespread and not just limited to traditional companion animals."

“Goats were the first livestock species to be domesticated about 10,000 years ago,” said lead author Dr. Alan McElligott from the University of Roehampton, UK. “From our earlier research, we already know that goats are smarter than their reputation suggests, but these results show how they can perceive cues and interact with humans even though they were not domesticated as pets or working animals.”

The researchers hope the study will lead to a better understanding of how skilled farm animals are in their capacity to interact with humans based on their cognitive abilities and to an improvement in animal welfare in general.

The study was supported by grant money from Farm Sanctuary’s The Someone Project, an endeavor aimed at using scientific evidence to raise the public’s understanding of farm animal cognition and behaviour. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Kennedys USE.qxp_Layout 1 08/08/2019 09:57 Page 49

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Supplying the UK with high-quality wild bird food and bird seed We are a family run wild bird food and wild bird seed supplier based in rural Lincolnshire. We supply only the finest quality products.

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Split Peanuts

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Small blanched, split peanuts (skins removed). Extra rich in both protein and oils, thus making an excellent and essential food for all year feeding. Peanuts are suitable and liked by most species of birds, and have long been the most popular of wild bird feeds. All our peanuts are certified as nil detectable signs of aflatoxin. £42.99/25kg

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With our specialised blending of a number of nutritional seeds, this mix is suitable for a large variety of birds. High in black sunflower thus providing oil and protein and meeting all essential feeding requirements. Suitable for all year round feeding. £24.95/25kg

Superior high energy mix An extremely high energy mixture blended with the highest quality seeds.

Suitable for all small birds and ideal for all year round feeding. Best fed from a seedfeeder or scattered on a bird table.

Contains nowheat. £35.65/25kg

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Dried mealworms Dried mealworms are a tasty treat for garden birds with all the nutrition of live mealworms without the 'worm factor'.

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ALL YEAR ROUND FEEDING

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Small fatballs The best, fattiest fat balls on the internet. Small Fat balls (no nets) offer a wide range of wild birds a nutritious and important source of energy specifically during winter and nesting season. Each fatball at approx 95g available in either boxes of 150 or 2 boxes of 150. £37.60/300.

This blended suet mixture is packed full of highIy calorific ingredients, it is ideal for all year round feeding and will attract a great variety of both small and medium sized birds to your garden. No re-growth under feeding station. Contains no wheat. £43.20/25kg

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Won’t grow mix Blended with 60% bakery grade sunflowerhearts, this energy rich mixture has been blended to ensure no re-growth under your feeding station. Suitable for all year round feeding. Best fed from seed feeder, scattered on bird table or from ground feeder. Contains no wheat.£38.25/25kg

Superior finch mix This classic mixture was blended specifically with finches in mind.

Contains a wonderful selection of the finest seeds and is suitable for all year round feeding. Best fed from seedfeeder or scattered on a bird table. Contains no wheat. £36.65/25kg

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How It All Begun‌.

French bulldog Saviours (FBS) originally started in 2013 when Lindsey Scanlon, the founder, saw a very badly abused French bulldog. It was on one of the many websites, that allow the sale of dogs with no regard for their welfare.

She paid for the dog (Dolly) herself, just so that she could take her far away from what was obviously a life of hell. It was Lindsey's mission to love her and mend her. She set up a Facebook page to help raise funds for Dolly's huge medical needs and was blown away by the generosity of the Frenchie-loving public. Not wanting to turn her back on other French bulldogs in need, Lindsey made the decision to set up Dolly's Angels, and with the help of the public, raise funds to rescue other Frenchies from a life of turmoil and neglect.

Fast-forward to 2014, and Lindsey realised that the breed was in deep crisis due to over-breeding, celebrity endorsement and the illegal importation of huge numbers of French bulldog puppies. The rescue needed to expand and 36

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

rebrand in order to apply for charity status and by the end of the year Dolly's Angels had become French bulldog Saviours.

In 2015 FBS was awarded charity status, giving us a platform to inform, educate and spread the word about the dangers faced by this beloved breed.

To this day the charity is still run entirely on the kindness and generosity of volunteers, and there are many ways in which you can get involved; from donating or buying items from our weekly Facebook auction, collecting points for us every time you shop via https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ or Pets at Home. You can help us carry out home checks, transport dogs across the UK or even offer a foster home or fur-ever home to one of our dogs in need. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Hungary – It’s Our Mission A few words from one of our Supporters, who at first hand has been to Hungary to help with these dogs that are being dumped daily by breeders or found lost wandering the streets.

We will help dogs where we can whether that’s here in the UK or overseas in Hungary.

Lindsey asked me to write a piece about my experiences in Hungary. In the initial conversations I had had with her back in October last year, she had explained that conditions in Hungary are not as we are lucky enough to experience in the UK, and she couldn’t be more right. It was shocking, heart-breaking, hard work, tense, infuriating and bloody good fun all rolled into one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had – I was happy, sad, angry, upset, I cried, I laughed - and I couldn’t wait to go back. For those of you who would consider volunteering to go to Hungary with FBS, there are a few things you need to understand; These people are trying their best – Etta, Etta Mama, Attila and the rest of their family care deeply about these dogs, and they are doing the best they can with virtually nothing – they have no formal training, they have precious little money and do not really have any operational support to run the rescue, other than from us.

They have nominal funding from the government in Hungary that by UK standards is a nonsense. Etta and Attila have full time jobs already, so the kennels are a labour of love for them.

This is why our support and donations are so desperately needed, to ensure that the dogs and puppies that they take in are kept as healthy, fed and warm as possible until we are able to uplift them to a better life here in the UK, in homes that will love and protect them. Quality of care is not to the standard we take for granted in the UK – by a long way. These dogs receive food, cleaning and general care at a level significantly below what we would demand as satisfactory for our pets here. There is nothing to be said, no criticism to be levelled – this is simply how things are in Hungary. The majority of the time I spent at the kennels was taking up by feeding, watering, cleaning and literally shovelling s**t – anyone who believes that volunteering will consist of cuddling puppies and rainbows is in for a sharp shock – it is hard work, but by God, these dogs deserve it. That week, we managed to get 20 dogs transported to the UK, on to loving new homes and a better life. When we left, we already had another 20 lined up for the next transport, in the following few days, we heard news of at least five new Frenchies arriving at the rescue……..the cycle continues. --- By the time I arrived in Hungary for my second volunteering trip, we had over 40 dogs

waiting for us, despite the fact that less than two weeks previously, a transport with over 20 dogs had arrived safely in the UK. In addition to that, it was bittersweet to see some of the other beautiful dogs I had met back in October again in February – the Beagle family, the Husky sisters, Jack and Angel – the big boys, Smiler, Shaggy, and Rufus - the huge rottie. It was a joy to see their beautiful faces again, but sad to know that there is no comfy sofa awaiting them any time soon.

The volume of work to be done was very daunting, not just in getting the dogs ready for transport back to the UK – in reality, that is the easy part – but finding new and suitable homes, raising funds for the transport, the vaccinations, the microchips, the vet bills – this is a mighty mountain to climb. It cannot be underestimated the amount of time that is taken up ‘in the background’ for those who work tirelessly to make all the parts fit. Lindsey, Steven and the team were on their phones constantly throughout the day and late into the evening, when we were all physically exhausted, to ensure that our precious cargo find the right homes to go to, the right paperwork to travel, and the means to get there – and this is all in addition to all of the dogs that they are already dealing with in the UK. Their commitment to the cause that is FBS is inspiring. There were times throughout the week where we all questioned what we were doing – was it ever going to be enough? Is it worth all of the angst, and frustration, and heartache when you return to find that any step forward taken on the previous visit has been replaced with two steps back?

The frustration of not being able to do more for these dogs is constantly palpable – but we are doing what we can. The work is hard, the work is upsetting, and the conditions are dire - but all at once, it is rewarding, and joyful and restores your faith in all that is good. These poor souls do not deserve the conditions they have found themselves in – they are the innocents - some are broken in spirit and weak in body. We must do what we can to put right the wrongs and find these babies the love and protection they deserve, and the reward of their unconditional love will make all of the hard work worth it, a thousand times! If you cannot volunteer - and it is not for everyone – I urge you from the bottom of my heart to fund raise, donate, set up standing orders, provide prizes for raffles, offer encouragement, whatever you can find it in your heart to do, to help the group continue with the awesome work that it does.

n If you would like to help in anyway, please get in touch General Enquiries: french.bulldog.saviours@gmail.com Events: fbsevents2017@gmail.com Tel: Lindsey 01924 520143 / 07714579474 Applications email: fbs.applications@gmail.com https://www.frenchbulldogsaviours.com

Working in Hungary www.rescueandanimalcare.com

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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Lottery Win Promises New Home for Re-homers A couple from Upminster who rehomed a rescue dog will now be able to rehome themselves thanks to a National Lottery win which will see them bank £10,000 every month for a whole year.

Just six months ago Kim (33) and Rich (30) Pearson gave a loving home to Loki, a rescue dog from Portugal, and now, thanks to matching the five main numbers in the Set For Life draw on Monday 11 May, will be able to look for their own dream family home. Kim said, “For a couple of years we’ve put all the luxuries, like meals out and holidays, on hold so we could save for a deposit but when we saw Loki needed a home he became our essential, not luxury. We can’t help thinking that maybe fate decided to help give us a home because we’d given Loki his forever home.”

The couple’s winning adventure started on Monday morning when ‘on a whim’ Kim played online at national-lottery.co.uk. She said, “I play the lottery every now and then and usually just Lotto so I’ve no idea why I decided to try my luck with the Set For Life draw that night. I bought three lines, two Lucky Dip and one with our own numbers.

“The following morning I was walking Loki before settling down to work and saw an email on my phone with news about my ticket. I assumed it was a few quid so didn’t bother to check it properly until later that morning when I was back at my desk. I logged on and saw it was just a bit more than a few quid!”

Utterly stunned, Kim, an Office Manager, remembers she just sat at her desk, starring at the screen for a good two minutes before bounding up the stairs and jumping on Rich, screaming ‘we’ve won the lottery!’ Rich, a key worker in the infrastructure sector, said, “I had been working a night shift so was in the deepest sleep when Kim jumped on me. I had no idea what she was on about to begin with but it quickly sunk in when she showed me her phone and how much we’d won. It was certainly one of the more surreal starts to the day!”

The pair immediately called Camelot to confirm the win before Kim continued with her work commitments and Rich got ready for his night shift. Kim said, 38

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

“It was a really strange day, it was such a crazy experience that we spent most of the day just grinning at one another.

Then Rich went off to work so I had a glass of wine and celebrated with Loki!”

With the win the couple can look forward to good times ahead with their friends and family when it is safe to do so. They will also swap their online browsing to a committed house hunt for the long awaited dream home, with a lovely garden for Loki top of the ‘must have’ list. Kim said, “This is a strange time to win because we haven’t been able to celebrate with those closest to us but when we safely can, that celebration will be all the sweeter.

“We will definitely be treating everyone, and we may think about a holiday to see family in New Zealand but all that is some way off. So for now, we will keep ourselves safe, keep Loki entertained and out of mischief, and crack on with our house hunt.”

Kim bought the couple’s winning Set For Life ticket online at national-lottery.co.uk In the current situation, National Lottery players are encouraged to play online at national-lottery.co.uk or by downloading the National Lottery app,

and to only buy their tickets in retail as part of their essential shop. Playing online via the website or app means that your ticket is checked, and you get an email notification if you win a prize. You can also scan your retail tickets on the National Lottery app to check if you're a winner.

Thanks to National Lottery players, up to £600M will be used to support the most vulnerable in communities across the UK during the Coronavirus crisis. By playing The National Lottery, £30M is raised every week on average by National Lottery players for projects big and small across the country. Hundreds of millions of pounds will be distributed to charities and local voluntary organisations over the next few months to help support people through the Covid-19 crisis - from helping support food banks, to causes that combat loneliness and isolation, support for the elderly and projects that support health in the community.

Set For Life from The National Lottery costs £1.50 per line to play, draws take place every Monday and Thursday and the top prize is £10k every month for 30 years.

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Petcetera 'My Doggy Bag' Jute Shopper Put all your doggy shopping in this delightful jute "Doggy Bag" from Petcetera. Visit https://www.petcetera.co.uk/petcetera-mydoggy-bag-jute-shopper.html

Osmonds Canine Shampoos An affordable range of concentrated shampoos for various coat types including Polar White for a brighter coat, Black Velvet to enhance a dark coat & Red Shampoo to remove tough stains such as grass & urine. Dilute at 10:1.

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Shop Pet products online Great accessories for your pets

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Resco 727 Deluxe Guillotine Blue Nail Cutters Long, overgrown nails can cause your pet unnecessary pain.

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Happy Pet Bowls A range of contemporary styled dog bowls.

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Sizes: Small - 13 x 13 x 5cm Medium - 16 x 16 x 6cm Large - 18 x 18 x 8cm.

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Petcetera’s Fox Poo Remover is a revolutionary NEW, all natural & organic product, that quickly & effectively neutralises & removes fox poo along with its associated odour. Tried & tested, this unique formula contains natural enzymes that break down the mess as well as the smell.

Apply liberally to affected areas & simply wipe with a cloth – it really is that easy! Visit https://www.petcetera.co.uk/petceterafox-poo-remover.html

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Padded, Cushioned Webbing Matching Range of Adjustable Collars Adjustable with strong clasp fastening Small: 15 mm x 260-400 mm Medium: 20 mm x 350-500 mm Large: 25 mm x 480-700 mm. http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/contents/enuk/d13_Page_13.html

Dogmatic Headcollar All the comfort and control of the original renowned leather Dogmatic Headcollar with the soft, gentle touch of slimline, luxurious, padded cushioned webbing. Available in 5 colours. From ÂŁ24.99. http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/contents/enuk/d4_Padded,_Cushioned_Webbing.html

Shop Pet products online Great accessories for your pets

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Dogmatic Headcollar The New Luxurious Soft and Lined Leather Dogmatic Headcollar. ÂŁ37.99. http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/contents/enuk/d6_Original_Leather.html

PCW Training Leads Ideal for training, obedience and general walking. The Training Leads can be used at different lengths, for general walking, lengthened for use in Training (practising recalls etc...), for giving your dog more room to stretch out on a walk, for tethering your dog to a bench etc... or for walking two dogs together. A quality Lead offering multiple uses. Can be wiped clean and very comfortable to hold. http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/contents/en-uk/d14_Page_14.html

Leather full Non-slip Lead Full vegetable tanned leather lead with rubber rein grip encasing the leather from hand loop to trigger hook and reinforced with leather at point of stitching. http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/contents/en-uk/d12_Page_12.html

Soft Leather Show slip Lead Available in Black/Brass and Brown/Brass. http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/c ontents/enuk/d12_Page_12.html

Matching Range of Trigger Hook Leads The soft padded lined webbing is fully wipe-able, therefore, easy to clean. Ideal for walking and training. http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/contents/enuk/d15_Page_15.html

Leather Gripper Training Leads Our design gives added security and confidence, offering multiple uses - ideal for walking/training or wet weather conditions. Can also be used with gloves. http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/contents/enuk/d12_Page_12.html

Leather Gripper Collars Now available top quality, buckle collars in a combination of rein web with rubber insert and quality leather. These collars are beautifully made and also have the bonus of matching our Gripper Training Leads. Available in Black/Brass and Brown/Brass. http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/contents/enuk/d12_Page_12.html

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WITH 250ML BOTTLE

Calming Wipes pack of 12 Use the eco-friendly wipe in the same way as you would with the calming spray by gentle rubbing around muzzle, under chin and top of chest of your pet (including horses!). £6.50.

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Battery operated atomiser Suitable for all mammals showing signs of stress including cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents, ferrets, and horses. Visit www.petremedy.co.uk

Venison Crunchies Our Venison Crunchies are made from extra meaty venison tendons, gently air-dried until they're good and crunchy! A great, nutritional British-made treat, that tastes fab to boot!

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Shop Pet products online Great accessories for your pets

Pet Calming Spray A new and natural way of tackling dog anxiety and stress in all pets and animals. £18.50.

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NGS Colloidal Silver for Pets - Antibacterial SHAMPOO This Pets Antifungal Shampoo is made with over 50% Premium Quality Amber Colloidal Silver This shampoo is soothing, intensive, antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial Use regularly to keep your pet clean and fresh. Visit www.naturesgreatestsecret.co.uk

Grain Free Chicken and Potato Dr John Grain-Free sensitive diet is a dog food suitable as an all-round maintenance diet or when active/ working. Visit www.gilpa.co.uk

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an fun r g fe l wls of the do w o Bo n .uk g BTime grip o ts.co o e r s D e’ Dinne t addalthyp m Ti sh ha he er n Ca a lip t tural n a n o ‘Di e Mas n with ww.n w Th ctio isit fun wl. V bo

Soothing Ear Cleaner Pet Remedy Natural De-Stress and Calming Plug-In Diffuser Plug-in and let the de-stressing properties slow release into the surrounding area. Visit www.petremedy.co.uk

From Peake Pet Care (formerly know as Quistel). This product is a valuable item in any dog owners grooming bag , as it can stop a problem occurring and also get rid of a stubborn problem with regular use. It also doesn't expire so there is no money wasted on this product. Visit www.peakepetcare.com

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Funky bowl Ancol Fusion Stainless Steel Dog Design Dish, 21 cm Diameter, Lime/Grey.

Also available in pink. £8.75.

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Time for a cuppa Jute shopper bag Lovely jute shopper bag printed with a stunning galgo design. Premium quality and perfect for those shopping trips. £10.00 +p&p.

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Border Collie Mug. (£6.99). Visit www.bordercollietrustgb.org.uk

MATC HI COAST NG AVAIL ER ABLE

A premium 100% Natural holistic superfood Containing 8 high strength herbs that help your dog keep calm and relaxed. Used by pet owners and behaviourists it also helps to reduce anxiety and aid focus and concentration when training or competing.

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Tasty Bites

NGS Colloidal Silver for Pets - Antibacterial SHAMPOO This Pets Antifungal Shampoo is made with over 50% Premium Quality Amber Colloidal Silver This shampoo is soothing, intensive, antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial Use regularly to keep your pet clean and fresh. Visit www.naturesgreatestsecret.co.uk

Pamper your pooch!

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Pedigree Tasty bites chew slice, beef flavour. Visit www.bordercollietrustgb.org.uk

Classic leather dog collars Perfect for everyday, or as a Sunday best.

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Hyde Orthopaedic Pillow Bed The George Barclay Hyde pillow style dog bed is a simplistic, yet effective dog bed design. The large plump sleep area helps dogs to settle in the centre. Espresso / Latte, Large - 100 x 70cm Visit www.georgebarclay.co.uk

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5 facts about hedgehogs and hoglets

1. Male hedgehogs try to attract females through lengthy mating rituals - lasting a few hours in some cases - that require a lot of snorting, puffing and circling.

2. Often the sound of these noisy rituals can attract other males, leading to confrontations involving a lot of chasing and head butting.

3. Once they have reached sexual maturity at two years old, hedgehogs can have several mates every year and are in fact fairly promiscuous creatures 4. Once the female hedgehog has given birth, she will nurse her young for a couple of weeks, teaching them to forage for food. After a couple of months, it will be up to the hoglets to find food for themselves.

5. As well as the earlier birthing season in June, hedgehogs often have a second litter of hoglets in around August and September.

HOGLET BABY BOOM PREDICTED FOLLOWING LOCKDOWN ‘SUMMER OF LOVE’ Lockdown and less traffic on the roads may have stopped the clock on the decline of British hedgehog populations.

Hedgehog numbers in the UK have plummeted by half over the past 20 years, however the spiky mammals are enjoying something of a resurgence and now experts are predicting a ‘hoglet boom’ next month.

How to create a hoglet habitat at home

l To make a simple hedgehog

home yourself, find a mediumsized box and cut two large windows for ventilation, as well as a larger tunnel at the front for the hedgehogs to enter through. l Hedgehogs love leaves, so put a large pile of leaves inside, covering with grass or straw. l Place the box near a hedge or bush and cover it with leaves and other natural debris.

nFor more details, visit www.spikesfood.co.uk www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk and www.gracethehedgehog.co.uk/ 44

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ecent sightings and reports noted hedgehogs are indulging in ‘noisy lovemaking’ and with many people saying they will drive less after lockdown and some continuing to work from home, it is important now, more than ever, for the people of Britain to do their part to protect these special animals.

Most baby hedgehogs arrive in June or July and hedgehog enthusiast’s hope there will be a huge wave of newborn hoglets in the coming weeks, as a result of the rise in reported mating cases.

Hedgehog ecologist and author Hugh Warwick says: “Hedgehog population levels have been a concern for decades so the recent increase in sightings is brilliant news for all wildlife lovers across the country - even if it took a national lockdown to make it happen!

“What we’re seeing is, in essence, a hedgehog ‘summer of love’ and, much like the predicted human baby boom in early 2021, I hope to see lots more hoglets arrive in June and July time, which is when the six-week gestation period typically finishes.

“It’s also likely that we’re getting more sightings of randy hedgehogs simply as a result of people spending more time in their gardens. If you do see a hedgehog in your garden, please do your best to help this wonderful creature - there are some really simple things you can do that will make a big difference to them.”

Wildlife expert Lizzie Jennings at Spike’s Hedgehog Food says: “Now that lockdown rules are starting to ease, we’re urging people to record hedgehog sightings when they’re out and about or in the garden.

“If you want to encourage hedgehogs into your garden, putting a small gap in your

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

garden fence to allow them to get in and out easily and leaving out nutritious hedgehog food are just two simple ways you can help them survive as habitat loss continues to threaten their existence.”

A recent study from Nottingham Trent University revealed that the mortality rate for hedgehogs on roads has nearly halved as people were urged to stay at home, with data showing that between the last week of March and the first week of April this year, around 140 hedgehog deaths were recorded, compared with up to 381 for the same period in 2019.

The latest State of Britain’s Hedgehogs report, published in 2018 by BHPS and PTES, reported that 50 per cent of rural hedgehog populations and 30 per cent of urban hedgehog populations have been lost since 2000.

Lancashire -based Spike’s Hedgehog Food launched 21 years ago as the first specialist hedgehog food producer in the UK and has been carefully developed to provide a naturally nutritious range of food for wild hedgehogs. Spike’s Starter Bundles are available to buy from the Spike’s website for £10. You can also purchase products in the Spike’s range from Pets At Home, Pets Corner, The Range and many independent pet stores throughout the UK. The Spike’s Hedgehog Food product range boasts variations including Spike’s Semi-Moist, Meaty Feast, Crunchy Dry and even an Insect Crumble.

Spike’s partner with hedgehog welfare charities including The British Hedgehog Preservation Society and Amazing Grace, an initiative led by Dr. Brian May’s charity, Save Me Trust. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Lockdown Baby Boom at Redwings Horse Sanctuary!

Warhol and mum Kahlo

We’ve all heard the jokes about an impending lockdown baby boom, but Redwings Horse Sanctuary is already in the middle of one!

S

even adorable foals have been born at the charity’s Norfolk sites since the outbreak began, helping to raise the spirits of equine carers as they work hard to ensure the charity’s 1,500 rescued horses and donkeys remain well cared for at this challenging time.

Peseta 46

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

Six of the new arrivals were born to one group of rescued horses, who were brought into the safety of the Sanctuary last year while pregnant. In true Redwings tradition, the horses were named after distinct themes – in this case, money or currency and famous artists – and so the names of their foals have also followed suit.

Now, little Lira, Rupee, Peseta, Ruble, Wonga and Warhol are happily taking their first tentative steps into the world together, but their arrivals have not been without drama!

Nicola Berryman, Redwings’ Welfare Veterinary Surgeon, said: “We always keep a close eye on any foals born at the Sanctuary, especially as their mums have often lived through some tough ordeals and their offspring sometimes need extra support. This group of horses posed the additional

challenge of being completely unhandled so we had to keep our interventions to a minimum to avoid causing any unnecessary distress, but luckily most of them have been absolutely fine.

“We had a little drama with Wonga who, having been born in the middle of the night, decided to use her first steps to squeeze herself under the fence and explore the next door paddock where she was discovered in the morning. We knew straightaway we had a cheeky one on our hands!

“Unfortunately, Warhol needed attention as in his first couple of days we observed he was intermittently struggling to empty his bowels, despite appearing otherwise healthy.

We decided to intervene and as quickly as possible administered medication to relieve his discomfort. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Whirl

Ruble Wonga

Rupee Lira He’s now doing really well and is bounding around his paddock with his mum.”

Because their mums were semi-feral when they came to the Sanctuary, Redwings’ Behaviour team is already working with the foals to ensure they grow up feeling comfortable with human contact. This will help them cope with future routine veterinary checks and farriery visits and in time, health permitting, pave a way for them to be rehomed through Redwings’ Guardianship Scheme.

Meanwhile, little Whirl was born to mum Viennese - from a group named after biscuits! The pair were rushed into Redwings’ Horse Hospital shortly after his birth when it became clear that Whirl was disorientated and struggling to suckle, and so was not receiving his all-important first milk, full of essential immune-boosting antiwww.rescueandanimalcare.com

bodies. Over the next few hours, the vet team carefully collected milk from Viennese’s udder and hand fed Whirl to ensure he did not miss out on this vital goodness which will help protect him from any infections in his early days.

Whirl is now suckling happily from his mum and the pair are enjoying some peaceful time at the Horse Hospital together so they can continue bonding.

Lynn Cutress, Redwings’ Chief Executive, said: “It’s not unusual with large groups of rescued mares to discover that some are in foal, but to welcome seven new arrivals in just a matter of weeks is quite the baby boom! It’s always a wonderful feeling to be able to give rescued ponies that tranquil space in which to bring their babies safely into the world, so our adorable new residents

have certainly put a big smile on all our faces.

“That’s especially welcome right now as our care teams are working very hard throughout the lockdown to ensure all our rescued residents remain well cared for. Of course, while we’re delighted to give every foal a loving home, taking on so many offspring places a greater demand on our resources at this challenging time, so we would be incredibly grateful for any donations to help make sure we can give these foals and their mums the happy and peaceful lives they deserve.” n Redwings is a registered charity 100% funded by donations from the public. If you’d like to support the care of the Sanctuary’s new foals, please visit www.redwings.org.uk/donating RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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10

Pet-Friendly Houseplants to Keep Cats and Dogs Safe

Pet owners have been advised on the best houseplants to keep that won’t pose any potential dangers to curious furry friends.

P

lant pros from LazyFlora.com have revealed ten of the best pet-friendly houseplants that are non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Whilst certain plants might look and smell beautiful, they can actually be harmful for our four-legged friends.

Autumn crocus can cause liver and kidney damage, and every part of a lily is toxic to cats.

Fortunately, many plants, and houseplants in particular, are completely safe to keep around animals, including Calathea, Spider Plants and African Violets.

A spokesperson for Lazy Flora said: “When deciding which plants to put in your garden or in a pot in the house, do check first to make sure it isn’t toxic to your pets.

“We care deeply about our furry friends at Lazy Flora, which is why customers are able to choose subscription boxes containing only plants that are pet friendly, in case they live with cats or dogs, or are gifting a subscription to somebody who does.

“If your pet shows any sign of having ingested poison, such as vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness or confusion, seek veterinary assistance straight away.”

1. African Violet

This delicate little plant, also known as the Cape Marigold, will flower profusely given plenty of direct sun, as long as you don't allow the roots to sit in water.

Your furry friends probably won't be very interested in this one, because it doesn't have wavy leaves or petals, and has no scent.

2. Boston Fern

The Boston Fern has different light requirements at different times of the year. During the spring and summer, it needs a shady location. A north-facing window is ideal. During autumn and winter, it needs more light, and will benefit from at least a couple of hours' direct sunlight per day. At all times 48

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

of year, it will not tolerate full sun or total shade.

3. Burro’s Tail

Burro's Tail is a succulent that loves sunshine and direct sunlight, as they originate in the dry heat of Honduras and Mexico. The stems will trail over the side of the pot as the plant grows, which may tempt curious pets to investigate, but this plant won't do them any harm if they do. Keep them high or low—the burro's tail is a beautiful addition to any home.

4. Calathea (red)

This plant loves indirect light but does not enjoy direct sunlight as this will burn the leaves. North East or West-facing rooms are most suitable. The main attraction of this plant are the leaves, but it may occasionally throw up small white flowers too. Coming from rainforest, this plant enjoys humidity.

Keep the soil slightly moist soil most of the time, but do not allow it to remain wet or waterlogged.

5. Dwarf Mountain Palm

The dwarf mountain palm is one of the best plants for purifying the air. This plant will grow well in almost any location within the home, although it is best kept out of direct sunlight. It is extremely tolerant of varying light levels and will do well in a shady corner. This palm is a very slow-growing plant.

It doesn't require a lot of watering.

Water it just a little when you notice that the soil has dried out. The tips of the leaves will turn brown if it doesn't receive enough water.

6. Echeveria

With their vibrant colours, Echeveria are attractive to cats and dogs. Most Echeverias are pet safe, but always

check the individual plant if you are unsure, as this is a large group of plants.

7. Maranta

The leaves on the Maranta move down during the day and raise up at night, as if in prayer – hence its nickname, the 'Prayer plant'. But don't worry about the position of this plant’s leaves, as they pose no risk to your pets!

8. Phalaenopsis Orchid

One of the most common plants in supermarkets these days, and for good reason, phalaenopsis orchids are some of the easiest-to-care-for and most spectacular orchids around. They require minimal watering and maintenance, and will flower twice a year if you keep them in the right conditions.

9. Spider plant

The spider plant is so-called because in summer it produces mini plants called 'pups' which look a bit like spiders. The 'pups' are often more brightly variegated than the parent plant. Don't let too many babies hang on the mother plant, because they will take a lot of energy.

You can always remove the babies and plant them elsewhere to create more spider plants.

10. Vriesea (Flaming Sword)

Vrieseas are a type of Bromeliad and are popular for their spectacular and long-lasting flowery spikes, which aren't actually flowers at all but bracts. Bracts appear when the plant is 3-5 years old, and last for months. A Bromeliad plant will only ever produce one bract. Once it's gone, the plant will not produce another. However, most excitingly, once the bract dies, the plant will start to produce 'pups', or baby plants, from its stem. Once big enough, these 'pups' can be removed and repotted, and they themselves will become a beautiful new plant. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Boston Fern

Calathea

Echeveria

Maranta African Violet

Spider plant Phalaenopsis

Burro's tail www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Flaming sword RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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Mayhew TheraPaws dogs and volunteers arrange virtual visits to keep community spirits up Since the beginning of March, we have been making changes to the way we work in order to protect our staff, volunteers and service users during the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of those changes, we temporarily suspended our TheraPaws programme, to reduce the risk of infection for those most at risk - including elderly and vulnerable people inside hospitals, hospices, day centres and care homes.

W

e knew that our TheraPaws visits would be sorely missed, and given their proven mental health benefits, we were keen to look at how we could replicate the benefits of animal assisted interventions virtually, whilst keeping our volunteers, dogs and service users safe. ● We are thrilled to announce that we now have 20 volunteers and 10 venues signed up to receive virtual TheraPaws visits via video chats, with more requests coming through every week ● Confirmed venues include mental health support and inpatient centres, Special Educational Needs schools, care homes and hospitals all across London ● We are also proud to say we are beginning to conduct individual video chats with NHS workers, their families 50

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

and shielded persons, to help raise their spirits in such stressful and unprecedented times One staff member at Collingwood Child & Family Centre, which provides support to young parents and children, said “Virtual visits from the Cassie (their regular TheraPaws dog) will really help the children to connect with others during a time in which it is really difficult to do so due to Covid 19. They have all really missed Cassie, and ask about her every day.”

Cassie’s owner, TheraPaws volunteer Heather, added “I miss sharing Cassie with other people. We both usually looked forward to our weekly trips to Collingwood, and seeing the children’s faces light up.

“No matter how old you are, the current situation is very tough, and has removed a lot of our everyday comforts

and support systems. Anything we can do to maintain a sense of normality is soothing to all involved, and so I’m relieved to be able to offer these virtual TheraPaws visits. Young people are our future, and anything that can be done to help them through this unprecedented time seems worth the effort to me.”

Case study - supporting residents and staff at Lawnfield Care Home Lawnfield Care Home in Willesden usually enjoys a visit every week from TheraPaws volunteer Claire and her dog Roobarb. Roobarb is extremely popular in the care home, with staff and residents alike saying that he usually “lights up their week” and “makes everyone happier.”

Claire and Roobarb have now arranged to do a weekly video call with small groups of residents in turn, ensuring everybody in the care home who wants www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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Amelie (aged 9) were thrilled to meet Bismarck and Karina’s other two non-therapy dogs Digga and Fletcher, who also joined the call. Auberie and Amelia told Karina how proud they were of their mum, and how they both clap for the NHS and draw rainbows to support her and her colleagues. They both showed off their teddies to Bismarck, and really enjoyed doing something a bit different to take their mind off how their lives have changed.

Karina has already arranged a third video call with the family next week, to give them something to look forward to and offer them a place to chat, relax and offload from the ongoing stresses of daily life in lockdown.

Hazel-Clare-and Roobarb to gets the chance to see their furry friend. Last week, long term residents Peggy, Lily and Hazel enjoyed their very first virtual visit, which was a roaring success.

Click onto this link to watch highlights from the recorded session! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B aPiUa_HZA&feature=youtu.be Whilst many care homes including Lawnfield are feeling especially worried at the moment, our TheraPaws visits are able to provide a small slice of normality, and the chance for residents and staff to sit together for a short break and enjoy a fun and heartwarming activity.

Virtual visits During a virtual visit, patients and residents are either reunited with their usual dog and volunteer, or introduced to a new pair for the first time over video call. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Service users can see and chat to the dog and volunteer, which helps to remind them of happier times together, and gives them something to look forward to when many other extracurricular activities have been cancelled due to lockdown.

A study by Mayhew and Middlesex University last year revealed that animal assisted activities can improve quality of life by up to 12%, a benefit which feels even more important than ever right now.

For venues in which it is impossible to host a live video call, either due to staff shortages, technology limitations or the poor health of patients or residents, TheraPaws volunteers have been recording a short hello message with their dog, to send over and be watched on demand by anyone who might need a quick boost.

Case study - supporting NHS workers and their families TheraPaws volunteer Karina wasn’t able to do virtual visits with her usual venue, but still wanted to help out however she could. We had received a couple of messages from NHS staff members who were known to us through the TheraPaws scheme, saying how much they themselves were missing the visits - and so Karina decided to try and connect with them individually over video call, to show our support for their incredible work.

One nurse has been working overtime treating COVID patients, and was finding it very hard to be away from her two children so much. We have so far set up two video calls between Karina, her dog Bismarck and the nurse’s family, so they could gather around and spend some quality time together, whilst enjoying a new activity.

The two children, Auberie (aged 3) and

Looking ahead - how we’re planning to help even more vulnerable people The demand for our virtual TheraPaws visits is increasing every week, and we are doing our best to support all the venues we usually attend, in addition to offering a more personalised service for those most in need.

Last week, we connected with an elderly person who lives on her own.

Jane has not left her house or seen any of her family or friends for over seven weeks, as she is shielding in line with government advice. Jane’s neighbours have been delivering food and essentials to her doorstep, but, like so many in her position, she is starved of human interaction and “very bored”.

Two volunteers and their dogs joined a video call with Jane, who luckily is in good health, and was extremely excited to have new faces - furry and human! to talk to, to help break up her seemingly endless days of solitude.

We are now hoping to team up with even more isolated individuals, as well as joining forces with a handful of local and national organisations and fellow charities, to expand the services we offer and ensure elderly and vulnerable people in various different situations are not forgotten.

In addition, some of our TheraPaws volunteers are looking to hold regular phone calls with residents and patients in their usual venues who may not have access to a video platform, to provide a listening ear and help them adapt to a new way of life and prevent them feeling too isolated and overwhelmed. n To find out more about Mayhew’s work, visit www.themayhew.org

RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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FEARS OF SURGE IN ELEPHANT POACHING, AS CORONAVIRUS HALTS TOURISM Lockdowns cripple the ecotourism industry, which is central to conservation efforts. This in turn leads to new challenges in protecting the vulnerable African elephant.

n How Many Elephants (UK registered charity: 1186238) is a powerful, design-led campaign that educates and inspires a global audience about the devastating impacts of the ivory trade in Africa. They use design to bridge the gap between scientific data and human connection in a nongory way. To connect with this data visually is highly impactful.

Founder of How Many Elephants, Holly Budge, is a world class adventurer, an Everest summiteer and the first woman to skydive Everest. She has fundraised over £300K and is gaining momentum quicker than a charging herd of elephants, both in the world of conservation and as an inspirational speaker. www.howmanyelephants.co www.hollybudge.com 52

“96 elephants were killed in Africa, every single day, prior to the pandemic. That number could see a dramatic rise as a result of the pandemic,” warns Holly Budge, Founder of How Many Elephants, a UK-based charity, to protect elephants in Africa and support rangers who defend them.

Tourism is one of the most important industries in Africa and contributed 8.5% ($194.2bn) of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Africa was also the second-fastest growing tourism region in the world, with a 5.6% growth rate in 2018 against a global average 3.9% (Source: African Travel & Tourism Association).

Without tourism revenue and the jobs that it supports, the African economy is set to plummet. A spike in poaching will be seen, as a knock-on effect. Renowned Conservationist and travel expert, Colin Bell explains, “Without tourism, there is no money left for managing Africa’s parks, nor for conservation work and most importantly, for neighbouring rural communities. When they lose their jobs and incomes, they are forced to turn to rhinos and elephants for bushmeat”. Reduced vigilance in tourist hotspots with a high density of wildlife has meant that, “poachers can operate with impunity, knowing they won't be disturbed, as we are already seeing in some places,” says Niall McCann, Founder of National Park Rescue.

Anti-poaching teams provide a registered essential service, yet there are no allocated government subsidies, at this crucial time, for these front-line workers. Not only are they

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

trying to protect the wildlife, but they have the added worry of protecting themselves against the virus. Craig Spencer, Founder of The Black Mambas, says, “There is no financial assistance to this sector during the lockdown.” It is imperative that funds are raised to support these organisations so they can continue to patrol and defend the wildlife.

Holly Budge adds, “Navigating the fundraising space is challenging right now as many people are looking inwards. But the bigger picture remains; there are front line workers operating in Africa without government subsidies, making it harder for their work to continue. We, at How Many Elephants, are drawing on every available resource to try and help these workers continue with their vital work.” Every penny raised by How Many Elephants is used efficiently on the front line by The Black Mambas in South Africa, National Park Rescue and Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust in Zimbabwe.

The coronavirus has put the spotlight on the illegal wildlife trade, which is the fourth largest transnational organised crime in the world; this could be a watershed moment for animal conservation. Budge adds, “Every single species - from the bee to the largest land-mammal, such as the elephant – plays a unique part in the ecosystem. The extinction of a single species can spell havoc for the environment.” As we grapple with the impact of the virus and the uncertainty of going back to life as we knew it, it’s imperative we act now to build a more sustainable future. www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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All Cooped We like to think our ex-bats live pretty good lives.

They have lovely airy runs to potter in, gardens to destroy and cosy beds to sleep in at night.

But it hasn’t always been that way. Many of the hens we rehome have spent the first 18 months of their lives indoors, their movement restricted and natural behaviours denied.

Here's Lucy in her chicken coop!

So, we’re challenging you to give a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘lockdown’ and spend some time All Cooped Up just like they have! Over the next few weeks, we’d like to see as many of our supporters as possible spend as long as they can inside their hen coop, raising money for the BHWT in the process.

Just decide when you’ll get started, set up a JustGiving or Virgin Money Giving page, and start spreading the word amongst your nearest and dearest to ask for sponsorship.

You can do what you like during your challenge – play a board game, crochet,

Just loungin’ ... could stay here for days! www.rescueandanimalcare.com

Up

At last, a chance to finish that book! read a book, meditate, heck you can even have a game of tennis if space allows!

So click below and find out how long you can stay All Cooped Up! We’re pretty sure it won’t be 18 months like your hens did. https://www.bhwt.org.uk/fundraise/allcoopedup/?mc_cid=5a0e569945&mc_eid=99 795b7154 #allcoopedup #bhwt

Working from hen home RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020

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Dogs Trust Loughborough’s Kelly Smith, vet nurse assistant, handing over the medical gowns

Dogs Trust donates vital medical equipment to NHS during coronavirus crisis Dogs Trust is helping to support the national effort in the fight against coronavirus by donating vital medical equipment to the NHS.

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The charity’s rehoming centres rallied together in support of our incredible health service – with Dogs Trust Loughborough donating 120 surgical gowns to nearby Lings Bar Hospital (pictured above).

Meanwhile, Dogs Trust Basildon has provided 300 masks to Basildon University Hospital and the charity has also returned 18 oxygen cylinders from across its network of UK rehoming centres to make them available for use within the NHS.

“We will continue to work with health providers to see if we can assist the national effort in any other ways over the coming weeks and months.” n For more information about Dogs Trust during the coronavirus crisis, please visit www.dogstrust.org.uk

Dogs Trust’s Shared Adoption Scheme coordinator Emily Mills said: “We are proud to be able to play a small part in helping to support our wonderful NHS and provide much-needed equipment and medical supplies for our doctors and nurses on the front line.

“We have, of course, made sure our centres have enough equipment to deal with any emergency cases but, while we are not currently carrying out any routine procedures, we were keen to see these supplies be put to good use.”

29 MAY – 29 JUNE 2020 RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE

www.rescueandanimalcare.com

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CLASSIFIEDS

If you would like to place an advertisement call our animal friendly team on 01787 228027

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ASTROTURF

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Prices from £5.oo per sq.mtr.

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www.designer-kennels.com 14b Swordfish Way, Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire LS25 6NG Tel/Fax: 01977 685500

Ideal for lawns, patios, garden sports, child and pet friendly. Self fit putting greens. Self draining.

Visit us at www.astroman.co.uk or Call 01480 493900 or 07836 325 901

Email: astroman.ray@tiscali.co.uk

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Tel: 01889 577058

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Reg Charity No:1053585

To place an advert please call 01787 228027

Leicester Animal Aid Association We are an English registered charity concerned with the plight of greyhounds, especially the Spanish-bred hunting greyhounds (galgos) Please visit our website: www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk Charity No. CI0/1174351

The Huncote Pet Rescue Centre Elmwood Farm Leicester LE9 6LE Tel: 01455 888257 www.leicesteranimalaid.org.uk Email: info@leicesteranimalaid.org.uk

Forest Dog Rescue

Green Gap Kennels, Far Forest Worcestershire DY14 9DX Tel: 01299 269181 www.forest-dog-rescue.org.uk Email: info@forest‐dog‐ rescue.org.uk

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