April 22nd, 2010 by Peter
I was at my local supermarket yesterday buying a large bag of Pedigree dog food for my pet and was waiting to pay at the checkout when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.
What did she think I had, a whale? So, as I’m retired and have quite a bit of time on my hands, i explained to her that, I didn’t have a dog but that I was starting the new craze of a diet -the Pedigree Diet.
I told her that although last time I tried it I ended up in intensive care, it was one of the best diets I had tried and that it works by filling your pockets with Pedigree nuggets and every time you feel hungry you pop one or two of the nuggets into your mouth! As they are full of nutrients it works well – have to say by this point everyone in the queue was now listening intently!
Obviously horrified, she asked if the dog food had poisoned me and was this why I ended up in intensive care. I told her no, I had stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter’s bum and a car had hit us both.
Us retired folk have far too much time on our hands to think of daft things to say!
March 31st, 2010 by Lianne
As previously mentioned owning a pet can be very expensive. You do not always realise what it takes to look after an animal in your home. I am talking about vet bills, food and toys and general living costs. It is not only the cost in money, but also the time that needs to be dedicated to your pets. Many people buy a pet and then end up not having the time to look after it properly. Before getting a pet, I would take plenty of time to gain an understanding of the impact it can have on your life, not only financially but also the amount of time spare time you have.
March 31st, 2010 by Sally
Many people are very keen to ensure they live a healthy life style, eat the right types of food and get the right amount of exercise to ensure they live long and fulfilling lives. Not everyone realises that this is just as crucial for pets. It appears that it is not only the British public which should be worried about the continued increase in obesity in recent years. Pet owners are responsible for ensuring pets in their care also follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly to ensure they have a good quality of life. Recent research suggests that vets have reported that four in ten of four legged animals are now obese. How healty is your pet?
March 26th, 2010 by Peter
After insisting she had done nothing wrong seventy year old Virgina Wetzel was sentenced to six to 12 months in jail after being convicted of 25 counts of animal cruelty yesterday including twelve flea-ridden cats, nine dogs and four decomposing, mostly skeletal cats found in September.
The City seized and sealed the womans Port Richmond house and took 21 dogs and cats which she advised she had rescued from the streets. Waste piled six feet high was also removed from the premises.
Wetzel had been arrested in 2004 for similar charges. However this time the judge has barred her from owning any animals for fifteen years and ordered she pays the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals $32,304 as they were the ones who removed the animals and helped clear the house.
March 20th, 2010 by Peter
There has been a lot of controversy regarding electric collars for cats and dogs in the news this week, following the announcement that Wales is banning the use of them.
The collars which deliver an electric shock to the animal through their neck are used by pet owners across the UK to control their pets from miss-behaving. All the user has to do is push a button on a remote control in order for the shock to be delivered.
A variety of pet welfare groups have advised the devices, which can cost upwards of £100 pounds can cause unnecessary pain for cats and dogs and they have requested the ban be extended across the rest of Britain.
March 5th, 2010 by Sally
Last month it was brought to our attention how dangerous taking the dog out for a walk can potentially be!
A Spaniel chased a seagull off a ninety metre cliff near East Sussex and landed in the sea. It was a miracle that she survived. The dog suffered from only minor injuries but had to be rescued by the Royal National Lifeboat. The dogs owners called for help after seeing their pet swim for shore and hearing it bark.
The dog had landed in an area which was just deep enough for her fall to be cushion. She walked away suffering from a partially collapsed lung along with shock.
This should be a wakeup call for all dog owners, who take their dogs on walks near cliff edges. Keep them on their leashes and out of danger.
February 24th, 2010 by Peter
Dogs can be a great but expensive addition to the family, and a large majority of the costs are those which are unforeseen. However there are ways to cut down and budget for these costs. The first of these is to ensure that you have pet insurance which will help to cover medical fees. Dogs require a lot of food and a good diet is important for keeping them healthy. The best way to cut down on costs is to make sure that you buy a complete food. Expensive treats need not be expensive either as dogs often prefer a simple carrot rather than sweet food.
February 23rd, 2010 by Peter
It is easy to spot when a member of your family is unwell and whether they need a trip t o the doctors, but knowing when your pet needs to visit the vets can be much more difficult. In order to help ensure that your pet stays healthy and active make sure that they get their booster jabs on time. Although some of the jabs can be expensive, it is better than paying out large costs at a later date should your pet become ill.
To monitor the health of your pets make sure to pay attention to their water consumption, or any changes in appetite which could signify illnesses such as diabetes. One of the most common health issues with pets today is weight so make sure that they have a healthy diet with plenty of exercise.
Lastly, if you are ever worries about your pet the best option is always to take it to the vet.
February 22nd, 2010 by Sally
Pets can be expensive at the best of times and the cost gets even higher if you need to take your pet for a trip to the vets, so insurance is a must to ensure that you can afford the right treatment, but what will insurance cover you for? It can cover you for Kennel fees should you have to spend any time in hospital, and it can also help with searching for your pet should it be lost or stolen.
Before signing up for insurance, make sure to shop around as premiums will be dependent upon breed, size and age of your dog. Also, don’t expect everything to be covered by insurance. For example things such as worming and vaccinations will need to be budgeted for separately.
February 21st, 2010 by Lianne
It is a legal requirement for all dog owners to ensure that there is some way to identify your dog along with its address. The cheapest and most widely used option is to give your dog a collar with an identity tag on it. However a more secure option is to have your dog chipped. This often sounds much worse than it is. In fact it is a simple procedure where a microchip, the size of a grain of rice is placed just under the dog’s skin. The dog can then be scanned and identified by a unique number. This is essential if you ever want to take your dog abroad on holiday with you.
