Author: Jasmine Kleine

The RSPCA is campaigning for stricter licensing for people breeding and selling puppies – and now a UK Government consultation agrees with the charity’s calls.

There were more than 1,700 responses to the consultation on animal establishment licensing – which ran earlier this year – from animal welfare organisations, including the RSPCA; vets; local authorities; dog breeders and pet shops; and members of the public.

More than 70% of respondents want to see the introduction of a general Animal Establishment Licence, connected to improved model licence conditions. This agrees with the RSPCA’s Scrap the Puppy Trade campaign which is calling for better licensing of breeders and sellers in order to tackle the puppy trade with an ultimate to see an outright ban on third party sales of puppies when that is a workable reality.

Other responses included 90% of respondents agreeing with the proposals to prohibit the sale of puppies below the age of eight weeks, something which the RSPCA strongly advises.

Although the RSPCA would like see the licensing threshold set at two or more litters a year, the organisation is pleased to see 64% of respondents agreeing with the recommendation that it be set at three or more litters a year.

Defra’s proposals are not expected until next year.

The RSPCA’s Scrap the Puppy Trade campaign was launched in October 2015 in response to a rise in the number of calls from members of the public with complaints and concerns about the puppy trade. The welfare charity has also heard many heartbreaking stories from people who have bought puppies from unscrupulous, unregulated dealers which have gone on to fall ill or die.

“It is far too easy to sell puppies and current laws are failing puppies and their parents,” RSPCA’s assistant director of external affairs, David Bowles, said. “The RSPCA wants to see Westminster treat the issue of puppy dealing in England as seriously as they did scrap metal and license anyone who sells a puppy.

“This would not stop illegal trading altogether but it would help to remove the huge layer of unregulated puppy dealing we’re currently battling on a daily basis and be a stage along the route for people to only buy from respectable breeders. This proposal would give local authorities the tools they need to act and improve protections for puppy buyers too.

“We’re pleased with the results of the consultation which are generally supportive of what we’re calling for as and we’d like to see these changes made as a matter of urgency to ensure no more puppies needlessly die.”

DEFRA announce half-hearted report into Greyhound welfare.

Animal welfare charities express huge disappointment and anger at stalling tactics.

Clarissa Baldwin, Chairman of the Greyhound Forum said today, “For over two years and with advice from the major animal charities, support from the EFRA Select Committee and thousands of dog lovers around the country, we had hoped that the long awaited outcome from all of DEFRA’s research into greyhound welfare, would have amounted to more than vague promises for the future.

GBGB have given written assurances to the Minister (Mr Eustice) to improve greyhound kennelling and it is on the back of this that DEFRA are dragging their heels, with suggestions of legislating if GBGB do not fulfil these promises.

Whilst the Sword of Damocles may be hovering over the head of GBGB, the welfare of racing greyhounds has to wait until 2017/18 before this important Regulation is considered by the Government. Further promises from GBGB include transparency over injury statistics and the number of greyhounds euthanised and the reasons for euthanasia. Again, there will be no further legislation until 2018. GBGB is not financially independent neither are they supported, to any significant amount, by the fat cats in the Bookmakers Association, making their promises somewhat fanciful.”

A man has pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to three dogs who all died having been left in a car on a warm day earlier this year.

Jonathan Theobald (DoB: 12/01/51) of Lincoln Road, Peterborough, appeared at the city’s magistrates’ court on Wednesday (14 September) where he admitted one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs by confining the animals in an environment which was detrimental to their well-being and led to their death. He was charged under the Animal Welfare Act.

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“Theobald shut his three Staffordshire bull terrier-type dogs – Daisy, Mitch and Rascal – in his car while he went in to use the gym,” RSPCA inspector Justin Stubbs said. “When he returned to his car, two dogs had already succumbed to the heat and gym users spotted him carrying out emergency treatment on the third dog.

“The dogs had been in the car alone for a number of hours,” inspector Stubbs said. “They will have undoubtedly suffered before they died.”

A local vet and police were contacted and Theobald was later found at his home with the dogs’ bodies still outside in the car. The RSPCA were alerted and an investigation was launched.

Preliminary post-mortems revealed the dogs all died of heat exposure.

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports. Theobald will appear at the same court for sentencing on 28 September.

The RSPCA and 11 other animal welfare charities and organisations each year runs the Dogs Die in Hot Cars campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of leaving pets in vehicles, caravans, conservatories and outbuildings in warm weather. And it doesn’t even need to be that hot before animals are at risk in confined spaces.

“The weather was warm and it was humid but it wasn’t hot that day,” inspector Stubbs said. “Met Office records show it was between 16 and 19C for the period of time these dogs were left.

“No one leaves their dog to die in a car on purpose. But there is no good reason to even risk it by taking your dog in your car in warm weather and leaving it while you just pop into the shop or just pop into your doctor’s appointment. ‘Not long’ is still too long.”

People have come to bond with their pets in much the same way they bond with people. Pets are treated and loved like family members and they comfort their owners much like a close friend or relative. It is no wonder then that during one of the most important and challenging life stages — the end-of-life journey — pets can play a critical role.

For these pet families, the human-pet bond takes on deeper meaning and value. Pets may serve as their sole source of companionship, comfort and love and give them hope and a reason to get up every day. As their illness progresses, most patients will need help with pet care issues. National Hospice and Palliative Care Community is working with Pet Peace of Mind to address this important need.

Some patients are fortunate to have a broad support network and receive all they assistance they need. Unfortunately, as some families deal with grief and loss surrounding the patient’s illness, beloved pets may be overlooked or treated as an afterthought by family members who are unfamiliar with the patient’s bond with a pet.

Since 2009, Pet Peace of Mind has provided the solution to this challenging situation. Pet Peace of Mind helps local nonprofit hospice and palliative care organizations meet the needs of their patients with pets.

“I know of countless patients who have said that their pet is their lifeline. Pets are great medicine for coping with the anxiety that comes from dealing with a serious medical condition. For many patients, keeping their pets near them during the end of life journey and finding homes for their beloved pets after they pass is one of the most important pieces of unfinished business,” said Dianne McGill, president and CEO at Pet Peace of Mind.

Pet Peace of Mind helps nonprofit hospices and palliative care programs successfully build volunteer-based programs that help your patients maintain the bond with their pets. PPOM provides a turnkey program covering everything an organization needs to get started including a well-established program module, staff and volunteer training, start-up funding, marketing materials, and plenty of ongoing coaching once the program is operational.

Learn more about Pet Peace of Mind and share some of the touching videos available at http://petpeaceofmind.org

You’ve probably heard of Lionel Messi. He’s a fairly good footballer, multi Ballon d’Or winner and widely regarded as one of, if not the best players of his generation.

He’s also one of the many band of professional football players who own dogs. Footballers love dogs.

Take a look at how much little Lionel’s puppy grew in the space of just 7 months.

We can safely assume Lionel can just about afford not to be eaten out of house and home by such a big lad!

Messi Pup: February 2016

Messi ‘Pup’: September 2016

Want another interesting footballer dog fact?

Yeah, of course you do.

Isco, an attacking midfield player with Real Madrid, who are of course Barcelona’s most heated rivals, has named his own dog….Messi!

Now that’s a pretty brave move.

The lumbering figure comes into view shortly after sunrise. His pace is steady, his resolve determined on his four mile walk up Highway 84.

Bruno, a wandering, wooly, wolf of a dog, is on his way to town.

“It’s just been his routine as far back as I know,” says Sharon Rouse, who watches Bruno’s arrivals from the picture window of the Hansen Realty office, where she works the reception desk.

“Everybody knows Bruno,” Rouse laughs, “may not know the people, but you’ll know Bruno.”

For most of the past 12 years, Bruno has been taking a daily walk of nearly four miles to Longville, making his rounds around town, then heading back home to his owners, Larry and Debbie LaVallee.

How Do You Feel About This Story?

Do you find Bruno’s story a heart-warming tale of a dog with independence living amongst people who care for him or does it make you sad, anxious and nervous seeing a dog walking on busy roads essentially living like a stray, albeit a well fed one?

The expression dog is man’s best friend might have more weight in the case of first-year university students suffering from homesickness, according to a new UBC study.

The study shows that animal-assisted therapy can help students combat homesickness and could be a useful tool in lowering post-secondary drop-out rates.

“Transitioning from high school to university can prove to be a challenge for many first-year students,” says Assistant Professor John Tyler Binfet of UBC’s Okanagan campus. “Given that students who experience homesickness are more likely than their non-homesick cohorts to drop out of university, universities have a vested interest in supporting students during their first-year transition.”

In the study, 44 first-year university students who self-identified as homesick were given a survey to measure levels of homesickness, satisfaction with life and connectedness with campus. Half of the students completed eight weeks of dog therapy, while the other half were informed that their sessions would begin in eight weeks’ time. Dog therapy included 45-minute weekly sessions involving small group interactions with the dogs and handlers, and engagement with other first-year students participating in the study.

Following the initial eight-week session, participants in both the treatment group and the non-treatment group completed the survey again.

Participants who completed the eight-week program experienced significant reductions in homesickness and greater increase in satisfaction with life. Participants reported that sessions “felt like they were at home chatting with friends who brought their puppies.” While the non-treatment group reported an increase in their feelings of homesickness.

According to a 2009 report conducted for B.C. Stats, students who left post-secondary happy were almost twice as likely to have felt a sense of belonging compared to students who left unhappy. Students who left university unhappy were almost twice as likely to say they did not feel a sense of belonging on campus.

A total of 29 per cent of students who dropped out cited more interactions and friendships with other students as a factor that would have influenced their decision to stay longer.

While further study is needed, a university’s ability to influence campus connections could be a useful tool in lowering drop-out rates in first-year students, says Binfet.

“Many first-year university students face the challenge of integrating into their new campus community,” says Binfet. “Homesick students are three times more likely than those who manage their homesickness to disengage and drop out of university.”

“Moving to a new city, I did not know anyone at the university and became very homesick and depressed,” says UBC Okanagan student Varenka Kim. “I was mainly secluded in my dorm room and did not feel like I belonged here. Coming to animal assisted therapy sessions every Friday gave me a sense of purpose and kept me enthusiastic about life.”

“Hounds and Homesickness: The Effects of an Animal-Assisted Therapeutic Intervention for First-Year University Students” was recently published in the journal Anthrozoos

A Cavalier King Charles spaniel rescued from a puppy farm has been crowned Rescue Animal of the Year for raising awareness of the unregulated, underground trade in dogs.

Lucy was invited to a star-studded ceremony in London yesterday (Wednesday 7 September), hosted by the Daily Mirror and the RSPCA, where she was named winner of the Animal Hero Award.

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Lisa Garner rescued eight-year-old Lucy through Many Tears from a puppy farm in Wales in March 2013. She’d spent her whole life as a breeding machine and had never been out of her cramped cage.

Speaking at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, last night, Lisa said: “I am so shocked to have won, there were some fantastic nominees tonight and I’ve had some overwhelming stories.

“I think people really engage with Lucy particularly through social media, they think of her as their own dog.

“Lucy knows she has a purpose in life, she is so well behaved and calm when I take her out to meet people.

“Our message is to encourage people to do their research before getting a dog. Don’t just look online – and don’t underestimate the level of deceit from puppy breeders.

“The best thing you can do is a rescue a dog – there are breed specific rescues out there and if you are willing wait a bit longer you can find the dog that’s right for you. We do more research into buying cars then we do into getting pets and that’s not right.”

Lucy was seriously underweight when she was rescued, was missing chunks of fur and her back feet touched her front feet from being hunched over in a tiny space.

“She was skin and bone,” said Lisa. “She was absolutely tiny, weighing only eight pounds. Lucy didn’t even resemble the breed. When I first held her, it broke my heart.”

Lucy still suffers from health problems such as epilepsy and is blind in one eye, but that hasn’t stopped her from going on to front a national campaign against puppy farming.

“I think people have fallen in love with her cheeky character and zest for life which she has, even after all she has endured,” Lisa added.

Lucy was nominated for her work raising awareness of the underground puppy trade in England and Wales, an issue which has also sparked a national campaign from the RSPCA.

The animal welfare charity launched its Scrap the Puppy Trade in October last year, calling on the Government to introduce legislation to tackle the trade and encouraging the public to source and buy puppies responsibly.