Category: Magazine

Well known animal lover Paul O’Grady has pledged his support to a social enterprise helping animals living on the streets after taking to the streets of London with StreetVet for the ITV show ‘For The Love Of Dogs’.

StreetVet was established in 2017 by vets Jade Statt and Sam Joseph and is a growing initiative now made up of more than 300 vets and nurses caring for pets across nine cities in the UK.

After joining their volunteers one evening to see how the organisation helps homeless pets, dog lover Paul, 63, wanted to do more to help and has become an ambassador for StreetVet.

Paul O’Grady and StreetVet co-founder Jade Statt

Speaking about the decision and work he saw firsthand, Paul said, “When we were filming ‘For the Love of Dogs’ we went out on the streets with StreetVet to see firsthand what they do for the homeless and their pets.

“I was really impressed with the dedication of the team and want to support them to enable them to reach even more homeless people around the country.”

StreetVet provides free veterinary care for homeless pet owners. They recognised that pets – mostly dogs – living on the streets needed access to treatment and began giving health checks, worming and flea treatment and vaccinations and surgical treatment when required.

It resonated with their profession and soon they had hundreds of volunteers going out with backpacks in their own time. As well as 450 dogs, they’ve treated 15 cats.

StreetVet co-founders Sam and Jade with client Andy Hutchins

Co-founder Jade Statt, 39, said she was thrilled to have Paul’s support: “We were hoping to find someone who understands the bond between an owner and their dog and that person is Paul.

“To our homeless owners, their dog is their lifeline. Paul is known for his love of dogs and he completely grasps this relationship.

“Paul is warm and compassionate and can relate to people from all walks of life and cares deeply about human and animal welfare.

“That’s what StreetVet is about. We are humbled he’s agreed to work with us as an ambassador to make people aware of the homeless crisis and the struggles of our clients and their dogs.”

StreetVet relies on donations, volunteers and industry support to provide vital supplies and equipment, and help patients.

They have been nominated for the Animal Friends 100k Charity Giveaway and are awaiting confirmation of their charity status.

Jade said, “This is an incredible opportunity for StreetVet to be awarded enough funds to expand into more cities and help more animals.

“We’re faced with an increasing homeless population and we do all we can on limited resources, but this funding really would enable us to do so much more.”

You can vote at www.animalfriends.co.uk/100kcharitygiveaway

Veterinary charity StreetVet has launched a campaign to encourage the nation’s animal lovers to put their best paws forward and vote to secure a 100K charity giveaway.

The 100K giveaway is being fronted by UK pet insurance firm, Animal Friends, to celebrate 20 years of donating millions of pounds to animal charities around the world.

Streetvet, who provide free veterinary care to an estimated 500 pets owned by members of the homeless community on the streets of nine UK cities, is one of three charities in the running to win the 100K prize money and the organisation tells us that if they were lucky enough to win ‘the £100k pot would go on expansion across the U.K., and also continuing to offer vet care to our current patients’.

Pet lovers and their pooches can cast their vote for StreetVet online here from today (Wednesday 7 November) with voting closing on Monday 10 December.

Seven-year-old Staffy, Missy, was the first to cast her vote with her paws to support her homeless counterparts who don’t have a voice.

Dr Jade Statt, Co-Founder of StreetVet said, “We’d absolutely love to win the 100K Charity Giveaway. It would help us to keep providing life-saving veterinary care to animals owned by members of the homeless community across the UK. As the nights draw in and the weather gets colder, there is an increasing need for fundamental care and support for man’s best friend.”

Meet Kuga. At eight months old he began training with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and in 2010, he was deployed to Afghanistan with his handler for his first tour.

On 26 August 2011, during their second tour, he and his handler were part of a Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) troop conducting a mission to capture a senior Taliban insurgent in the Khas Uruzgan district.

Photo Credit: Commonwealth of Australia 2018

After landing by helicopter near a target compound, the unit began their patrol. Kuga and his handler were located next to the river.

Kuga was then instructed to search for concealed insurgents or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) located along the river’s edge. As the patrol moved closer to the target compound, Kuga indicated an enemy presence and moved down towards the river.

Photo Credit: Commonwealth of Australia 2018

As he entered the water and swam across the river to the opposite bank, he was targeted and injured by bursts of automatic fire. His handler moved into position to support him while Kuga continued to swim, undeterred, by the close-range fire. After reaching the bank, he charged towards a small tree line where his handler was able to identify the enemy’s location and witnessed an insurgent firing at Kuga at close range.

While apprehending the insurgent, Kuga was shot again, causing him to lose his grip.

During the incident, Kuga was shot five times: twice in the ear, once in the toe, once in the cheek (which exited through the neck) and once in the chest, which exited the shoulder and broke his upper-left leg. Kuga also received shrapnel wounds to his lower spine.

Despite his injuries, the brave Belgian Malinois swam back across the river when recalled by his handler, who administered emergency first aid and requested a helicopter medical evacuation for him. Kuga was subsequently treated in Afghanistan and Germany, before returning to Australia for further treatment and rehabilitation.

Sadly, Kuga passed away in kennels less than a year later and although inconclusive, it was believed that his body succumbed to the stress placed upon him due to the injuries sustained in the incident. Kuga’s death is officially recorded as ‘Died of Wounds’.

Today he was posthumously awarded the equivalent of the animals Victoria Cross by the PDSA for his remarkable and brave actions during his mission to capture a senior Taliban insurgent. He is the first Australian dog to receive the accolade.

Corporal Mark Donaldson VC accepted the award on the regiment’s behalf alongside Australian Army special operations military working dog, Odin.

Photo Credit: Commonwealth of Australia 2018

On receiving the award, he said, “Kuga’s actions that day in Afghanistan were heroic. There’s no doubt in anybody’s mind that he saved lives. He just wouldn’t give up on his mates and doing his job.

“Kuga and the other military working dogs in Afghanistan saved countless lives, whether they were finding IEDs or tipping us off to an enemy presence before we’d seen them. Kuga’s PDSA Dickin Medal is for the all military working dogs who worked alongside us in Afghanistan and every day since.”

That’s right. All Saints’ Nicole Appleton, who is a huge dog lover, wants to see your cute dog photos this Halloween on her social networking app for pet lovers and she’s even teamed up with a pet camera manufacturer to offer one lucky winner the chance to win their own Furbo.

Pictured left to right with Nicole, Bridget – Ruby

Earlier this year, inspired by her own two dogs, Ruby and Bridget, Nicole launched the social networking app for pet lovers, Petscene. Now she’s asking pet lovers to share their pets with her on the app, with a competition in place that promises one lucky winner their very own Furbo pet treat camera.

To have some fun and be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is download the Petscene app from the App Store or from the Google Play store for Android phones and share your pets Halloween photos, tagging in #PetSceneHalloween before 31st October.

Halloween revellers are being urged not to approach homeless people and their pets while wearing fancy dress costumes for fear it could make the homeless dogs stressed and anxious.

Michelle Southern, founder of Street Paws, a UK charity that supports pet owners who are homeless, says seeing people in spooky outfits is terrifying for dogs.

Michelle said, “It’s scary enough being homeless and not only being worried about your own safety but your pet as well.

“But at Halloween, it’s even more stressful for homeless people as there are so many revellers out in fancy dress costumes.

“For a dog living on the street, they have no idea why people are dressed up, and it can make them very stressed and anxious if people run up and shout and try to scare them.”

Street Paws support homeless dogs and have also helped several cats in 18 cities and towns across the UK with 150 vets and nurses who give health checks, flea and worming treatment and vaccinations to the dogs.

The charity was founded in Newcastle in 2016 by Michelle, 48, a former Vets4Pets practice manager after she recognised that while there were soup kitchens for homeless people, there wasn’t the same support for their pets.

Michelle added, “Winter is a difficult time for our clients and their animals with the cold weather, fireworks and Halloween and Christmas parties making many city centres intimidating places.

“We understand that people want to celebrate and have fun, we just ask that they are considerate to the animals and their owners and leave them alone and don’t set off fireworks near them.

“If they do want to help, ask if they would like a warm drink or some water or food for their dog. Sometimes showing a little kindness by simply stopping to say hello is enough to lift their spirits.”

New research has found that celebrities and social media may be driving once-popular breeds into extinction, as new owners demand ‘fashionable’ breeds, inspired by famous owners, according to Direct Line Pet Insurance.

Sadly, with celebrity ownership boosting the popularity of French Bulldogs and Pugs, several once-loved breeds have drastically fallen in numbers, with several facing the worrying possibility of becoming extinct in the UK in the next 50 to 100 years.

The breed that has faced the most drastic drop in numbers over the last ten years, and is therefore at greatest risk of dying out, is the Yorkshire Terrier.

Dog breeds at risk of extinction

In 2008, there were just under 4,000 Yorkshire Terriers bred in the UK, yet in 2017 there were only 876 – a radical fall of 78.1%. If the numbers continue to fall at this rate, Yorkshire Terriers would disappear altogether by 2060.

Bichon Frises are also at risk, as their numbers have dropped by almost three quarters (72%) in the last ten years, from 2757 to just 769. If these trends continue, Bichon Frises may only be around until 2070.

Similarly, in 2008, there were just over 7000 West Highland White Terriers bred, but by 2017, the number of Westies had reduced by 71%. Should this trend continue, the breed could disappear by 2080.

Top five breeds that have fallen in popularity

Yorkshire Terrier – fallen by 78%
Bichon Frise – fallen by 72%
West Highland White Terrier – fallen by 71%
Bull Mastiff – fallen by 70%
Siberian Husky – fallen by 65%

Other breeds that are also at risk of dying out include Bull Mastiffs, Siberian Huskies, Schnauzers and King Charles Spaniels.

While these breeds dwindle in numbers, others are rapidly growing, as is the case with French Bulldogs.

Ownership of French Bulldogs has increased more than thirtyfold in the last ten years, with 1,025 owned in 2008 in comparison to over 30,000 in 2017.

Most of this rise in popularity has occurred over the last three years, as their numbers grew by over 300% between 2014 and 2017.

More than half of dog shelters, according to dogsblog.com believe celebrities and social media are driving sales of ‘fashionable’ breeds such as Boston Terriers, Pugs and Miniature Dachshunds.

Top five breeds that have risen in popularity

French Bulldog – risen by 3,013%
Boston Terrier – risen by 400%
Pug – risen by 240%
Miniature Dachshund – risen by 223%
Bulldog – risen by 208%

Commenting on the research findings, Prit Powar, Head of Direct Line Pet Insurance, said, “It is sad to think that some of the dog breeds we are familiar with in the UK may not exist in the next 100 years, if the trends we are seeing continue. Celebrity ownership undoubtedly influences the desirability of breeds and those that are unfashionable appear to be paying the price.

Powar continued, “We would like to encourage prospective dog owners to consider one of these ‘at-risk’ breeds, in order to secure these loveable dogs’ futures. As always, owners should conduct thorough research into their preferred breed before committing, to ensure that the dog is compatible with their lifestyle and they can meet that breed’s needs.”

The real impact of designer dogs: animal shelters fear worst

The reason behind certain breeds becoming more or less popular is debated amongst rescue shelters, as 77% have recorded a rise in abandoned dogs in their care over the last year, and 86.2% predict a rise of ‘designer dogs’ in particular in rescue over the next ten years, due to their current popularity.

Freddie is a Cockapoo who found himself in rescue after being bred and ‘unsold’

Ryan O’Meara, dogsblog.com co-founder, said: “Not every person who buys or adopts a popular breed or cross-breed will do so having been inspired by celebrities or social media. However, it is evident that changes in the popularity of certain breeds coincide with celebrity and influencer ownership which can be analysed to predict which dogs, for example, may fall completely off the radar.

“Sadly, dogs that have fallen in numbers are also some of the most common breeds in animal rescue shelters. Our research showed that the average age of a dog abandoned to a rescue shelter is just two years and two months old, which supports our research showing a correlation between the fast pace of ever-changing popularity and pet abandonment.”

New research has found that celebrities and social media may be driving these once-popular breeds into extinction, as new owners demand ‘fashionable’ breeds, inspired by famous owners, according to Direct Line Pet Insurance.

Sadly, with celebrity ownership boosting the popularity of French Bulldogs and Pugs, several once-loved breeds have drastically fallen in numbers, with several facing the worrying possibility of becoming extinct in the UK in the next 50 to 100 years.

Meet the three breeds most at risk of extinction

The Yorkshire Terrier

In 2008, there were just under 4,000 Yorkshire Terriers bred in the UK, yet in 2017 there were only 876 – a radical fall of 78.1%. If the numbers continue to fall at this rate, Yorkshire Terriers would disappear altogether by 2060.

The Bichon Frise

Bichon Frises have dropped by almost three quarters (72%) in the last ten years, from 2757 to just 769. If these trends continue, Bichon Frises may only be around until 2070.

Photo credit: dogsblog.com

The Westie

In 2008, there were just over 7000 West Highland White Terriers bred, but by 2017, the number of Westies had reduced by 71%. Should this trend continue, the breed could disappear by 2080.

Other breeds that are also at risk of dying out include Bull Mastiffs, Siberian Huskies, Schnauzers and King Charles Spaniels, with breeders opting to breed more ‘in fashion’ breeds, sparking enormous rises in breeds, such as French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pugs and Miniature Dachshunds.

According to dogsblog.com, more than half of dog shelters, believe celebrities and social media are driving sales of these ‘fashionable’ breeds.

Commenting on the research findings, Prit Powar, Head of Direct Line Pet Insurance, said, “It is sad to think that some of the dog breeds we are familiar with in the UK may not exist in the next 100 years, if the trends we are seeing continue. Celebrity ownership undoubtedly influences the desirability of breeds and those that are unfashionable appear to be paying the price.

Powar continued, “We would like to encourage prospective dog owners to consider one of these ‘at-risk’ breeds, in order to secure these loveable dogs’ futures. As always, owners should conduct thorough research into their preferred breed before committing, to ensure that the dog is compatible with their lifestyle and they can meet that breed’s needs.”