Pets Magazine May

MAY 2020, FREE

The Hero Animals of VE Day

PLUS pets - the best antidepressant; 5 ways to exercise your dog at home & more inside Vet Rip the dog with his handler Mr KingPhoto courtesy of PDSA

The Heroic Animals ‘who also served’

To mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, leading vet charity PDSA is paying tribute to the brave hero animals ‘who also served’ and helped save countless lives during World War II. Page 2

Pictured: Rob the para dog with his SAS regiment

PDSA Dickin medal recipient GI George

To mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, leading vet charity PDSA is paying tribute to the brave hero animals ‘who also served’ and helped save countless lives during World War II. The charity is commemorating the milestone by sharing exclusive e-books* which tell the remarkable stories of animal heroes honoured with

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the PDSA Dickin Medal**.

These include the story of messenger pigeon, Duke of Normandy, who flew for 27 hours through bullets and bombs to deliver vital, lifesaving intelligence to Allied Forces.

displayed by animals serving with the Armed Forces or Civil Defence units in theatres of war.

The Medal was instituted by the charity’s Founder, Maria Dickin, with the approval of the War Office and Imperial War The prestigious Medal – known Museum, to raise the status of as the animals’ Victoria Cross – animals and acknowledge the recognises outstanding acts of remarkable roles they play in gallantry and devotion to duty society. It was first awarded to

a messenger pigeon named

great way to celebrate the

Winkie on 3 December 1943.

incredible, life-saving role animals have played

Mary Bawn, Head of Press,

throughout history, and

Rip - The ‘World’s first Search and Rescue dog’ (pictured above)

Voice and Brand at PDSA, said: continue to play today.”

“Throughout history, animals

Rip, a crossbreed terrier, who is

serving in the Armed Forces

To download the free PDSA

often referred to as the ‘World’s

have made an extraordinary

Dickin Medal e-books visit:

first Search and Rescue dog’.

difference to the lives of so

www.pdsa.org.uk/VE

He was found on the streets of

many, not only the men and

London by a local Air Raid

women who serve, but also

Some of the featured hero

civilians who our military are

stories include:

Warden in 1940.

protecting. Sharing some of

He had a talent for sniffing out

these stories on VE day is a

survivors trapped in the blitz

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rubble and despite never receiving formal training, in

Brian – a parachuting dog

just twelve months he helped save the lives of more than 100

A ‘qualified paratrooper’, Brian

To read the full stories of

people.

(also known as Bing) served

these amazing animal

with the 13th Battalion

heroes and more download

Rip was awarded his PDSA

Airborne Regiment during

the free PDSA Dickin

Dickin Medal in 1945.

WWII. As the D-Day landings

Medal e-books at:

began, Brian was parachuted

www.pdsa.org.uk/VE

into the Normandy and fought

Duke of Normandy (Pigeon No. NURP 41. SBC 219)

side-by-side with his human

Allied paratroopers from the 21st Army Group were dropped behind enemy lines days before D-Day. After their mission ran into numerous problems, the only way to get a message back was a pigeon named Duke of Normandy.

His journey home – through bullets and bombs – took almost 27 hours.

But he delivered critical intelligence to the Allied Command – and saved many lives.

Duke of Normandy received his PDSA Dickin Medal on 8 January 1947.

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allies. He also took part in the final airborne assault of the war.

Brian was presented with his PDSA Dickin Medal in March 1947.

Pets Can Help Improve

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Our Mental Health

By MARIE CARTER

During these dark days of Corona and Lockdown, the Cuddle power of pets is more

Formerly love-deprived Nell,

a mental health condition. Dogs

my rescue spaniel, loves her

especially will encourage their

The cuddle power of pets can help see us through difficult times such as we’re all experiencing now

owner to seek exercise and thereby meet other dog walkers, creating vital social connections.

A growing raft of studies has shown

important than

that pets can help

ever. So, if

with numerous

you’re lucky

issues linked to

enough to own

mental health

a pet, especially

from depression and PTSD to

a dog or cat, to

addictions, stress

snuggle with,

and feelings of

then as well as

loneliness.

being our best Mental health

friends, they can

campaigner

give us hope

Vanessa Holbrow

even in the very

from Burnham on

depths of

Sea, Somerset has

despair.

The comforting padding of feet across the otherwise silent house, the welcoming nudge of wet nose on arm and the soothing sense of unconditional love can make lives tainted by mental health more bearable.

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Loves cuddles: Nell, the rescue Cavalier

been helped on a life-changing level

cuddles, and she ‘asks’ for them by the power of a similar on a daily basis. The strength of connection. Vanessa’s Border her unconditional and innocent Terrier, ‘Sir Jack Spratticus’, a sense of love is palpable and we rescue from Border Terrier both derive comfort and a sense Welfare, won the dog hero of calm from that closeness.

competition, Friends for Life, at

Just by stroking, sitting next to

Crufts 2018. Jack, for short, is

or playing with a pet can help

credited with changing

to relax and calm someone with Vanessa’s life, helping her to

A godsend: Jack the Border Terrier has transformed his owner’s life

live with complex mental health just shows what love and

is my family. I don’t know

illnesses, by giving Vanessa

patience can do. His needs, I

what I would do without him.”

purpose, permission to be and

strongly sensed, mirrored my

find a sense of self,

own to a degree; put simply,

Jack was accepted by the

companionship and stability.

due to inappropriate early life

organisation Canine Generated

experiences.”

Independence in August 2017

Vanessa explains: “Jack had such a bad start in life. It took

and started training to be an Vanessa was determined not to

official assistance dog to

me a year to train him in order give up on Jack, and through

Vanessa. Vanessa chose to go

for us to be able to walk in

long hours of patience and

down the route alone, so Jack is

local dog friendly areas, for

training, Vanessa says: “Jack

now an Owner Trained

example, a 7-mile stretch of

now helps to raise awareness

'Assistance Dog for Mental

beach, on our door step. This

of mental health issues and he

Health', independent of any

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organisation. Wherever they

“Jack has been an integral part Dr David Cliff, a Personal

go, Jack’s status as an

of maintaining my physical

Development Coach at

‘Assistance Dog for Mental

connections to the world,”

Gedanken, explains: “The

Health’, stimulates

Vanessa explains. “He enables

presence of an animal can

conversation, raises awareness, me to go out and meet with

have a supportive and calming

and helps combat prejudice.

other dog owners. Regularity

effect on people. Stroking pets,

Jack is a brilliant advocate for

in seeing people is paramount

induces a sense of well-being,

the crucial role dogs play for those living

An otherwise isolated person can

with mental health

become more a part of their

illnesses.

Wherever they go,

community by the simple act of walking their dog or chatting about

Jack’s status as an ‘Assistance Dog for

their pet to another person.

Mental Health’,

often creating blood pressure reduction.

The warmth of contact, the brisk dog walk to maintain fitness, the cats calming purr, all of these offer owners’ gifts that are hard to

stimulates conversation, raises

to continuing a friendship and

place a value upon but we

awareness, and helps combat

Jack has made a significant

would be clearly more

prejudice. Jack is a brilliant

difference with this. This has

impoverished without.”

advocate for the crucial role

been an invaluable reminder

dogs play for those living with

that other people are there and A joint Cats Protection and

mental health illnesses.

that they may care about me.

Mental Health Foundation

This is a chronically

study showed how cats can help

unfamiliar concept for me”.

improve mental health. The

Jack has given Vanessa the motivation and passion to

research involved over 600 cat-

speak on local radio, the

An otherwise isolated person

confidence to speak in front of

can become more a part of their respondents, with half of them

the camera for local television,

community by the simple act of describing themselves as

write articles and help

walking their dog or chatting

currently having a mental

organisations including

about their pet to another

health problem.

Rethink and Beat & Time to

person. The responsibility of

The survey found that 87% of

Change. Together, Vanessa and looking after a pet can also give

and non-cat-owning

people who owned a cat felt it

Jack have raised thousands of

a sense of achievement and add had a positive impact on their

pounds for mental health

important routine to a day.

charities.

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wellbeing, while 76% said they

could cope with everyday life

bring meaning to one's

particularly amongst people

much better thanks to the

life, personal enrichment and

who are, for example,

company of their feline friends. has been known to reduce

housebound, geographically

Half of the cat owners felt that

suicidal behaviour and

isolated, have difficulty

their cat's presence and

encourage people to re-work

maintaining adult

companionship was most

their lives.

relationships, have mental

helpful, followed by a third of

health problems, learning

respondents who described

“We live in a world of

disabilities and other

stroking a cat as a calming and

increasingly single person

challenges that limit or qualify

helpful activity.

households and many have

human interpersonal contact.�

described loneliness as almost Dr Cliff explains: “The care of

a disease state in our society.

an animal and the

Pets often offer at least in part, of alcohol or drug rehabilitation an antidote to that, to being a solid support for

companionship it brings can

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From easing in the early stages

those who have

“Sadly, after Tom had

entered addiction

been looking after

recovery, animals have

Tottie for about six

a lot to offer those

years he was unable to

struggling from

care for her properly

addiction. Through all

because he was

stages of treatment and

fighting his own

recovery, pet therapy

demons, alcohol

can be an enormous

addiction. Tottie

help to those in

moved in with mum

recovery.

but Tom visited regularly, walking her

Yet another canine has

– he really did love

inspired a campaign to

her to bits. When Tom

improve addiction

moved back with mum

recovery. Rescue dog

for a spell of support,

Tottie was born in

Special: Tottie the terrier

2003 and was the last of an abandoned litter of puppies to be homed by the

find Tottie lying on the can make such a difference to people’s lives.

Dogs Trust at Roden Shropshire. She died recently one month short of her 15th birthday but will always be remembered for the love and support she gave to her owner who suffered from alcohol addiction.

ago at the age of 29 but the recent death of Tottie has led Tom’s mother Sally and younger brother Henry to raise awareness of how rescue dogs

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bed with him. Tottie played such a large part in Tom’s life and I am sure she helped him

Henry Maybury, Tom’s brother, explains: “We visited the Dogs

in trying to cope with his demons.”

Trust because Tom was adamant he wanted a dog. On seeing this little one with a huge head Tom decided he wanted her, despite us trying to persuade him otherwise.

Tom Maybury died five years

she would frequently

Tom absolutely idolised her, she really was his little girl.

She would go to work with

After Tom’s death Henry, a singer/songwriter, came across the songs ‘Lost Days’ and ‘Every Night And Day’ and decided they would be the ideal vehicle to make people aware of alcohol addiction and how easy it is to fall into that trap.

him, riding in the tractor cabin, keeping him company.

“After releasing the videos and travelling all around the UK

visiting schools, prisons and

The Maybury family is now

rehabs Tottie became a star in

working with Community

her own right,” added Henry.

Alcohol Partnerships (CAP), a government funded

“Students would message me

organisation which works to

through Facebook and

tackle the problem of underage

Instagram asking me how

drinking and associated anti-

Tottie was and what she was

social behaviour across the UK.

up to. Prisoners would beg me

Henry is donating 100% of the

to bring her into prisons so

proceeds from his debut single

they could meet her – I wish it

‘Lost Days’ to addiction

had been something I was

charities globally. For further

allowed to do.

information for donations and bookings, visit http://

“Tottie started suffering from

www.henrymaybury.com/.

arthritis and dementia last year and towards Christmas

When mental health takes a

we knew she had come to the

nosedive for whatever reason, if

end, so we all said our

there is one to be found, pets

goodbyes to a very special

from dogs and cats to horses

lady, who is now reunited with and smaller animals can have her best friend Tom.”

remarkable restorative powers.

To adapt a well-used and oh so

Tom’s mum Sally says: “I

true phrase, ‘pets’, truly are,

would never have thought that ‘people's’ best friends.’ after the sadness of five years ago of losing my son Tom that I would now feel joy from seeing the amazing response to our addiction programme from students in schools, parents, prisoners and those fighting addiction and in recovery.”

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Top Ways to Exercise your DOG

In these unprecedented circumstances, when many of us are staying in our homes, it’s natural to worry about venturing into public spaces outdoors. If you’re a pet owner, whose companions relies on you for walkies, it’s natural to wonder how best to entertain and exercise them

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from home.

Tricks and indoor games A productive way to entertain your dog is to teach them new tricks. Train them to bark on command, shake hands, play fetch or roll over – the list is endless! There’s no better time to test their intelligence with a few new skills.

Play with toys

In these unprecedented circumstances, when many of us are staying in our homes, it’s natural to worry about venturing into public spaces outdoors. If you’re a pet owner, whose companions relies on you for walkies, it’s natural to wonder how best to entertain and exercise them from home.

It’s no secret dogs need daily exercise to boost their physical and mental health, just like us.

So why not create an indoor

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environment for them to burn some energy? Don’t worry – this little lifestyle change needn’t cause a mess. It’s just a good way for your companion to receive additional exercise and stimulation for now.

Canagan, the grain-free pet food experts, reveal the best ways you can ensure your dog is having just as much fun indoors as they would out on their favourite walk:

There are plenty of indoor activities for dogs which involve toys to keep them entertained for hours. Dog puzzles will allow your dog to figure out where a tasty treat is hidden by manoeuvring different levers which will reveal the delicacy.

This game teaches your dog resilience and patience. Use it as a form of ‘positive reinforcement’ to teach them that good behaviour is rewarded.

A good old-fashioned game of fetch with a soft ball or toy is a great way to entertain a dog with boundless energy. If you’re lucky enough to have a long corridor or a spacious living room, and valuables are safely stowed away, indoor fetch can make for a fun, energetic afternoon.

Hide-and-Seek

find you, then choose harder spots. This will boost their confidence and stretch their It’s popular among children, instincts with each ‘round’. but hide-and-seek can be Take it in turns to call them. enjoyed by the whole family – Each family member, when including your dog! If your found, must congratulate your companion is trained to ‘stay’ and ‘come’ when you call them, furry friend and show them lots of love. Dogs experience the it’s a great game to keep them same thrills as children, so love entertained. being surprised and receiving attention.

Tell your dog to ‘stay’ so they don’t follow you to your hiding Hide-and-seek works because place. If this command is a dogs have a ‘pack’ mentality, so work in progress, wait until will seek out their human they’re distracted then have leader. Your pet will rely on your family members hide visual and voice cues initially. around the house. Choose The game stimulates the brain, somewhere that is not out of sight initially, so they can easily as it encourages them to

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remember their name, while strengthening recall behaviour.

They’ll soon reverse their strategy and go back to their primal instinct – scent. Not to mention the physical benefits – the search will give your pup a great workout physically. It’s also a wonderful way to strengthen your bond.

Bubbles Bubbles are a fun, inexpensive way to entertain your pup – and children too! Always check the label before you buy bubbles to ensure they’re safe for dogs. Did you know you can even buy ‘dog bubbles’ in

Make good use

different flavours?

There are even dogfriendly bubble machines for when you want to leave them to it.

of the garden If you are fortunate enough to have a lovely garden, make the most of this private space with your dog. A little run-around and game of fetch makes for a fun afternoon and gets your steps up, too.

A spot of fresh air, away from the public, will do you both the world of good.

Make changes to your home Ensuring your home is dog-friendly is important when creating an environment for play and exercise with minimal chance of harm or breakages. From here, you can introduce a couple of new sights and experiences to combat boredom, like the following:

Give them a view Dogs have impeccable senses and love exploring the outside world with its diverse sights and smells. Create a snuggly space by the window so your pup can watch the world go by.

Whether it’s birds flying by or cars passing, they can keep entertained with activity outside.

Build a doggy den Dogs love to snuggle down in a cosy space. Whether it’s blankets piled with their favourite toys or renovating your spare bedroom into their very own pet pad, your dog will be very grateful of their own little sanctuary to retreat to.

Ensuring your dog is comfortable, entertained and of course safe at this time may be worrying you. But it’s also an opportunity to enjoy new activities and bond with your companion. They’re untouched by the turbulent times we’re currently experiencing, will show you lots of love and relish the extra quality time. So, rest assured that they’ll entertain you too.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Lockdown has given us more time than ever with our pets. But are we in danger of walking them

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off their feet?

Lockdown has given us more time than ever with our pets. But are we in danger of harming them with too much love?

Google Trends data suggests searches for 'exercises for dogs' and 'am I walking my dog too much' were up almost 100% for the second half of April, so it's clear this is becoming an increasing concern for those stuck at home with their pets.

That's why a new resource Work Out Your Walkies - has been launched to help dog lovers calculate the amount of exercise their dogs need each day to stay fit and healthy, according to their breed and age.

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The table above, taken from Work Out Your Walkies, shows the distance and time you need to spend walking with the UK's most popular dog breeds, according to leading dog behaviourist Nick Jones MA. As well as the table shown above, Work Out Your Walkies also includes: • A calculator to work out the number of laps you'd need to walk of your garden to give your dog the right amount of exercise - perfect for those self-isolating.

• Tips on how to keep your dog mentally active as well as

physically fit.

• Games and activities to enjoy with your dog at home.

• FAQs around dog walking during Covid-19

A nice walk, but how much is too much?

Salman Haqqi, spokesperson at money.co.uk, the website behind the walk calculator, said: “Over the past few weeks, we have seen heroic physical achievements, made from the comfort of homes across the globe including; Captain Tom Moore’s epic fundraising efforts, garden marathons and stair climbs equivalent to that of Mount Everest, so it’s only fair that your dog gets involved too.

“And, while a walk around the garden might not be quite as exciting as a trip to your local park, it is the stimulation you give to them as an owner that’s

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so important at this time, so that we keep them healthy and happy.

Vet Zoe Costigan BVSc BSc(hons) Cert AVP MRCVS, said: “Chances are your whole family might each be taking the dog for a walk as a reason to roam outside and leave the house.

“There’s a fine balance between too little and too much. It’s a good idea to ensure your dog gets out a couple of times a day, because they don’t have too much to stimulate them in the home.

“For some active breeds, like a collie or spaniel, one hour of exercise a day is negligible for their energy levels.”