Merry Christmas All

Fluffy Friday #61

There is only one potential topic for this weeks Fluffy Friday - SUNSHINE!  Here in the UK we have been blessed with a heatwave after a very rainy few months.  Here are some photos I have taken showing some fluffy friends enjoying the sunshine.

Rusty giving in and letting it all hang out.

And   s  t  r  e  t  c  h !

A friend we made whilst holidaying in Switzerland a few years back.

A Rusty shaped silhouette.

Although not sun-worshipping Suki had just returned from a walk earlier this week and was very hot and bothered.  She has asked me to remind you to ensure your pets keep cool and safe in this lovely weather.

Let's hope the sun stays with us for the weekend!

Feeling hot, hot, hot?

Are you enjoying the weather?  How about your animals?  

Suki loves running about in the sunshine and rolling in the freshly cut grass but when we go for a walk she has to stop and have a rest and also likes to stop for a drink.  When we got home she has another long drink and a lie down, she even finds it too hot to cuddle preferring instead to lie on the cold floor.

I asked some fellow pet owners on Twitter how they keep their pets cool in the heat and a particularly good suggestion has been to soak a towel in cold water before laying it in the shade, your dog should automatically lay on the towel which will keep him/her nice and cool.  I am going to try that with Suki as think she would very much appreciate a nice cool towel to lie on, I might even try it myself!

Other tips include:

- Never EVER leave your pet in a hot car (Obviously!)

- Make sure your pet has plenty of water and access to a cool area 

- Avoid walking your dog during the hottest part of the day (Between 12 and 3pm)

- Always take water for your dog to drink whilst out walking

- Ensure animals that are kept outside are in a shady area

Please check out Don't Cook Your Dog website for advice about heatstroke and help them raise awareness to encourage other pet owners not to leave animals in hot cars.

Also read this excellent advice from Dogs Trust which contains some information you might not have thought of.

Happy Easter!

Fluffy Friday #54

As today is Good Friday, I feel a bunny special coming on...

Have a lovely Easter weekend!

Happy Mothers Day!

Did your Mum get breakfast in bed?

Have a great day!

Happy Valentines Day: Have a Heart for Animals

Me and Suki.

Love is definitely in the air.  Tonight we are cooking a (hopefully) delicious vegetarian meal and curling up with Suki.  Are you celebrating Valentine's Day?

If you are planning on celebrating with chocolates please make sure you keep them well away from your pets.  One thing that isn't forbidden is plenty of loving cuddles, although I know Rusty would prefer a nice gentle brush of her fur rather than a big squeeze and for Suki the bigger and longer the cuddle, the better (especially if it's from her Daddy!)

Me and Rusty.

BUAV is reminding us to have a heart for animals this Valentines day (and always) by treating loved ones to gifts that are not tested on animals.  They even have a special offer!  Bulldog Natural Skin care is offering all BUAV supporters 30% off, for more info and BUAV's latest news check this out.

Happy Valentines Day to you all with Lots of Love from me and my girls xoxox

Seasonal Safety – Part Three

Are you excited yet?  Not long to go until Christmas!  Suki has been sniffing her doggie stocking since we unpacked it in our new house back in October.  Over Halloween and Bonfire night you may remember my posts on Seasonal Safety, this is the third and final instalment and I hope you find it interesting reading and a source of help to you and your pets over Christmas.

Top Tips for a Carefree Christmas

Now, I don’t mean to be a kill joy but cute Christmas costumes come in the same category as Halloween costumes I’m afraid, they are simply not suitable for most pets.  They look utterly adorable and unquestionably cute but they can really frighten and annoy animals.  It is unsafe if animals are unable to see, hear or breathe and if the costume is too tight it can cut off circulation.  Basically, costumes can be a recipe for disaster and it isn’t fair to assume that your pet wants to join in with the festivities.

Keep the mince pies, Christmas pudding and mulled wine for human consumption only, do not under any circumstances let your pet have any sweets, chocolate or alcohol and make sure that this doesn't happen accidentally either.  Sweets and their wrappers can cause choking and obstruction so ensure that you dispose or wrappers safely.  Chocolate is poisonous and can cause nerve damage and potentially death.  If your pet has eaten anything they shouldn’t have and you notice a problem, consult your vet immediately.  Ensure that you explain this to all members of your household – especially children and your guests.

You might be lucky enough to receive a lot of guests over Christmas, make sure that they are sensitive towards your pets and if you are holding any Christmas parties ensure that your animals are able to escape to somewhere safe and quiet where they can relax if they want to.


I don't know about your pet but Suki loves to chew and eat anything and everything, so keep out of reach things that may cause harm (this goes for every day, not just Christmas time)  Some things worth considering keeping your pet clear of would be, Christmas trees(!), batteries, toys, pot pourri, spray on snow.


And the final tip....

Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy yourselves and have a lovely time together!


Take care.

Be aware this winter

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Winter is almost here and has the potential to bring with it freezing temperatures, ice and maybe even snow.  Some of you in the US have already experienced some very heavy snow so if anything this post is a little late in coming...


Although us humans can turn the heating up and put on our woollies, animals can’t and depend on us to keep them warm and safe.  Some animals are kept outside and left to face the brunt of the weather.  

Last year I was dismayed to come across a young Staffie who was forever kept outside despite the bad weather, I was alerted to her plight by the heart rendering whimpering I would hear as I walked past.  I kept a diary of the times she was left outside and for how long and reported all of this to the RSPCA so they could take the necessary actions.

If you come across an animal suffering this winter (or any other time for that matter) here are some tips of how to respond to the situation:

• Be aware, when you are out and about this winter pay attention to your surroundings and actively look for animals who may need your help.
If you notice any animals outside, make a mental note of approximately how long they have been out there.  Keep the number of the RSPCA or equivalent on your mobile phone just in case. 

• Observe, take notes of the type of animal, the behaviour of the animal (i.e. whether he or she is unwell, crying or displaying any distressed behaviour) and the conditions he or she is subjected to.  It is a good idea to keep a diary including time, date, location and describe as much as you can.

• Evidence, gather evidence such as photographs or even recorded evidence.  When I telephoned the RSPCA on one occasion they could hear the dog crying in the background.  If you do hear a dog repeatedly barking then make a complaint, barking can indicate a lonely or neglected dog.

• Perseverance, sometimes animal organisations can’t take action straight away.  This could be due to being short staffed or not having enough evidence to act.  Keep gathering evidence and telephoning and updating them on the situation as this is likely to assist in making it a higher priority for them.  Don’t give up.

• Do everything you can, within the law.  Although it might be tempting to break into someone’s garden and rescue the animal yourself it is not the best thing to do for you or the animal.  If you get caught you will be in serious trouble and then who will be there to help the animal?  Also, you don’t know how the animal is going to react to you entering their territory – when I tried to get close to the dog we were trying to help she got very upset and began to bark which could have got us both into trouble.  I did give her some food, visited her when I could and took Suki to visit her as well.  We also gave her a raw hide bone to chew for something to do.  I did consider paying a visit to the owners or even writing them a letter but this could have also back fired and enraged them enough to take it out on the animal so I left it to the RSPCA.

If you are in the UK then RSPCA's Cruelty Line is 0300 1234 999

If you are in the US then Contact ASPCA

For some further advice on how to help animals this winter consider signing up for PETA’s pledge to help companion animals this winter.  Upon signing this you will receive tips on how to help animals in your community during the cold weather season.


Check out blog 4 The Love of Animals for 5 Sure-Fire Ways to Protect Your Pet from the Ice this Winter.

BANG!

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I am estimating that the pre-Bonfire Night fireworks will start about... NOW. So, check out this very informative and in depth post on TV Vet Mark Abraham’s blog.  Well worth reading and following the advice - in fact I recommend the blog in its entirety for all sorts of interesting articles.  

Be safe, and a happy Bonfire Night to you and your pets!

Seasonal Pet Advice

At the time of writing this I can hardly describe the weather as summery, (it's pouring with rain) however by the time I set it to post I hope it has brightened up and therefore ensures this is a seasonal post!

The PDSA have created an excellent holiday health guide for pets which you can download here. 

Also, please remember to never leave your dog (or any animal) in the car during this hot weather.  Have a look at this excellent article and find out how you can support Dog's Today's campaign.  Make sure you tell your friends as well, especially if they have cars as there are some stickers you can order which are perfect for reminding other drivers to be careful with leaving their pets in cars.