Pets Magazine February/March 2022

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022, FREE

CRISIS: What to do if YOUR pet goes missing

Pets Magazine’s beautiful SOPHIE, 14, is our furry COVER STAR!

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& MUCH MORE INSIDE

Can YOU give 21-year old moggie Morag her

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purrfect retirement home?

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n RSPCA animal centre in the West Midlands is looking for a special retirement home for a golden oldie called Morag, who has come into rescue at the grand old age of 21.

say hello and make a fuss of her.

(10) and siblings Barbara and Bernard (both 19).

Claire Wood from the branch, said: “We’ve looked at our records and we think that Morag is the oldest cat to have ever come into our care.

Other golden oldies currently looking for their new homes include Marcus (12), Otto (11) and Mabel (10).

Claire added: “We rehomed The RSPCA’s Worcester and “She’s a real sweetheart and is seven senior cats last month Mid Worcestershire branch enjoying all the attention that alone and we’re incredibly took in the elderly feline after she’s getting from the staff at grateful to the adopters who she was signed over by her our rescue and rehoming welcomed them into their lives. previous owner who was no Age really is just a longer able to care number and for her. She is “All she wants is someone who can o er rehoming an older believed to be the pet can be incredibly her a warm, loving home, somewhere oldest cat ever to rewarding. You're come into the comfy to sleep, good food and a nice giving them the best group’s care and the Rosie, the terrier secure garden where she can go outside possible life in their most mature moggie twilight years and and enjoy some fresh air.” that the RSPCA is we will always do currently caring for our utmost to ensure nationwide. centre. But of course a cattery is a happy ending for every not the ideal environment for The equivalent of 100 in human animal that comes into our such an elderly cat and we hope years, Morag was very matted care, young or old.” that someone will come on arrival at the rehoming forward very soon to offer If you are interested in centre in Worcester and some Morag a loving forever home offering Morag or any of of her coat had to be shaved off for however long she’s got left. the other senior cats a new to make her more home, please contact comfortable.

Due to her advanced age, 01905 821272 (option 2) or Morag needs a home without But despite her advancing years complete a perfect match young children and other pets and her slightly scruffy form on the branch’s with someone who is going to appearance, those caring for website. be around the majority of the her say she is surprisingly lively time. and mobile and doesn’t sit still for long.

Already this year, the Worcester branch has found homes for seven elderly cats with a combined age of 100, including Violet (16), Joy (15), Angel (11), Holly (10), Teddy

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Described as having an extremely loving nature, Morag is enjoying the company of her new human friends and enjoys visitors coming to her pen to

What to do if your

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pet goes missing

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s a nation of animal lovers, most of us will share our home and our lives with a furry best friend. We house them, we feed them, we clean them, we walk them, we play with them, we talk to them, we cuddle them and we love them. Above all, we do our best to keep them safe.

But sometimes, the worst does happen. We lose them.

Your dog goes missing on a walk chasing a squirrel.

Your cat is spooked by fireworks and runs away.

Your dog is attacked by another dog and distraught runs to find safety.

Your cat isn’t familiar with your new home address and can’t find their way home.

Whatever the circumstance, if you lost your pet- would you know what to do?

the public to be better prepared.

So, what can you do if your pet goes missing?

Here is a handy guide to follow if your pet has gone missing.

Following this information will Animal Search UK are the UK’s give you the best possible chance of a speedy reunion leading lost and found with your beloved pet. organisation, specialising in reuniting lost and found pets.

With the dramatic rise in missing pet cases on their free website, they are calling out to

• Have a tracking collar on your pet if possible.

Please note the reliability of these devices are still up for debate.

Become a member of your local community groups across social media.

Ensure your home is safe and secure, especially outside space and gardens.

When moving address, take time to ensure your pet has adjusted to the change.

Rosie, the terrier

Keep your pet inside when there is excessive noise pollution/disruption in your area.

Things every pet owner should do BEFORE your pet goes missing:

• Ensure your pet is microchipped and keep the contact details up to date. Checking this information with the microchip company every six months is vital. You can also have the vet scan their chip at your routine check ups to ensure the chip signal is reading correctly.

• Pre-register your pet at www.animalsearchuk.co.uk

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•

Be mindful of change in your home that could for free to ensure all contact spook your pet and keep details and information them inside longer to including a picture of your adjust to any differences. pet are accessible to speed up the process.

Be aware of behavioural changes in your pet that Become part of Animal could indicate they are Search UK’s Petwatch nearing the end of their life Campaign – where you or are displaying signs of can access lost and found sickness. alerts immediately for pets in your local area. Help For rescued pets, ensure them to help you. you take longer to monitor the behaviour of your pet Have your pet wear a to determine if they are collar with a name tag safe in their space. and contact details.

Things every pet owner should do at the point their pet goes missing: Contact Animal Search UK for free advice over the phone on 0800 4 320 340 or online at www.animalsearchuk.co.uk.

Obtain a publicity campaignthis can often be secured through your insurance policy at no extra cost. Please see www.animalsearchuk.co.uk for more information.

Distribute posters and leaflets Let the microchipping company in areas of key interest- for know immediately. example, bulk leaflet drops in shops, schools, businesses and Contact your local veterinary alike. practise and those in the surrounding areas.

Place posters on areas with a larger footfall- such as outside Contact your pet insurance supermarkets, swimming provider to let them know your baths, main roads and built-up pet has gone missing. locations.

Physically search areas of interest – for example wooded areas and overgrowth.

Engage with online communities in your local area to share your missing pet far and wide.

Engage with the local community in your area to get the word out there and to get the community onboard.

The key to a successful reunion is to act fast and to get as much awareness in as many areas as possible.

Pets Magazine writer LINDA ROBB on why sleeping with a dog on / in your bed can lead to a military operation in nocturnal

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manoeuvres...

Rosie, the terrier

By Linda Robb I’ve come to the conclusion on the nights when I sit shivering on the edge of the mattress, that I’ve

she loves nothing more than

Without a word of a lie, there

spread-eagling herself

are now times when getting

lengthways in the centre,

into bed requires the tactics

completely forgetting I will

best deployed by advanced

attempt to turn in.

military personal. I’m sure I’d

pass some SAS test from When she was a puppy it was really spoilt my dog, Rosie... months of learning the so cute, now she’s a hefty and perseverance, ninja stealth She’s taken to wanting to turn extremely clever eleven year and Mensa level planning in early; the grumbling old, even seeing her doing her required to be able to simply sounds start at around eight superman pose is losing most lift up the duvet and climb in. o’clock and ten is the absolute of its charm. latest she likes to be up.

Once achieved, even then, Along with many other dog with all that going on she Anytime past ten o’clock, and owners, I genuinely can’t deigns to look at me as if to we have to ignore her full on believe I’ve been putting up say “You’re not really going to strutting across the carpet with her mood swings for so try and lay in that spot are and dramatic exasperation. long. I might laugh, but in you?” and I’m forced to say, However once she’s got the actual fact, she’s turned me often out loud “of course I whole of my bed to herself into some sort of weirdo.

to judgement, she is old and no amount of last minutes garden visiting makes any di erence. When she does want to go out, and it’s not every night, lifting her o of the bed makes me fear I’ll su er a hernia.

As I hop up and down on the spot in the When a dog hogs the bed...

dribbles. Come to think of it, I

have to watch her sni almost

going to start laying at the

love her even then.

every blade of grass before

I’m ashamed to admit that

Even then she still waits until

when it was very cold last

the last minute to move,

month she had decided that

giving an irritated grumble

being on top of the bed

when I try turning over, so

wasn’t warm enough and had

quite often, I lay there sti as

buried herself under the

a board so that she’s not too

duvet.

put out.

making her mark) all the time, I keep a cautious eye on my surroundings. She would be totally useless if some deranged burglar were to suddenly strike, something her occasional mu ed growling warns me of, but it

When I went in I said very

makes me feel a bit safer

Don’t get me wrong, she is

loudly ‘Where’s my dog” and

having her there, if nothing

totally adorable, cute and

the dog shaped lump was all

else in her haste to get their

funny and I love her. Except

wiggly and tail wagging and I

attention they could trip over

perhaps for those times when melted. It would be a cold she does stunning

heart that didn’t laugh at that.

impersonations’ of a windy hurricane with added smell e ects, or when she snores, or dream chases, or rolls in

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ffl

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something indescribable and

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to hurry up, (because I

am, that’s my spot, I’m not bottom of the bed now.”

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garden, waiting for her

her.

And you’ve guessed it the

It’s not unusual for her to

moment she’s back in the

nudge me awake in the early

house she reclaims her space

hours so that she can visit the and I’m back to shivering on garden, and before you jump

the mattress.

Tony Knight, an internationally-acclaimed Dog Listener and trainer, on why some forms of obedience training are a waste of time...

Tony Knight, an internationallyacclaimed Dog Listener and trainer, on why teaching your dog to sit is a waste of time.

Imagine that you are in town just after a rainstorm.

Each time you have to cross the road, you are told to sit down before you can cross. The ground is still wet, and if you refuse your backside is forced down onto the cold, wet surface. Nice…

the oor. This lady’s dog resisted her attempts to be pushed down, prompting the trainer to come over, tell the lady that she was “far too soft”, and forcibly shove the dog’s backside down. This caused the dog to yelp – not great.

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This treatment carried on for a few weeks; each time I have heard so the trainer I remember well a dog many dog trainers use the owner who had some issues forced the dog’s bottom “sit” command as their down, causing a yelp. It was with their dogs so, like an “cure-all” for problem dog only when the owner awful lot of people who behaviour. It’s almost as if noticed that her dog had don’t know where else to they regard it as a magic trouble walking for a day or turn, she enrolled in dog spell that instantly calms a two after the classes that obedience classes. Of dog. I have said many times course, a big part of the alarm bells started ringing. over the years that training a lessons was teaching the A quick trip to the vets led dog to sit is ne and dandy, dog to sit. The instructor to an X-ray that found but it is not nearly as chronic hip dysplasia. We told everyone to ask their important as many people advised her to stop going to dog to sit. If a dog did not believe it to be. the classes… do so, they were to push their dog’s bottom down to

Greyhounds nd it dif cult to sit like other dogs; the way they have been genetically engineered makes it uncomfortable for many. Personally, I had two request for my dogs; to come to me when I asked and to stay where they were if necessary. Sitting, standing or lying down was their choice but I put no pressure on them as frankly it is not important.

South Africa. We were introduced to four elephants that performed “tricks” for us – one stamped its foot, the second shook its ears, while Number Three trumpeted. The fourth one gave us a kiss (actually it sucked at our faces with its trunk). I have subsequently seen where they stick their

happen to parents if they smacked their baby around the head for not getting the idea of saying “Thank you” on the rst attempt? Time and patience are both crucial when learning any skill, no matter how basic.

Whether you end up on a TV talent show with your dog as it performs incredible feats, or your 4-legged friend only knows to come when you call them, make sure you both enjoy the experience.

“Teaching a dog to sit is OK,

but it is not what makes for a well-behaved and calm

If you enjoy teaching your dog tricks then that is great.

Expecting a dog to understand what you mean right away is not realistic.

Using force to make them perform risks creates a negative experience or even physical pain (as in the case of our poor dog with the bad hips). Nowadays, we are turned off by the idea of seeing trained animals in a circus as we know that there is often a de nite element of force and coercion. Good trainers use no force but do practice plenty of patience.

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Several years ago, I went to an elephant sanctuary in

canine.” trunks – I would never have one do that to my face again…

Anyway, when I asked the staff how they taught the elephants to do that, I was relieved to hear that they noticed the animals doing them anyway – they simply introduced a treat when they did it to create an association (a lot like clicker training which was originally developed for dolphins).

Human babies learn through patience and repetition too; can you imagine what would

Remember that teaching a dog to sit is OK, but it is not what makes for a well-behaved and calm canine. Knowing how to convince your dog in their language that they can trust you with the big decisions – that’s the real deal.

You can see how I use patience and repetition with a puppy here to quickly make progress: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-DHKgXX0nNs To nd out more, visit: www.tonyknightdoglisten er.com