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  • Suspended Sentences, Unpaid Work Hours, a Curfew & £360 – Is This the Cost of Hanging a Dog?

    Suspended Sentences, Unpaid Work Hours, a Curfew & £360 – Is This the Cost of Hanging a Dog?

    What am I talking about?

    On 15th September Jon Allen and Veronica Reid were sentenced at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court after previously admitting causing unnecessary suffering to a Collie cross dog named Shandy by hanging him. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a third person who failed to attend the hearing.

    The reason these ‘people’ took this action?

    Their 9-10 year old Collie cross had become increasingly aggressive. Their vet wanted to fully assess him so after a consultation asked them to return the following day. Instead of doing this, they hanged their dog at home.

    Their actions total:

    – 41 week sentence, suspended for 18 months (both)

    – 300 hours of unpaid work (him)

    – £200 of costs (both)

    – £160 victim surcharge (both)

    – 10 year disqualification from owning animals (him)

    – Curfew from 9pm-7am for 6 months (her)

    Is that really all we can do? If this was the maximum sentence the law could pass down, then what are we doing wrong when this is the most we can do – and if it isn’t the maximum then what on earth are we doing?

    Why, when someone causes such suffering to an animal (knowingly causing this suffering, you could be under no disillusions as to what you were doing – or who you were helping to do this) – can we do no more?

    There could have been any number of reasons for a dog acting differently – whatever they were, none of them deserved this treatment.

    Our dogs are there for us when we need them. Yet we can’t protect them when they need us.

    From a growing number of dogs being abandoned without a care in the world, to dogs such as Shandy, being abused and having his life taking from him in such a cruel way. As a species can we really call ourselves ‘man’s best friend’?

    I think not. 

     

  • Read K9 Magazine Issue 76 on Your Tablet Device!

    Read K9 Magazine Issue 76 on Your Tablet Device!

    K9 Magazine’s latest edition, issue 76, which features ‘Desperate Scousewives’ TV star Layla Flaherty and her dog Buttons on the cover, is now available to download for your tablet devise.

    Find out more about this issue and it’s contents, including how to win a pet friendly break in the UK for you and your pet, by visiting the cover below and clicking to download.

    Enjoy 🙂

    K9 Magazine Issue 76 Cover - LR

    Please do let us know which features you most enjoy and what you’d like to see more of, we’d love to hear from you!

     

  • How Excited Does Your Dog Get at Dinnertime?

    How Excited Does Your Dog Get at Dinnertime?

    Dinner time is an extremely important time to dogs, it’s about as important as it gets to some dogs!

    Some set their canine body clocks by when they’re fed (and make no adjustment to the clocks going back or forward, yes we’re talking about you, K9 Magazine’s Chloe and Mia), so it’s no surprise it’s a time of day when some owners use it as a time to reinforce training or teach new tricks.

    Bubb, featured below, dances for his dinner out of sheer excitement.

    Our very own Mia, for example, serenades hers (albeit out of tune) before demolishing, whereas Chloe seems to savour every mouthful and takes it much slower.

    All of this leads us to wonder – just how important is dinner time to your dog? Can you judge it based on how they act before they’re fed or while they’re eating?

    Let us know how your dog treats dinner time – we’d love to hear your stories!

    Take the Butcher’s 10-Day Taste Challenge
    …your dog will love you for it!

    At Butcher’s Pet Care, we believe dogs will enjoy their dinner so much more when they are served one of our mouth-wateringly meaty meals.

    Why? Because every dinnertime, you’ll be giving your dog a tasty meal made with fresh meat, no artificial flavourings and natural ingredients – guaranteed to get them licking their lips.

    Each delicious recipe has been developed with leading nutritionists so you can be sure your dog is getting all of the meaty proteins, vitamins and minerals they need to be as Fit as a Butcher’s Dog™.

    What’s more, there are no artificial flavourings and no fillers such as soya or wheat, so they are gluten free too. An appetising bowl of Butcher’s has everything that your dog needs and nothing it doesn’t!

    For more information on the 10-Day Taste Challenge and Butcher’s Pet Care, like our Facebook page – or click the button below to visit our website.

  • Your Dog is Up for Taking the Butcher’s 10-Day Taste Challenge… Are You?

    At Butcher’s Pet Care, we believe dogs will enjoy their dinner so much more when they are served one of our tasty meaty meals. We guarantee to get them licking their lips.

    Butchers_10-day-challenge

    Why? Because every dinnertime, you’ll be giving your dog a delicious meal made with fresh meat and no artificial flavourings.

    Each delicious Butcher’s meal has been developed with leading nutritionists so you can be sure your dog is getting all of the meaty proteins, vitamins and minerals they need to be as Fit as a Butcher’s Dogâ„¢.

    What’s more, there are no artificial flavourings and no fillers such as soya or wheat, so they are gluten free too. A tasty bowl of Butcher’s is made with natural ingredients and has everything that your dog needs and nothing it doesn’t!

    Clare Scallon, from Butcher’s Pet Care, comments: “Dogs love the meaty taste of Butcher’s, which is made with fresh meat and no artificial flavourings. We’ve decided to launch the 10-Day Taste Challenge to encourage dog owners to swap their pet’s meals to see how happy Butcher’s makes them.”

    “We are confident dogs will devour their meals and owners will love giving it to their pet. We’d like to encourage all dog owners to serve Butcher’s for 10-days – we are confident of an empty bowl and a wagging tail at the end of each meaty meal.”

    Butchers dog food range

    Butcher’s offers a range of more natural dog food in a can or a foil tray in a variety of delicious recipes. Packed full of all of the vitamins and essential nutrients your dog needs, Butcher’s can be fed on its own as a main meal or to add natural meaty taste to a dry food. All of Butcher’s delicious dinners are 100% complete so dog owners can be sure every dish includes everything your dog needs to keep him happy and healthy.

    The Butcher’s team will select 100 lucky participants and deliver a 10-day supply of free food to the dogs who have been invited to take part. The owners will then be asked to share how their dog reacts to tasting the delicious meaty dinners from Butcher’s during the 10-Day Taste Challenge.

    For more information on the 10-Day Taste Challenge and Butcher’s Pet Care, like our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/butcherspetcare – or visit our website www.butcherspetcare.co.uk

    Fit as a Butcher's dog

  • Do You & Your Dog Deserve A Free UK Pet Friendly Getaway?

    Do You & Your Dog Deserve A Free UK Pet Friendly Getaway?

    Well, if you do you might be in luck! This month K9 Magazine readers are being invited to enter a competition to win a pet friendly getaway at Yorkshire’s Wensleydale Heifer boutique hotel.

    Wensleydale Heifer dog friendly Yorkshire

    The prize includes: a mid-week overnight stay for two (and your dog), with dinner in the hotel’s award-winning restaurant and a full Yorkshire breakfast (excluding drinks and extras).

    And that’s not all… once you’ve won and booked your stay, we would love to you tell K9 Magazine readers all about your break away so you can share your experiences, photos of your pet friendly getaway and make your dog famous!

    To find out more and enter today, visit Freepetstuff.co.uk where all you need to do is comment on the post to be in with a chance of winning. It really is that easy!

    Good luck!

  • See The Amazing Recovery of Dog Who Could Barely Walk!

    See The Amazing Recovery of Dog Who Could Barely Walk!

    Every year the RSPCA rescues thousands of animals from terrible conditions – where many have either been the victims of neglect, starvation or even physical abuse. They are taken in to our centres up and down the country where our kind-hearted staff nurse them back to health in the hope of finding them a loving new home.

    Lance is just one of the 11,000 dogs rehomed by the RSPCA last year, most of whom have suffered abuse, but he was one of the lucky ones and now his new owners, the Greenway family from York, have spoken about the joys of bringing a rescue dog into their lives. It was while flicking through the RSPCA’s annual prosecutions report that the Greenways recognised their own dog Lance staring back up at them.

    The family from York had no idea what a terrible ordeal their new pet had been through, and were shocked to see just how awfully he had been treated by his former owners.

    Copy of IMGP0059

    Photo by RSPCA

    The Greenways adopted Lance from the York RSPCA Animal Home, and had only brief information about his background. But as the family looked through the RSPCA prosecution report they immediately spotted the dog that had now become very much part of their family.

    From the report the family learned that Lance had previously been called Buster and was removed from his previous owners in 2012. When he was found, Lance weight just 13.35kg, less than half of the normal weight of 30kgs (pictured left). The vet commented that it was exceptionally rare to find an animal this emaciated still alive.

    Copy of IMGP0070

    Photo by RSPCA

    The Greenways had set out on a mission to find a cat-friendly lurcher after their previous RSPCA rescue dog died. By chance, one of the staff at the York animal home thought of Lance, who had been happy with her cats when she cared for him at home during his convalescence. He passed the cat test and went home with the family in September 2012.

    Vanessa Greenway said: “Lance was scared of even the slightest noise at first. He and our cat Mitzi soon got used to each other but the first few months were hard with some problems – lots of accidents as he wasn’t house trained and chewing window sills to name but a few.

    “However, once we saw a behaviourist, who gave us some fantastic ideas he now looks forward to us going out so he can have his shoe box of treats and stuffed bones to occupy him. We usually find him asleep on the sofa when we get back (pictured right). He loves his sleep too and is the first to bed and the last one up in the morning!”

    Photos by Vanessa Greenway

    Lance also had a metal plate in his leg as it had been broken at some point and as soon as he started having long runs the plate started to rub and came loose so it had to be removed earlier this year. He wasn’t allowed to run for a few weeks but is now back to running normally.

    His previous owners were both disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.

    Vanessa added: “Lance still has his moments but is so funny and playful and just loves a cuddle. He is much braver with strangers. We went to the York RSPCA summer fair a few weeks ago – and he even remembered some of the staff, and was so happy to see them.

    “It has just taken time which I think is the key to taking on a rescue dog.”

    RSPCA inspector Aislinn Balderston took the original call and found Lance in his poor state. She said: “I’m so pleased to see Lance happy in his new home – it’s what makes this job so rewarding.

    “The story of every dog rescued by the RSPCA is, in its own way, just as heartrending and uplifting as Lance’s and we hope people will be inspired to give a rescue dog a forever home.”

    Lance’s story is just one of the incredible and often heartbreaking stories featured in this year’s prosecutions report – it can be viewed at http://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/prosecution/report

    To find your ideal rescue dog partner visit the RSPCA’s site or DogsBlog.com today and browse the profiles, stories and videos of thousands of dogs across the UK online.

  • Have You Heard About Jiff?

    Have You Heard About Jiff?

    Crowned the ‘Fastest Dog on Two Paws’, a Pomeranian named Jiff has sprinted into the Guinness World Records by running 10 metres on his hind legs in 6.56 seconds and completing a five-metre sprint on his front paws in under eight seconds.

    Keep up to date with Jiff by following him on Facebook, where you can join his 1.3 million fans!

  • Does Your Dog Have Their Own Social Media Account?

    Does Your Dog Have Their Own Social Media Account?

    According to research released this week from The Co-operative Insurance, almost 1 in 4 dogs (24%) and cats (23%) have their own social feed or page – which leads us to wonder, does your pet have their own account and where do you stand on ‘pet selfies’?

    The research also discovered that average dog owner, takes 527 pictures and selfies of their dogs each year. Dogs lead the way on instagram, where 6% have their own instapics, and 2% even have their own blog.

    The enthusiasm people have for their pets, is further evidenced by almost two thirds of pet owners (64%) admitting they spoil their animals with dog owners admitting it’s the companionship that drives them to pamper their pet.

    Despite the affection that people clearly have for their pets, the results do also highlight that the majority of pet owners haven’t got pet insurance, with only 38% of cat owners and 55% of dog owners having insurance in place for their pets.

    Andrew Nevitt, Pet Insurance Manager at The Co-operative Insurance comments:

    “These findings show that dogs very narrowly come ahead of cats, on the social media front. We are a nation of pet lovers, and people clearly enjoy showing off their pets. The ease of being able to regularly share updates and photos of pets with friends, family, and wider circles on social media means this is a trend that is likely to continue.

    “However given the important role that pets play in many families’ lives, it is important that people also give adequate consideration to their wellbeing and ensure they have insurance in place, to cover against any unexpected eventualities such as trips to the vet.”

    Jackson & Chloe Office

    K9 Magazine’s Jackson and Chloe’s selfie from 2005

    Share your own #PetSelfies with us on Twitter @K9Magazine and @CoopInsurance – we’d love to hear from you!

  • Download Your Tablet Friendly Edition of K9 Magazine Issue 75

    Download Your Tablet Friendly Edition of K9 Magazine Issue 75

    We recently announced (rather excitedly) that we were now publishing two editions of K9 Magazine – a flash edition for those looking to browse on PC’s or phones, and a tablet friendly edition.

    K9 Magazine issue 75 is now out in both – download your preferred edition here

    Enjoy 🙂

  • Dog Names – What’s Popular (& What’s Insane!)

    Dog Names – What’s Popular (& What’s Insane!)

    Like Nostradamus, we’re going in to full on prediction mode here at K9 Magazine

    The annual popular dog names list is always fascinating reading, particularly in retrospect. We’ve also found some truly amazing adoptable dog names (see below).

    It’s great fun to read the previous popular dog names from years gone by, seeing old favourites such as ‘Max’, ‘Ben’ and popular female dog names like ‘Sasha’, ‘Maisy’ and ‘Trudy’ mixed in with Zeitgeist names such as ‘Ga Ga’, ‘Beyonce’ and ‘Britney’.

    puppy photo

    So what can we expect to be amongst the most popular dog names going forward over the next few years?

    Here’s our predictions.

    The Regulars (Most Popular Dog Names of Historical Prominence)

    1. Bella
    ——–
    2. Max
    ——
    3. Bailey
    ———
    4. Lucy
    ——-
    5. Molly
    ——–
    6. Buddy
    ——–
    7. Maggie
    ———
    8. Daisy
    ——–
    9. Chloe
    ——–
    10. Sophie
    ———-

    The New Entrants (Most Popular Dog Names by Trend Predictions)

    1. Lady
    2. Bieber
    3. Kim
    4. Perry
    5. Obama
    6. Shakira
    7. Rhianna
    8. Taylor
    9. Charlie
    10. Kanye

    Comparison With 2008 Most Popular Dog Names (International)

    For both dogs and cats, Max was the most popular name in 2008. Overall, VPI’s data indicates that traditional pet names, such as Fido, have taken a back seat to “people” names like Max. In fact, some of the most popular dog and cat names – Bella, Chloe, Sophie and Bailey – also rank among the Social Security Administration’s most popular baby names.
    Dogs                           Cats
    1. Max                          1. Max
    2. Bailey                        2. Chloe
    3. Bella                          3. Tigger
    4. Molly                         4. Tiger
    5. Lucy                          5. Lucy
    6. Buddy                        6. Smokey
    7. Maggie                      7. Oliver
    8. Daisy                        8. Bella
    9. Sophie                      9. Shadow
    10. Chloe                     10. Charlie

    “Pets are often viewed as members of the family, treated like members of the family and, as a result, named like members of the family,” said Curtis Steinhoff, senior director of corporate communications for VPI. “Max may sleep on his owner’s bed, eat gourmet food and wear clothes to go out on the town. Rover probably does not. Max is short, yet easy to distinguish from common commands, so it is easy to understand why it’s such a popular pet name.”

    This is the sixth consecutive year that Max is the top name for dogs and cats. Since last year’s results, the most notable increase in any name has been Bailey, which was No. 9 in 2007. Other changes in 2008 include the addition of Sophie (No. 9) and Chloe (No. 10) in place of Jake and Rocky for canine names, and Shadow (No. 9) and Charlie (No. 10) in place of Sophie and Princess for feline names. As in 2007, Max joined Lucy and Bella as names popular for both cats and dogs in 2008.

    Only 13 dogs in VPI’s database went by Fido in 2008, placing the name at No. 2,866. Rover wasn’t far behind at No. 2,534. Surprisingly, some dog names are more popular than Rover and Fido were Liebchen, Zowie, Munchie, Ginger Snap, Butchie, Dundee and Grendel. Other classic dog names that ranked low in popularity included Lassie (No. 1,572), Pluto (No. 1,009), Patch (No. 667), Spot (No. 659), Fluffy (No. 338), and Rex (No. 138).

    Besides being the most common name in 2008, Max also owned the distinction of the name with the most variations. VPI’s database includes such Max-inspired pet names as Maximum Max, Max Power, Max Avalanche, Maximus Gladius Spartacus, Minimax, Sergeant Maxwell T. Steel, Max the Moose, Max Crime Fighter, Cherokee Max, Peanut Max, T.J. Maxx, Duramax, Fatmax, Maxmax, Maxator Midnight and Mad Max McNaughty.

    Previous Most Popular Dog Names

    Move over Fido, Buddy is officially the new “top-dog” name. Today, Petfinder.com, the largest online database of adoptable pets, announced its 2011 ranking of the most popular and most unusual names, with an extra category for TV and celebrity “name-a-likes.” For the fifth year in a row, “Buddy” barks at the top as the most trending name for adoptable dogs in 2011, while “Lucy” once again proves to be the purrfect No. 1 choice for adoptable cats.

    The top five most popular names for dogs have all remained the same this year, while cats are a different story: “Smokey” and “Charlie” sniffed their way up to No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, while “Midnight” jumped down to No. 10 after coming in No. 2 for adoptable felines last year. As people everywhere swarmed the theatres and the Twilight saga continued to unfold in 2011, the popularity of the name “Bella” for both adoptable dogs and cats has remained strong since 2010.

    Previous Top 10 Most Popular Dog Names Previous Top 10 Most Popular Cat Names
    1.   Buddy (15,184) 1.   Lucy (4,195)
    2.   Max (13,810) 2.   Smokey (4,105)
    3.   Daisy (12,948) 3.   Bella (3,978)
    4.   Bella (11,773) 4.   Charlie (3,752)
    5.   Lucy (11,418) 5.   Tiger (3,735)
    6.   Molly (11,049) 6.   Oreo (3,574)
    7.   Charlie (10,607) 7.   Daisy (3,371)
    8.   Jack (9,949) 8.   Molly (3,355)
    9.   Sadie (9,232) 9.   Max (3,346)
    10. Rocky (8,475) 10. Midnight (3,273)

    Incredible/Insane/Memorable – Dog Names!

    Most Unusual Adoptable Pet Names Best Celebrity Name-A-Likes
    1.   Dodgy Wodgy Schnookum Doodle 1.   Barry Meow-nilow
    2.   Polly Picklepuss 2.   Katy Purry
    3.   Sukimayapoo 3.   Ally McBeagle
    4.   Iben Hooked 4.   Brad the Pit
    5.   Blue Sparkles McGillicutty 5.   Rascal Catts
    6.   Killer the Dog Dominating Declawed Cat 6.   Ringo Starr
    7.   Purr-etzle 7.   Cindy Clawford
    8.   Fluff Dog Millionaire 8.   Cindy Dogford
    9.   Jimmy Chews 9.   Vera Fang
    10. Ishkabibble 10. Lady Gaga

    Because they are just too cute to ignore, Petfinder.com also handpicked the most unusual, wacky and celebrity-themed names of adoptable pets for 2011 from nearly 300 submissions by shelters and rescue groups across North America. This year’s top creativity honors go to “Dodgy Wodgy Schnookum Doodle” and “Barry Meow-nilow.”

    “Everybody loves to have a Buddy, but many shelters and rescue groups give their adoptable pets creative names to help them stand out from the crowd,” says Betsy Banks Saul, co-founder of Petfinder. “Their names can give a peek into their personalities. For instance, ‘Killer the Dog Dominating Declawed Cat’ speaks for itself. But if your new cat doesn’t respond to his shelter-given name or you can’t imagine yourself hollering for ‘Polly Picklepuss’ at the dog park, never fear. Animal behaviorists tell us it’s okay to change their names. Here’s how: Add their new name to their old name for a few weeks, then gradually phase out the old one.”

    Popular Boy Puppy Names vs Popular Girl Puppy Names

    According to a pet health website’s study, here are the popular dog names for puppies….

    Boy Puppy Names

    Ace – Ace is a human moniker commonly given to dogs. Two of the most famous Aces include dog actor, Ace the Wonder Dog, and Batman’s loyal pooch, Ace the Bat-Hound.
    Aztec – Possibly named after the Aztec civilization, Aztec is not a common moniker for children, making it a unique puppy name (except for the fact that it made our list of popular boy puppy names).
    Max – Max is Latin for “greatest” and a popular baby boy name as well, making it another popular human name for “great” male puppies.
    Byron – Byron is yet another human name, possibly coming from poet Lord Byron, famous for his wildness and debauchery. Byron is a terrific puppy name for any rambunctious pup.
    A.J. – A.J. has become a popular human name in its own right, though originally the initials probably stood for something. Perhaps perfect for the puppy that is an “awesome jumper”?

    Girl Puppy Names

    Bella – Bella is French for “very pretty.” Though these days, girl puppies (and babies) named Bella are likely named after the main character from the widely popular Twilight series of books and movies.
    Abby – Short for Abigail, Abby is consistently one of the more popular girl names given to babies.
    Zoey – Meaning “life” in Greek, who wouldn’t want to name their puppy Zoey? For baby girls, the name has risen in popularity from 409th in 2000 to 47th in 2010.
    Buttons – A long-standing favorite for dog names, Buttons may come from the phrase “cute as a button.”
    Daisy – A daisy is a flower, and a name commonly given to baby girls throughout the 20th century. Daisy’s popularity briefly declined, but is again on the rise.

  • How Many of These Simpsons Dogs Do You Remember?

    How Many of These Simpsons Dogs Do You Remember?

    You would be forgiven for thinking there’s only one dog on The Simpsons but as we’ve delved back through their decades of shows we’ve found 7 of, we think, the best dogs who’ve ever appeared on the show.

    1. Santa’s Little Helper

    Also known as  No. 8 or Suds McDuff of America, Santa’s Little Helper was bought as a Christmas gift – something Homer I’m sure wouldn’t recommend himself.

    Santa’s Little Helper is 5 years old, thirty years after first appearing on the show. In his time on the show he has lived a full life from fathering a litter of puppies, to replacing Duffman as the mascot for Duff Bear, to being trained as a police dog and rescuing Bart in the process, to passing obedience school.

    The Simpsons

    2. Bongo/Hendrix

    Bongo was Homer’s dog as a child, he knew how to stop him crying and was essentially his best friend. Homer even gave him his own song, see the clip below for a snippet.

    Bongo was rehomed for safety after he bit Mr Burns, at which point he was renamed Hendrix to keep his true identity a secret.

    3. Laddie

    Brought in after Bart ordered him from a catalogue using a forged credit card, Laddie proved himself a helpful sort of a dog performing household chores including flushing the toilet – a valuable habit for sure. When Bart was unable to pay his credit card bill the repo men turned up to claim and he gave them Santa’s Little Helper pretending he was Laddie.

    Laddie

     

    4. The Hounds

    Think of the phrase ‘The Hounds’ and this video below is guaranteed to spring to mind. Owned by Mr Burns ‘The Hounds’ they are often released to scare off unwanted company. True fact – in the episode titled ‘Dog of Death’ Santa’s Little Helper appeared as one of the hounds.

    5. Poochie

    Poochie was a character on The Itchy & Scratchy Show brought in by the network executives who felt the show needed an update to keep it’s audience interest (could this be a storyline brought about because of real life network executives we wonder?). 

    Poochie’s time on the show was short lived when viewers of The Itchy & Scratchy Show wrote in wanting the character removed. Homer, who was the voice of Poochie, was devastated.

    Poochie

     

    6. Wiggle Puppy

    An imaginary friend of Ralph Wiggum, Wiggle Puppy goes on adventures every day with him and can fly by wagging his tail. Apparently.

    Wiggle_Puppy

    7. Smiley

    Adopted by Lisa Simpson on a crusade to save as many animals as she could, Smiley along with others rescued lived in the Simpsons family home attic.  After they were discovered by Bart a tiger mistakenly bit his arm meaning all of the animals had to be taken away. Chief Wiggum told Lisa she had to find new homes for all of the animals otherwise their fate would await them at a pound.

    Smiley

    Did we include your favourite dog from The Simpsons? Let us know if not – we’d love to hear from you!

  • Pets Keep Owners Laughing for How Long?

    Pets Keep Owners Laughing for How Long?

    Wagging tails create smiling faces and happy moods according to a recent survey conducted by petbuzz. Most pet owners won’t be surprised to learn that 6 out of 10 of our furry friends are keeping us laughing for up to 14 hours per week.

    Out of the 1,018 pet owner surveyed, 80% of dog owners admitted their dogs made them laugh for 1-2 hours a daily, while 50% of cat owners said their feline friends made them laugh for the same period of time each day.

    The survey also revealed that almost three times the amount of women laugh more at their pets than men.

    pet owners laugh

    Pictured here is Linda Pulgar with her dog, Tasha

    Here are some of the stories relayed by dog owners as they recalled their funniest pet memories:

    Thinking of a special moment one dog owner said, “One of my funniest memories is when my Lurcher couldn’t decide which plastic bottle to choose in the woods. He would pick one up, then you could see him thinking ‘no want the other one’, then ‘no want the first one’, ‘no, the second’, ‘no, it has to be the first bottle’, then he would run off with it, then run back and pick up the second!”

    Another told us their dog’s chasing reflections from CD’s hanging in fruit trees is what always brings a smile to her face while her dog chases the reflections and barks trying to get to them, before spotting his own tail and then trying to catch that.

    Commenting on the findings on behalf of the eNewsletter Kim O’Meara said: “As a pet owner with both dogs and a cat filling my home, I can identify with the survey findings and when you consider the time our pets make us laugh over the course of a year you can see why cats and dogs are the nation’s favourite.”

    Kim continued, “My dogs can make me laugh at any given moment – my Rottweiler has a shadow obsession, and at 8 years old I’m not sure this will ever disappear. My Labrador has the tendancy to think she’s a puppy even at 15 and my cat, well, her inability to catch the butterflies, but to always have a go attitude is something to be admired.”

    Share your own stories on how your pets make you laugh by commenting here – we’d love to hear your own tales!

  • Stubborn Dog Is Stubborn (Caption Time?)

    Stubborn Dog Is Stubborn (Caption Time?)

    Why do some dogs just insist they’re totally cool with lying in the most uncomfortable places?

  • Dog Makes Baby Cry But What He Does Next is Beautiful

    Dog Makes Baby Cry But What He Does Next is Beautiful

    Nobody likes to see a baby crying, particularly if it’s you who brought about the tears. Just take a look how Charlie makes amends for stealing this baby’s cuddly toy…

    If you’ve ever wondered whether dogs can feel ‘human’ emotions such as guilt, jealousy etc – then have a read of this and let us know what you think!

  • What Does it Feel Like to be Locked in a Hot Car? This Vet Found Out For Himself!

    What Does it Feel Like to be Locked in a Hot Car? This Vet Found Out For Himself!

    Veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward stays in a parked car on a summer day to see how dangerous it is to leave a pet inside a car. The car reaches 117 degrees within 30 minutes with all four windows opened 1 to 2 inches

    Never Leave Dogs In Hot Cars. Remember that a parked car can be like an oven and can become dangerously hot in only a few minutes.
    Common situations that can set the stage for heat stroke in dogs include: Being left in a car in hot weather; Exercising strenuously in hot, humid weather.
    dog panting